Wildlife Rehabilitation in Utah/Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation: October 2009

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Here a bat, there a bat, everywhere a bat, bat.....

Yes, migration is still taking place. Some species move sooner than others, while some don't migrate at all. And then there are the exceptions, like, yes, this species normally migrates, but in certain geographic areas, doesn't. Another one of those things that wildlife rehabilitators need to know.
It's been mildly busy around here. Just about every patient has been due to migratory issues in one way or the other.
I picked up an adult sparrow at a local nursing home that was completely covered in some sort of oil or grease. Poor thing was extremely thin and several feathers were missing. I suspect once he because soiled, since he could not fly, this made him an easy target for a predator and that's how he lost the feathers. I gave him his first Dawn bath, but he did not survive the night. I'm sure the toxins in the substance on his feathers had entered his body and that's why he was found and was easily caught and this also caused his death.
People, don't leave things laying around your yard or open garage that may harm something else. Besides being careless, it can contaminate indiscriminately.

We also got in a ring-neck dove that tangled with a cat. Boy he sure looked rough, but he's beginning to look much better. We treated him with antibiotics as well because of the cat. He has new feathers growing in, but he does have a broken right leg. With time and rest, we're hoping that he can be released.

We also had an Eared Grebe come in. This little guy had been migrating through Utah and apparently just became exhausted.

He was found on someones porch in Moab, so we gave him some time to rest and sent him on

his way.
They need water to take off, so we took him out to Desert Lake in Emery county and put him on the water. Those Grebe's are so cute!

The picture shows how interesting their feet are. They are in a group all to themselves. Their feet are referred to as 'lobed'. This, and the fact that their legs are set far to the back of their bodies makes them excellent divers and swimmers, but completely helpless on land. When found on land, people always call me telling me the 'duck' has broken legs. There are several species of Grebe's

and they are all just wonderful! This little guy was in his winter plumage, so he doesn't look like the pictures in a lot of reference materials, unless they show the different plumage's.

We also have had two more bats come in. Both of them are Mexican Free-Tail bats. One is doing much better than the other. I don't have pictures of them for this posting, but I will for the next.
We're calling them, Bruce Wayne (I didn't name him) and Sid Vicious (what an attitude).

Last, but not least, we are looking for people to sponsor the newest Red-Tail hawk, Kachina. She will be with us for awhile and this will get expensive. If you're interested, click on the questions tab or go to the donate tab. For each $50 donation, I will send you and sponsorship certificate with her picture. This would also make a great gift for someone that loves animals/wildlife.

I'll post a couple of pictures of her. She is the hawk that was found in Eagle Mountain, Utah, almost dead. She's doing great now!
Thanks everyone,
Debbie................
Mark your correspondence titled Kachina for the sponsorships.

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, October 14, 2009

Here a bat, there a bat, everywhere a bat, bat.....

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