The A.E. Howell Wildlife refuge center holds open house
By Jennifer Ruth
Staff Writer
AMITY — Preserving and protecting injured wildlife has been a life-long quest for Art Howell. 
Pioneer Times photo/Jennifer Ruth
WHAT WAS THAT? — These young visitors react to the sound of Dolly, the Western Cougar. To us, they’re little boys, to her, that’s a meal. Dolly is a lifetime resident of the refuge and is completely fenced in from the public. Safety is a top standard, not to mention, state regulation, at the center.
Howell and his wife Dot care for and maintain a 64-acre wildlife conservation and refuge on the 101 Lycette Road in Amity. For the last 27 years, the couple has dedicated their lives to the round-the-clock care to the numerous at-risk creatures living on the grounds and many are lifetime residents.
Even if Howell doesn’t live forever, he’s hoping that he’ll be able to pass on the knowledge to people who will step up and take his place as caretakers of the refuge.
“This is going to be a place that is not only going to attract people as it has for the last 27 years, it’s going to be a place for all school kids to learn about wildlife,” he explained. “That’s what my goal is. My legacy is to leave all of that ability and knowledge that I have with other people so that this will carry on.
“There is nothing selfish about this,” he said. “It’s all about the animals.”
Pioneer Times photo/Jennifer Ruth
DEER COUNTRY — D.C. the deer stays behind as curious onlookers approach the pen he calls home. He lives there with several other deer.
Howell held an open house at the refuge on Saturday, July 12. Among the numerous guests who attended and toured the center were a safari group of about 45 people who traveled from Wyoming and Montana specifically to see Howell’s animals. Howell said the more exposure the refuge gets means more funding for the care of the animals that live there.
Pioneer Times photo/Jennifer Ruth
IN RECOVERY — These baby turkeys are just an example of the recovery services available at the A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center. Last week, the center lost a baby deer that had been hit by a car. The deer had lived for several days, but could not survive its injuries. That’s the case most of the time for some of the animal residents who come to live at the refuge.
“I was very discreet about how we needed $2,700 to put an extension on the cougar pen and another $1,400 to add onto the coyote pen,” he explained. “We’re still in the hole financially — the oil companies put us there. We are $16,000 in debt — just for our fuel in keeping our buildings warm during the really cold times, it cost us $7,000 in heating fuel and we don’t get any breaks.
“Then of course, the electric went up — so normally we would be able to get through on $1,700 to $2,600 a year and this year it’s gone up,” he added.
There is no charge to visit the center. Howell said it’s by donation only and he feels that method works better than anything else.
Pioneer Times photo/Jennifer Ruth
SAYING HELLO? This could be Bell or Erica, one of the two American Bald eagles currently residing at the A.E. Howell Conservation Center in Amity.
“People are very generous in this area — I usually end up with more money in a day then when people just come off the street,” he said. “They seem to open their hearts as well as their pocketbooks. When they see that they’re not under any pressure to pay, they seem to be more generous.”
Saturday’s open house proved to be a success for the Howells and their furry family. They have lots of help from the Girl Scouts, as well as family members. They have three more open houses coming up — Aug. 16, Sept. 6 and Nov. 8 — but if anyone just wants to drop by they’re welcome, Art and Dot are always in.
Pioneer Times photo/Jennifer Ruth
CARRYING THE TORCH — These Girl Scouts hope to some day carry on Art Howell’s work at the wildlife preserve. The girls’ troop volunteered as tour guides during Howell’s open house on Saturday, July 12. Pictured here from left: Katelyn Wiggins of Houlton and Laura Beals of Littleton.
The A.E. Howell Wildlife Conservation Center is home to deer, coyotes, bears, birds, eagles, turkeys and more.
For more information on how to give or to find out more about the center call Howell at 532-6880, e-mail eagleman@mfx.net or visit their Web site at www.spruceacresrefuge.com.
