By Libby Hopkins
Joe Mondeau, or “Wildlife Joe” as he is known throughout the community, loves his job.
Mondeau has been a local resident since 1969 and is the owner of Wildlife Joe’s Wildlife Rescue and Removal. He has 30 years experience and is state licensed to remove wildlife from homes and businesses and can even help seal up spaces that allow them to get in.
“We are small enough to treat each and every client with the same amount of care, respect and attention,” he said.
Mondeau started his business in 2002 but has been rescuing animals since he was a little boy. He hunted for many years until one day he started seeing things differently. “I didn’t want to hurt anymore,” Mondeau said. I wanted to help them.”
The animals Mondeau catches are either released back into the wild in safe locations or if the animal is injured, he takes it to a local rehab & rescue facility.
Mondeau removes or rescues all kinds of animals from snakes to domestic animals like dogs and cats. He believes that if people were more educated on animals and their natural habitat, they would stop trying to feed stray animals.
“These animals are not learning how to find food on their own and because people keep feeding them,” Mondeau said.
Often, Joe receives calls for Raccoon and Squirrel problems but recently, Joe’s Wildlife rescue helped save ‘Archie The Duck’. Search YouTube for the video footage to see how the community rallied around Archie, who was shot with an arrow and Joe brought him to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital in Brandon, where, along with Care Animal Hospital, he rescues wildlife. Archie was able to be returned to the Carrollwood area pond where he was found.
Visit Joe’s Wildlife on the web at www.wildliferescuer.com or call 362-3456.
For homeowners, there is a service call fee starting at $99 which is waived if hired to remove the critter. And, no charge for injured animal rescue or for senior citizens over the age of 70.
