Wildlife Rehabilitation in Utah/Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation: July 2013

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Rehab finally is in full swing......wishing for a reprieve.

A lot going on here.....don't know where to start. I'll just start updating and go from there.
Sia, our Golden Eagle that we have had for quite some time now after she came to us after being hit by a car in San Juan County was transferred to Kentucky as an educational bird. Sia was also a secondary lead poisoning victim and as a result, suffered effects that made her non-releasable. Eileen Wickers group, Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky also has an education permit, and was looking for a Golden eagle. I felt Sia would be a good choice and transferred her there. I hope she does well for them. We wanted a wild life for Sia, but it could not be. Lead is a horrible thing and removed from paint and gasoline for a reason, it still finds it's way into our wildlife. Please educate yourself about these secondary lead poisonings. We see the devastation it wreaks in wildlife all too often.

The pic is of Sia on her way to the airport. Good bye angel!

Currently, we have a new Magpie that I'm not sure what has happened to. He stands very odd. Not at all like he should. He came in starving to death. I have a strong hunch this guy may have been kept illegally as a pet. He also may have West Nile Virus. I am going to have him tested once he is stronger, but for right now, my job is to put weight on him. He is a mystery, no doubt about it. For all those who have watched The Simpsons, this bird stands like 'Mr. Burns'.

We just recently released a little Screech Owl that came in with a fractured wing. He healed well and kill tested well, so last week we let him go about 25 miles northeast of Price. We hope he does well and finds a mate next Spring.

We released a Desert Cottontail that had been cat caught. Since then, we have had another one brought in by the same finder as the other. Sadly, it's her cats doing the damage. This one seems to be doing well. He needs to grow a little and then, can be released. We had him on antibiotics as well.

We are also caring for several American Kestrels. Recently a new little nestling was brought in after being found on the ground. Sort of late in the year for a fuzzy Kestrel, so I'm thinking this was a second clutch for this mom.

We have also released many Doves, Sparrow, Finches and Starlings. Most of these were found on the ground, having either fallen or been blown out of their nests.

We are still trying to find placement for our two non-releasable American Crows. They are not related and came in from different situations, but now, they are bonded to each other. I believe this will help them deal with their new lives, once we can get them placed. They have each other so the stress level will hopefully be minimal once they find placement.

Well, I think that's a good update. So much more is going on here. Our fundraiser went very well.

Eddie McStiff's Garden Room at the silent auction.

Linda and Sara at the wetlands in the morning.

Face painting at the wetlands during the morning portion of our fundraiser.

Soon, we should have our veterinarian paid off for last years services for the wildlife. Thanks for checking in.

Debbie

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

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Rehab finally is in full swing......wishing for a reprieve.

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