Wildlife Rehabilitation in Utah/Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation: busier than expected

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

busier than expected

Well the last few days have been busy. I've been all over the state dealing with wildlife 'problems'. It sure would be nice if the state would kick in a gas card!
We have an eagle that is getting close to the release date. He came in after falling from his

nest, probably exercising his wings and got a little too much lift.

His entire tail was broken off in the worst possible place. This potentially could take up to one
year to overcome, but things were on his side and his tail started coming in within a few weeks.

We're also working with a non-releasable barn-owl. He will be transfered to the Willow Park Zoo in Logan, Utah when he has recovered more. His picture is on today's blog with one of my volunteers, Don Byrge.

There are even more patients we are helping every day, feeding, cleaning their living area's, medicating and much more. There is so much involved in wildlife rehabilitation. As an

example, laundry. People don't think about it, but doing what we do requires cleaning and that means laundry, several loads a week and sometimes per day. Cleaning transport kennels is also an ongoing job. We go through a great deal of cleaning supplies in rehab. Maybe a company should use us in a commercial!
Normally this time of year, things are starting to slow down a bit, but it appears this year may be different. Not sure why. For those reading this, think of us during the holidays when donating to "those in need", don't forget about those among us that would die without our intervention. Their aren't thousands of organizations out there dealing or helping with this.

There are a few larger centers that have full-time staff that fund raise for them, but the majority of the work is done by groups like ours, who don't have those luxuries. We have to wear many hats and be the rehabber, fund raiser, cleaners, drivers to and from vets and other trips, animal catchers and so on. Every patient that comes to us, financially "costs" something, whether it be gasoline to pick them up or much, much more. More often, it's the latter.

Enjoy today's photo's and please, pass this blog's site around so we can increase readers.

Debbie
And remember, every little bit helps them, not us, WE WORK FOR FREE!

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ATTENTION

Spring is a very active wonderful time for all animals. Babies are born and learning what it takes to be wild from their parents. Unfortunately, many may end up in trouble and often times humans may try to intervene, whether or not it is necessary. The inexperienced human finding a baby bird, for instance, more than likely cannot tell if the bird is truely in need of help, or is learning to fly, something that can take a few days to master. Leaving the baby to learn what it needs is something an experienced birder can spot, but taking that baby home, thinking you're helping, when in fact, it is the worst thing possible for that baby, has now changed it's life forever.
Call a rehabilitator for answers. Yes, we want that baby to be safe from predators, but give that baby a chance. The worst thing that happens in these situations is an improper diet being fed by the 'rescuer'. This will result in death, if not right away, then in time, due to improper development. Different birds require different diets and different amounts of food at different times. Here is where a wildlife rehabilitators knowledge and experience makes all the difference. Don't try to do this yourself, only to attempt to find a rehabilitator as the baby is dying due to your 'efforts'. When they are at this stage, there is very little that can be done AND it is also illegal to attempt raising wildlife. Only a permitted wildlife rehabilitator can do this legally, for we know how to keep them wild and ready for release as well. Making them pets, besides being illegal is very selfish and is not what's best for the wildlife. They need to be free and have learned how to find the food they will need to survive in the wild and know what to avoid and learn the language of their species. There is a lot that goes into a successful rehabilitation and the orphans out there deserve the best chance possible. Don't you agree?

DID YOU KNOW...........

Wildlife rehabilitation is a profession borne of a love and concern for wild things everywhere. We wildlife rehabilitators have taken this many steps forward, increasing our knowledge, skills and techniques into a career that most people do not know exists. Most people assume that the work that a wildlife rehabilitator does is something all state wildlife agencies perform as state employees. This could not be further from the truth.
The reality is, all wildlife rehabilitation is done, in all 50 states, by us, wildlife rehabilitators. State and federal officials MAY occasionally pick up the patients that come to us, but they bring them to us at our homes and facilities, not their state or federal offices or vets offices.
Ours is a specialized field that primarily involves vet/medical expertise. No, we are not veterinarians, but many of us have extensive backgrounds in medicine (people and animals).
We also have vast backgrounds in the natural history of the patients we care for. Our work involves many fields. State and federal wildlife folks just don't have that training or background.
The other aspect of our work that is not known, is that we are not paid by anyone. Our patients don't 'belong' to anyone. They are wild beings. So when they have medical needs, there is no one to step up to this challenge except wildlife rehabilitators. Most of us work basically 24/7. Holidays are no exception. When an animal is hurt, it needs help now!
To top it all off, whatever expenses these patient incure, the bills are paid by us, for vet care, surgeries, medications, all of it. We build their homes and repair them as needed. All of our patients need something. They are not here to visit, they are in trouble. So imagine if you will......going to work everyday, driving your own vehicle to do that work and never getting a paycheck. OK, so maybe you can do that.....now imaging having a source of income from somewhere, now, this is where things get really different. When you get that money, you just turn it over to other people to pay for what your patients need, regardless of your financial needs!
This is wildlife rehabilitation.
We also are constantly pursuing continuous education of the latest finds in our field. We strive to be the best we can for those entrusted to us.
So please, support your wildlife rehabilitator in your area. They need it and believe me, it is very much appreciated.

Wildlife Rehabilitation in Utah/Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

busier than expected

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