Laurens Wildlife Rescue
  • Home
  • I found a wild baby - what do I do?
  • How can I help?
  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • This week in wildlife

If this month thus far is any indication…

1/18/2013

6 Comments

 
…2013 is gonna be a hellacious year. In Jan. 2012, LWR received 6 critters total, for the entire month. As of this week, the Jan. 2013 intake tally is already at 5. This isn’t boding well for the rest of the year…or my sanity (what little is left of it).

The gray squirrels’ eyes are open, but they’re in that nasty little stage of using each other as bathrooms, so they’re not real attractive at this point. By the next update, they will have outgrown that stage and will look decent enough for photos!

The gunshot female red tail’s (RT) follow-up x-ray had us all nearly dancing in the clinic. Her leg is healing beautifully!

To remind you, here’s her x-ray on intake in Dec.:

Picture
And here’s her x-ray from early this month:

Picture
Both x-rays courtesy of Smalley's Animal Hospital
Makes YOU wanna dance a happy jig, too, doesn’t it?

Picture
The gunshot male RT is due for a follow-up x-ray next week, but I’m pretty sure his will also be a good report. He’s holding both wings level, and when I change his paper, he can flare both evenly. He’s a paranoid little rascal (and he IS small next to this big ol’ female). Below is his typical reaction to a paper change.

Picture
After a few minutes, he perches normally again:

Picture
Shortly after the last update, I picked up a first-year RT, a male, with frounce. Fortunately, he was found in time for it to be treated, and I released him over the weekend. Below you can see how weak he was on intake.

Picture
And here are a couple of shots of him on release. Yes, that’s the porch of an abandoned old house on our property. There are rodents galore there and in the hay bales nearby, and trees all around to perch in…once he left the porch!

Picture
Picture
Picture
LWR recently received a Canada goose with an open fracture that had scabbed over. When the scab was prodded slightly, it came loose, taking a large chunk of bone with it, so the poor goose was euthanized.

Picture
Picture
Thanks to vet tech Christy Harrell for holding the goose while I snapped the photo.
Picture
This adult male red tail was found by the road. It was obvious to the finder that the wing was broken; he just wasn’t sure how badly. I met the finder that night to retrieve the bird, and when I opened the box, I could smell the infection before even examining him. His left wing had an open fracture; about an inch of bone was exposed, and the flesh was already turning black. There was nothing we could do for the poor bird but euthanize.

Picture
Picture
The next morning, a call came in about an owl found in the road. The caller’s description sounded like a great horned owl (GHO), and sure enough, when I picked up the bird, it was a small male GHO. In addition to a concussion—see  the right pupil?—he had an open fracture on his right wing, with about 2 inches of bone exposed—another case of euthanasia being the only humane choice.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Some people question the “humaneness” of euthanasia, so let me briefly address that here. When the alternative for an animal is a short and pain-filled life, euthanasia is a humane end to its suffering. If the alternative to euthanasia is starving to death, dying from exposure, or being eaten by predators, euthanasia is humane. When an animal’s injuries would preclude its release and its temperament isn’t suitable for an educational animal, euthanasia is more humane than a stress-filled life of captivity.

Rehabbers don’t make the decision to euthanize an animal lightly. It’s a generally touted statistic in rehab circles that some 50% of the wildlife we receive will either require euthanasia or die during the rehab process. We weigh the options carefully and sometimes delay the inevitable, hoping for a miracle. I always say that you can euthanize later if need be, but once it’s done, you can’t take it back. And every now and then, we get that miracle we hope for and watch another beautiful critter take its rightful place back in the wild. It’s my personal opinion that every release is a small miracle, and it’s my privilege to be a part of that small miracle.

6 Comments
neener
1/17/2013 04:57:25 pm

Dancing the jig here for you and the wonderful work you do! The male gsw RT does put on a show, doesn't he? He's surely feeling better! :)
Happy the frounce was caught in time and release was possible~ as long as he doesn't hang around to gobble up any of your releases! Rodents only guy! :)
Sorry about the adult Rt, goose and GHO tho~ It's obvious how severely they were injured and the best choice was made.
Here's hoping that Feb. will be a slower month for you...
neener

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
1/17/2013 10:32:48 pm

Thanks, Neener!

Reply
Ann Feldman
1/18/2013 12:22:42 am

Your philosophy on euthanasia is well balanced. And you have to be grateful for every success story.Ann

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
1/21/2013 01:43:42 pm

Thanks, Ann, and I am grateful for every single success story.

Reply
Ida Blanche Suskind
1/18/2013 12:53:13 am

Neener said it so well! This world is so fortunate to have your effort and knowledge working daily to maintain that special balance of humans, animals and birds on our planet. Thank you!!!

Reply
Laurens Wildlife Rescue
1/21/2013 01:44:43 pm

Thanks, Ida!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008

    Categories

    All
    Baby Birds
    Baby Deer
    Baby Opossums
    Baby Possums
    Baby Rabbits
    Bluegray Gnatcatchers
    Carolina Wren
    Common Loons
    Epd
    Fawns
    House Finch
    Mbta
    Migratory Bird Treaty Act
    Mockers
    Mockingbirds
    Orphaned Birds
    Orphaned Deer
    Orphaned Fawns
    Orphaned Opossums
    Orphaned Possums
    Orphaned Rabbits
    Orphaned Wildlife
    Squirrels
    Wildlife
    Wood Ducks

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.