Wildlife Rehabilitation in Utah/Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation: Goodbye bunny..........

Monday, January 18, 2010

Goodbye bunny..........

Greetings on this wet, cold snowy day. At least it did something rather than be just cold and dreary. My kitty cats are hating it however, as are the chickens!

Well the Prairie falcon, Arie, is doing well and has been moved outside full-time now. His weight is staying up nicely. We're just waiting to see if that traumatized area regrows new feathers. Those feathers are crucial for his survival in the wild. So in the meantime, he's just hanging out and happy we are not having to catch him everyday to move him outside and inside (and so are we)!
Remember, falcons bite!

As for the bunny situation, I met Carmen from Best Friends in Green River, Utah as she was driving back from Wisconsin, visiting her family over the holidays, on her way back to Kanab, Utah, and sent the bunny with her to hang out with their bunny in the same situation. I think their going to be just fine and then get a chance at being free and wild sometime in the spring. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another reminder, PEOPLE, don't bring home wildlife and make them pets! If you find something orphaned, call you wildlife department if you don't know of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator yourself. DON'T take something to the 'lady down the street who LOVES animals' either, ONLY a licensed wildlife rehabilitator has the skills and training to keep it wild while helping it! There, I've said my piece, once again! I hate fixing screw ups that are preventable!

Now, for the new stuff.

We got in a female Northern Flicker about a week ago. These guys are just beautiful. They are a woodpecker. We have several species of woodpeckers here in Utah. This poor little girl tangled with something big, as her injuries were just horrible. Her left wing and leg were broken

beyond repair, with bones sticking out. The decision was make to euthanize her since these injuries were all major and unrepairable. I've included pictures, both alive and one, after her death to show (it's difficult to make out the details) the extent of the injuries under her left wing. I hope she's now flying free beyond this life she knew. We stayed with her until she passed.

We also got in a new eagle. She is an adult Golden that came out of Emery county, not far from where I live. She was found in the County dump. She has several different injuries.

The injury to her left foot appears to be from a jaw trap. A trap was not seen, but the injury suggests that one was on her foot at some point. Law enforcement is now involved. My experience with these disgusting traps (and the people that use them) is when they catch something other than what was intended, they take whatever it is, out and then just leave it there, regardless of what it is or it's condition. I'm sure in most cases, death results, but some, like this eagle, was seen 'running' around in the dump and was easily caught because of the injury. There appears to be some head trauma and trauma to the left wing as well. I'm not sure how this occurred as the dump is on a dirt road, far away from the main highway, according to some folks I've spoken with about the dumps' location.

We started her on medications for infection and pain. We also took her into my vet's office to have that foot x-rayed. There are no broken bones in that foot, but there is soft tissue damage. Now, do we have tendons or ligaments involved? Only time will tell as the foot and a couple of the toes are swollen. Today, we moved her outside for the daytime. She is not eating willingly either. This could be for a number of reasons, so I'm not too concerned at this point. We will just keep pushing the food down her until she takes it willingly.

We also got in a new robin today. This bird was found by a gal in Provo, Utah while taking a drive up Provo canyon. She noticed something and pulled over to see a Raven attacking this robin. The Raven flew off as she pulled over and she picked up the robin and realised she was in bad shape.

She made contact with me last night and despite a terrible snow storm in the canyon between her and me, she drove here this morning so the bird could get the medical attention she greatly needed. The robin has head injuries and was scalped by the Raven. I love Ravens, but they can be very naughty. Hopefully we can save her. Our thanks to Christa for taking the time to drive her to me in a very dangerous snowy canyon.

Enjoy the pictures included with today's post!

Thanks everyone,
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

Monday, January 18, 2010

Goodbye bunny..........

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