Meet Kelly Grinter | Founder/Licensed wildlife rehabilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Grinter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote is, “It will all work out.” A close friend of mine has said this for eons and it is simply true. It does all work out, eventually.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Twenty-eight years ago, I was a budding graphic designer with an arbitrary interest in wild animals. I wanted to help injured wildlife and then set them free. After a 6-week internship at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center in Tavernier, I went home to Massachusetts, packed my bags and returned to the south Florida. Within weeks I opened a wild bird rescue in Marathon, the heart of the Florida Keys. A small building on Crane Point’s 64-acre property became a bird hospital and volunteers were organized to rescue, rehab and release birds from tiny prothonotary warblers to much larger bald eagles with a concentration in, what else, brown pelicans. Years later, we are still small, but have admitted a total of over 25,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild birds. Eventually, we began to display some of the non-releasable birds and quickly became one of the highlights for visitors to the property. Oliver, our osprey, has been with us for 19 years after being hit by an airplane and Mr. Black-bellied Plover has been with us since 2001. Revolving volunteer help and the wear and tear on our wood and wire enclosures has necessitated a move of the facility 0ne-half mile to the front of the property. The new enclosures are being constructed from stainless steel and are being secured to concrete foundations. Our goal is to prepare for the future generations that will have to follow in our footsteps. A majority of our injured animals are a result of interactions with people. Our number one goal is providing comfort and care to wild birds. Our second goal is to continue to educate the locals and visitors to Marathon on how to live peacefully with our wild birds.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Having lived in the heart of the Florida Keys for almost 3 decades, I strolled my infant son, now 11, around every inch of Crane Point after he was born. I had never walked all the trails on this 64-acre property until then. It is undoubtedly one of my favorite places to take visiting friends and family and the Fish Pedicure is a real treat. The recently refurbished Old Seven Mile Bridge is an absolute must. It was closed for over 5-years and I plan to walk it soon when my sister visits. While Sombrero Beach is a classic beach, the secret shoreline of Coco Plum Beach is perfect for strolling. A day paddling kayaks on the water and a day snorkeling the nearby reefs are always on the list of must do’s.. Excursions away from Marathon would include a day at Bahia Honda State Park and a few hours at a lesser known State Park, Windley Key in Islamorada. The coral rock timeline and small elevations make this secret spot a delightful detour. I recently acquired a good bike and will be enjoying the bike trails along most of US1 with my son. All the classics, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, boating…they’re all here and available within a stone’s throw.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to DD Holland-Schmitt. She has been there “with and for me” from Day One and I wouldn’t be anywhere around here with out her unfailing support. Together we have provided over 25,000 wild birds with care.

Website: www.marathonwildbirdcenter.org

Facebook: Marathon Wild Bird Center

Other: Cranepoint.net

Image Credits
Larry Benvenutti