Auction benefits wildlife rescue

PONDERAY — The annual "Grow More Spots" auction is set for Saturday with items that include Sandpoint Festival tickets, a Smith & Wesson 442 .38-special, and gift certificates galore for area massages, dinners or haircuts. All proceeds benefit Mystic Farm Wildlife Rescue. 

The auction will take place Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. at Laughing Dog Brewery. Admission is free. There will be a live auction, a raffle and door prizes during the event. Admission for dogs is also free and they are welcome at the auction.

"Everybody has a chance to get something," said Dory McIsaac, executive director and operator at Mystic Farm.

Other items for the auction include a log bed, jewelry, flight tours, a catered dinner for four, and tons of gift baskets filled with goodies. McIsaac said there is even a basket with $100 in veterinary services from the North Idaho Animal Hospital, baskets filled with toys to keep the children busy, and a pail of "paydirt" from Fairbanks, Alaska, that has gold in it for people to pan.

"Definitely a reflection of the generosity of folks and the support for Mystic Farm," McIsaac said. "It's a good cause that people like to get behind."

There will be pizza available during the auction, for a donation. Other items available for donation include Mystic Farm hats and calendars. For a $5 donation, attendees can purchase a beer mug with the Mystic Farm logo that can be filled during the event for purchase by Laughing Dog Brewery. McIsaac said the items usually go pretty fast.

The event last year was attended by a full capacity, or more than 175 people. McIsaac said they hope for more than 150 people to attend the event.

Mystic Farm Wildlife Rescue, a nonprofit  certified by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, helps wildlife animals by rescuing them, rehabilitating them and then releasing them back into the wild. Moose, deer, elk and pronghorn animals are frequent visitors to the farm.

This fundraiser raises most of the funds needed to operate, however, McIsaac said it will probably not cover the entire year of expenses. She said it costs about $300-$400 to help a fawn until release each season, and may include medical expenses for the animal.

"It fluctuates," McIsaac said. "If I have 20 fawns, it will cost a lot more than five fawns."

McIsaac said it costs about $3,200 to raise and release an elk, which stay at the farm for about a year.  

"They eat a lot more," McIsaac said. "It adds up very quickly."

Currently the farm has no animals in its care, McIsaac said, and the number of animals being helped varies each year. They had 11 fawns over the summer this year and 15 fawns last summer.  

"They've all been released," McIsaac said. "I won't get babies until spring."

McIsaac said people should not touch or pick up animals that may need help but call 208-241-7081 or Idaho Department of Fish and Game at 208-769-1414 immediately. If the animal can be rescued, Mystic Farm will do so. Often the mother is nearby and the animal does not need to be rescued.  

"If there is a doe killed on the road, there is a place for the baby to go now," McIsaac said.