Wildlife Rehabilitation in Utah/Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation: TIME FOR AN UPDATE..................

Saturday, March 14, 2009

TIME FOR AN UPDATE..................

Well, let's get caught up on what's been happening here.
Still waiting on the Zuni's for Glory, but now she has a 'room mate'. We moved Ivy in with Glory this week after Ivy's vet appointment.

We took her in on Wednesday the 11th for possible removal of her pins, but the x-ray wasn't good. She has healed only on part of the fracture. One end has slipped and is not together any longer. There wasn't perfect positioning from the get-go, but it was as good as could be done. But now the bones are side-to-side

at the one end of the fracture. The vet, removed the old pins as they had bent and now there was movement around them, not providing the support needed. He basically had to perform another surgery with new and bigger pins screwed into the bone. There was a dead piece of bone that was removed, shortening the length of her ulna. This isn't good, so right now, we're looking at least another 8 weeks with these new pins and device in place. I felt her emotional situation warranted that we move her into larger quarters even though we still don't want her moving that wing a whole lot, but at this point, her mental state is my main concern.
I'm giving her some pain medication every day and tomorrow, I'm going to wrap that wing for some support. She did eat on her own yesterday (I watched her) so that is a good sign, but I can tell she is still in pain. I hope we can get her through this. This is one tough girl!

We have been exercising Shu every other day. I'd like to have him out in the flight as well, but balds and Golden's don't always do well together and Shu, well, he's just a poop anyway, so I'm not going to chance it.

Fremont, the male golden eagle, hit by a coal truck, is healing slowly. I'm concerned about the color of his skin around the injury area near the elbow joint. I'm going to get him into the vet to have it

evaluated. He has been eating very well and other then his injury areas healing slowly, he looks good.
Walter, the turkey vulture, hopefully will be placed in a facility in Arizona soon. Apparently, there

is an educational facility or two that are looking for turkey vultures and Best Friends and I both have non-releasable turkey vultures (one a piece), so this may work for Walter. I know he'll like the weather much better down there. We should find out if that is what will happen in the next couple of weeks.
It also looks like my Swainson's hawk, Fire, will be placed in an educational facility in New York. They already have a great-horned owl of mine, so we're just waiting on paperwork, again!

This is a busy time of year for wildlife rehabilitators, so please, find one in your area and call them. Even if you can't donate a large amount, ask them what they need. Every dollar adds up and there are things that we go through like crazy that we always need. Go buy them some paper towels or go to your local vet's office and buy them some gauze or syringes. You'll get a smile and a big 'thank-you' and from our standpoint, it helps us remember that there are those who care out there, though few and far between. They just may be ready to pull their hair out due to frustration and then there you are with a box of supplies, YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you don't know how to find your local wildlife rehabilitator, call your state's wildlife agency and they will tell you.
Enjoy the pictures, just took them yesterday. I hope I have them lined up in proper order.
Debbie

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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

Saturday, March 14, 2009

TIME FOR AN UPDATE..................

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