A year ago, Pike County resident Nancy Conklin saw a baby possum lying on a rural roadway. It was raining cats and dogs. She couldn’t leave the tiny animal there to die.

So, she picked the little possum up, wrapped it in her coat sleeve and drove to a nearby store.

“I bought a chicken tender and put it next to the possum to help keep in warm until I got home and could take better care of it,” Conklin said. “But, out of ignorance, I didn’t know how to care for a wild animal. I kept Posy alive but possums are prone to sickness and she didn’t get better the way I had hoped.”

Conklin searched the Internet and found an animal rehabilitation facility near Enterprise.

“I wanted to find someone who knew how to rehab a possum and that’s how I found the Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary,” she said. “It’s the most amazing place and does so much good. John and Terry Morse are the directors and they care about wildlife and are dedicated to wildlife preservation.”

Conklin is a volunteer with the Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary. And, as relatively new volunteer, her main “chore” is cleaning out cages.

“But, I’m learning,” she said. “It’s so fascinating and amazing to see what John and Terry and the volunteers are doing to rehabilitate wild animals of all kinds.”

Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit organization and fundraising is necessary to keep the sanctuary up and running.

On Saturday, the BBWS will host its Third Annual Wild About Art fundraiser.

John Morse said Wild About Art will feature artwork from local artists and will include oil paintings and charcoal drawings, prints and even knitted items.

“And it will all be offered through a silent auction,” Morse said. “Those who attend the Wild About Animal Auction will have an opportunity to visit the sanctuary and see the animals that we are rehabilitating and, right now, we have 132 of them.”

Morse said most of the animals at the BBWC are mammals.

“We have river otters, beavers, gray foxes, red foxes, possums, raccoons, turtles, birds of all kinds,” Morse said. “We have or have had every kind of wild animal whose habitat is in this area. We are dedicated to taking care of these animals until they can be returned to the wild. Those animals that can’t be returned, we use for educational programs so that people of all ages can learn about the wildlife in our area.”

Morse said the BBWS welcomes volunteers and greatly appreciates monetary donations.

For more information about the BBWS visit the sanctuary’s website or facebook page. Donations may be made to BBWS, 1034 CR 445, Enterprise, AL 36330.

The BBWS is located between Enterprise and Daleville off Highway 84 at Level Plains.