For about three hours early last week, LWR had NO critters in rehab. Recall, if you will, that the three young screeches were released the week of Thanksgiving. The old and tattered great blue heron died peacefully in his sleep last Sunday night. So Monday morning—no rehabs. Wow. Weird feeling.
But it didn’t last. That afternoon, within 10 minutes of each other, two calls came in. One caller had a baby squirrel or a chipmunk; she wasn’t sure which, but it was injured. While LWR’s focus is primarily birds and flying squirrels, since I had neither at the moment, I agreed to meet the caller and see what could be done. On the way to meet her, the second call came in; this caller had a “baby” owl that he’d found in the middle of the road. Wrong time of year for baby owls, so of course he had to have a screech. I told him I’d meet him as soon as I got the squirrel or chipmunk in hand and could see what actions it required.
What Caller 1 actually had was an adult chipmunk. They’re tiny little things, even as adults. His left back leg was bloody and raw, a fresh wound, so I quickly treated him and got him settled in a proper cage before meeting Caller 2.
But it didn’t last. That afternoon, within 10 minutes of each other, two calls came in. One caller had a baby squirrel or a chipmunk; she wasn’t sure which, but it was injured. While LWR’s focus is primarily birds and flying squirrels, since I had neither at the moment, I agreed to meet the caller and see what could be done. On the way to meet her, the second call came in; this caller had a “baby” owl that he’d found in the middle of the road. Wrong time of year for baby owls, so of course he had to have a screech. I told him I’d meet him as soon as I got the squirrel or chipmunk in hand and could see what actions it required.
What Caller 1 actually had was an adult chipmunk. They’re tiny little things, even as adults. His left back leg was bloody and raw, a fresh wound, so I quickly treated him and got him settled in a proper cage before meeting Caller 2.
That's not a tick on his back leg; it's a beetle that he soon snacked on.
Caller 2 indeed had a screech owl, red phase, adult. He had been in a line of cars on the road at night, and the three cars in front of him passed the screech, who was sitting on the yellow line in the middle of the road. Caller 2 nearly passed by, as well, because the screech, huddled on the pavement, looked like a pine cone. He said, however, the “pine cone” turned its head as he went by, so he immediately pulled over and stopped the cars behind him long enough to rescue the screech. Kudos for his keen observation and for stopping when he realized the “pine cone” was in fact a live owl in need of assistance. Upon intake, his right iris had some blood in the bottom, and the pupil was slightly misshapen; the left eye was closed tightly.
Both intakes headed to Smalley’s Animal Hospital the next day. Because chipmunks are vicious little snots, I’d waited for a second pair of hands to do a thorough exam. Based on my initial exam and treatment of the wound, I was sure the chipmunk would need stitches, but vet Richie Hatcher, after examining the leg, said it was merely raw and not ripped open. The topical and oral antibiotics I had begun treatment with were fine to continue. He was active and eating well after his vet visit. Unfortunately, the little guy must’ve had internal injuries, as he died that night.
Richie said the slightly misshapen pupil in the screech’s right eye was likely from tissue “hanging” on the inside and, we hoped, wouldn’t impair his vision in that eye. The left eye was still swollen shut but when we gently pried it open the pupil, although massively dilated, didn’t appear misshapen in any way. After Richie gave the screech a steroid injection to bring down any residual swelling, standard for head traumas, we agreed on non-steroidal eye drops for the left eye.
The screech was extremely calm throughout the entire exam and remains unnaturally docile, indicating some serious brain trauma. It can often take weeks for this sort of injury to heal properly, and sometimes it just doesn’t. In addition, his left eye remains closed, so we may be looking at impaired vision in that eye. We won’t know for sure for some time. Meanwhile, he’s safe, warm and well-fed while he recovers.
Richie said the slightly misshapen pupil in the screech’s right eye was likely from tissue “hanging” on the inside and, we hoped, wouldn’t impair his vision in that eye. The left eye was still swollen shut but when we gently pried it open the pupil, although massively dilated, didn’t appear misshapen in any way. After Richie gave the screech a steroid injection to bring down any residual swelling, standard for head traumas, we agreed on non-steroidal eye drops for the left eye.
The screech was extremely calm throughout the entire exam and remains unnaturally docile, indicating some serious brain trauma. It can often take weeks for this sort of injury to heal properly, and sometimes it just doesn’t. In addition, his left eye remains closed, so we may be looking at impaired vision in that eye. We won’t know for sure for some time. Meanwhile, he’s safe, warm and well-fed while he recovers.
Perching on the edge of his box after having his eye treated.
Unfortunately, the third intake of the week wasn’t as fortunate, spending two days trapped in a vehicle grille because the driver initially thought he was dead and then was scared to attempt to remove him and could find no one to help her. Because there are so few rehabbers in the state, and even fewer who are federally licensed, which is required to rehab birds, DNR often simply tells callers to “let nature take its course”, meaning to just abandon the orphaned, ill or injured animal rather than drive two or three (or more) counties away to a licensed rehabber.
When the driver finally did find someone to remove the screech and get him to LWR, the intake exam showed a broken wing and leg, both on the left side. X-rays at Smalley’s the next morning showed fractures that couldn’t be mended. The wing fracture actually appeared to be an open fracture, although neither vet Peggy Hobby nor I could find the exposed bone. Peggy and Richie, sharing my love of screeches, extensively debated possible ways to fix the little fellow, reaching the conclusion that there was really nothing that could be done except end his suffering.
When the driver finally did find someone to remove the screech and get him to LWR, the intake exam showed a broken wing and leg, both on the left side. X-rays at Smalley’s the next morning showed fractures that couldn’t be mended. The wing fracture actually appeared to be an open fracture, although neither vet Peggy Hobby nor I could find the exposed bone. Peggy and Richie, sharing my love of screeches, extensively debated possible ways to fix the little fellow, reaching the conclusion that there was really nothing that could be done except end his suffering.
Last week I asked for firm commitments from 25 people by Dec. 4 before creating a 2016 LWR calendar. Unfortunately, we fell far short of that figure, with only 9 firm commitments. To those of you who were planning on purchasing calendars, I do apologize, but there will be no 2016 LWR calendar.
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