Wildlife Rehabilitation in Utah/Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation: I can't believe how cold it's been..............

Sunday, January 3, 2010

I can't believe how cold it's been..............

Hello everyone. Well here in Utah things are all frozen. I don't remember the last time I saw the sun and anything above 31* seems down right balmy!

Well, the new Prairie falcon is doing well. I am concerned, however, that he isn't putting on and

holding the weight like he should. He may possibly have more internal parasites that the medications didn't take care of. I plan on getting a fecal sample from him and having that checked.

His wounds are healing nicely. We'll have to wait and see if feathers regrow over the injured area. Of course, that will determine his releasability.

DWR also brought us a cottontail that was
confiscated from some people that had been keeping it as a pet for the last two years. Idiots!

The officer actually 'thanked them' for taking 'care' of it!
I could choke some of these guys. They CREATED the problem, you don't THANK them, you

prosecute them! UGH!!!!! Connie and Don have been caring for the little guy. We're going to send him to Best Friends as they have one with the same history. Hopefully, they can remind each other that they are rabbits and people aren't all that wonderful!

We also had a Belted Kingfisher come in a few weeks ago. What a beautiful bird.

She had been fishing in a contaminated body of water owned by PacifiCorp and becamed oiled with this gunk.
She was drowning in freezing water when we got her. We focused on getting her body temperature up and hydrating her with warm fluids; this will also get the kidneys working harder to flush the body of the contaminants that are now absorbing into her skin.

She lasted two days, but finally died. She tried so hard, but the huge onslaught was just too much.

Things are slower as they should be this time of year. Last year at this time, it was crazy!
I have a meeting this Tuesday with the state DWR . Their policies regarding what they will and won't do to support us has become so insane that it requires a face-to-face meeting. They should be ashamed of themselves. They lie and contradict themselves over and over and when they are confronted by someone, well, you're the bad guy. But since I can speak a little more freely than most other rehabilitators, I will. I hope I accomplish something, but if history has anything to say about it, well, things will stay the same, maybe with one or two less rehabilitators however.

Keep you fingers crossed for all of us,
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

Sunday, January 3, 2010

I can't believe how cold it's been..............

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