Sad and trying time................

You know, it's so frustrating when you see needless suffering day in and day out. We now have another lead poisoning patient, this time it's an adult female Golden eagle. What a magnificent creature she is. She is an older bird, of course I don't know her exact age, but there are tale-tale indicators that she is older. She's lived through countless situations only to be close to death due to some idiots shooting innocent prairie dogs because they enjoy killing them and then they leave their little bodies lying on the ground, loaded with lead. Numerous predators see this as an easy meal, which it is, but it is also certain death.
I'm so sick of this lead problem. We as a society have known about the problems with lead ingestion for many years. The government forced it's removal from paint in the 60's and yes, there was a fight from the paint industries saying "the paint won't stick to walls without the lead"; well we know that's a load of crap, don't we.
The sports groups along with the NRA, through misinformation and fear are trying to convince (and doing a fine job at it) the regular hunter that the lead issue in hunting, shooting or whatever they want to do, is really about ending the 'rights' to use these weapons. Hogwash. This is no more about stopping hunting than the removal of lead in paint was about ending the rights of painters! We have proof from many studies all over the world that this is a problem and regardless, we all know lead is a problem, when ingested by kids, why wouldn't it be the same in animals as well. IT IS!
I'm also sick of the comments that the copper ammunition is 'too expensive'. Give me a break! It's mere pennies and money isn't the issue here when you're spending thousands of dollars on weapons, equipment and the latest and greatest gadgets for the 'hunt'. Or better yet, that new truck to get you into more remote areas where the animals hide.
To watch an animal die from lead poisoning is absolutely heartbreaking. There is only so much that can be done for these victims and if they are found many days after the ingestion, it's probably too late, but we have to try. The treatment is also very hard on their bodies which are already under assault due to the lead.
Stop using lead ammunition! I just want to scream!

I have no pictures to upload at this time since I'm having to use my husbands computer since mine is at the shop and that is where all my wildlife photo's are.
There are other things, patient wise, going on right now, but this is our main focus.
The Starling babies are all doing well and growing up fast. We have been able to release 4 of them at this point. There are 5 remaining.

Well that's it for now.
Debbie

Good bye Crash........

Well it's been a little busy and what HAS been going on has required a lot of traveling. I hope the van continues to hold out.

Shortly after the Eared Grebe situation, a Common Loon was also grounded. We took her out to Desert Lake as well. Diane, a volunteer we have mentioned in the past,
went with me and released her.

She was the only Loon out there at that time.
Diane and I stayed and watched the birds for awhile.
Something I forget to do much anymore; sit and enjoy the birds!



We also had a Red Tail Hawk come in from Moab.
This poor little guy had ate something large in one gulp and it became stuck in his crop.
As a result of it not moving out of there, it became rotten and he became septic and very thin.
We fixed him right up and got that critter to move out of his crop and then gradually began to feed him cleaned red meat, with no bones or fur to make it easier to digest.
He finally started to get stronger and along with some antibiotics and subcutaneous fluids every day, started to put on weight. After several days, we moved him into the flight and got him strong again and he was released yesterday. I don't have pictures since Tony Wright, a Wildlife biologist that bands our birds, did the honors as he was headed that way. I hope the Red-Tail remembers to take little bites in the future!






We also released Crash, our Bald Eagle. What a spectacular event.
The last post was of the television coverage of the event.

There is a video attached to that link.

Crash flew like a champ!
The weather was perfect.

I don't know if he'll hang around Utah or chose to move north. Either way, I hope he does well and I'm sure he will as he is already a teenager and knows how to hunt and what he's suppose to do with himself.
I hope he avoids
roads in the future.








I think we have placement for the two non-releasable owls, Teasdale and Aretha. If all goes as planned, Aretha will be heading to North Carolina to live as a foster mom for orphaned babies.
Teasdale will be going to an education facility in Wyoming. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
We still need to have Willow's eye removed. I am going to have her looked at by our vet's in Salt Lake that take care of our eye problems and confirm that she still needs it removed and then work on getting that taken care of.

Well, there are more stories of new patients, but they will have to wait for another post. Sorry,
time for sleep!

Debbie........
Remember to go to our Face Book page at Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation!

Injured ranger and eagle share second chance at life - ksl.com

Injured ranger and eagle share second chance at life - ksl.com

Eared Grebe release....

Just a quick post with the pictures of the little Eared Grebes' release. I took him out to Desert Lake, just south of Price. It was wonderful; many, many ducks were there and lots of other water birds, including the Tundra swans. What a great way to spend a couple of hours.


Remember, click on the pictures to take a better look.
Debbie.....