Nate called from Fountain Fire Station 1 after an injured American Kestrel was brought over for help. Unfortunately, a cat had toyed with the falcon and his injuries are quite serious-a broken humerus, ruptured air sacs, and all the bacteria that accompanies cat claws and teeth. This bird is definitely not out of the woods. Very few survive cat attacks and we don’t begin feeling optimistic until 10 days have passed. Keep your fingers crossed….
The Fort Carson pocket gopher that rehabber Kris has been wintering over has become very active in the last several weeks, awake during the day and most of the night. When Kris checked on her one morning and found she had chewed thru’ her container, Kris decided it was time to release her. Kris had located a perfect release site, one where the gophers were already above ground and active, and one morning last week Kris released the pocket gopher there. The gopher immediately began digging her way underground, and when Kris came back to check a few hours later, there was a nice mound (above) indicating Karen the Gopher tunneled and did exactly what she is supposed to do!
GHO hit not once, but TWICE by cars! Enjoying a meal of jumbo mice.
Here’s what DOW wildlife officer Jeromy Huntington says about his very early morning “wake-up call” from Colorado Springs Police Department, who named the owl Lucky.
“When I got the wakeup call early AM, a guy hit the owl somewhere near Powers and Briargate Pkwy. The guy did not know what happened to the owl until he pulled into the YMCA parking lot near Austin Bluffs and Family Place and noticed the owl on top of his luggage rack, holding on. Before the owl was able to be captured, it flew off into the street to be hit by a different car for the second time. PD captured the bird for me and kept an eye on it until I arrived to take to the vet. I thought I had a bad start by getting woke up from the phone call… this owl had a worst one by getting hit twice.”
When an Ellicott resident decided to evict pigeons from her barn to prepare for horses, she had no idea what she was about to find! After chasing the adult birds out of the building, she was shocked to find she was left with a whole lotta babies-approximately 50 in all. She didn’t know that unlike most other birds, pigeons don’t have a “baby season;” they have babies all year long. Not knowing what else to do, she placed the bigger, feathered babies in a stall with seed and water, and then loaded up the neonates into a container and drove into town, where she searched pet stores in an effort to find baby bird formula, to no avail. She ultimately caught up with Phil and handed the babies to him. Phil brought the babies to EWRC. The tiny babies were only a few hours old, and were icy cold and wet on arrival. A few were DOA. The remaining neonates are doing well so far, and are on syringe feedings. An enormous THANK YOU to Laurie, Aurora, Nancy, Lynette, Chris, and everyone who responded to help take some of the neonates and bigger babies into their care. Update 03/02: The “teenie weenies” are doing well, receiving more concentrated formula via more feedings, and able to take a little more at each feeding. I think a few eyes will be opening very soon!
Same babies, same container…
Update 03/08–What a difference a week makes! All the babies are growing very quickly and seem to be doing well. All of their eyes have opened and they’re getting fuzzier. They’ve been divided into 2 groups, larger and smaller. They are still on heat 24/7 and snuggle together after feedings. Lifting each one up for feeding is like pulling from a Barrel O’Monkeys-their wings are growing and they sort of tangle together. Already the babies are opening their beaks for food. They can’t yet stand, but are very mobile, scooting along and very active. The smaller babies are fed first, and the larger ones weeble-wobble themselves up to the cloth wall and tumble over into the area of the smaller babies, where they hunker down and try to blend in with the smaller ones, hoping to get fed sooner!
Merlin with a broken wing from Fountain.
Diana Miller suspects a car hit for this golden eagle from Flagler.
We’ve been pretty quiet around here lately, but over the weekend another golden eagle came to rehab as well as a merlin. Golden eagle was picked up by DOW Duane Stegner off the baseball diamond in Flagler. The bird looks pretty good; standing up, alert, good body condition. She enjoyed a long drink of water upon intake and a big, fresh meal. The bird has been transferred to the Pueblo Raptor Center to spend time with another golden eagle in rehab there, and we are hopeful she will be released back home to Flager in the next couple of weeks or so. Merlin hit a window and was grounded for three days. The concerned homeowners contacted Frank Dodge’s Wild Bird Center, where EWRC volunteer Lynn happened to be at work. Lynn promptly drove to Fountain and captured the injured falcon, and took her to the vet, where Dr. Heather Becker provided wound care and diagnostics that revealed a fractured wing. We’ll have to see how that wing heals.
This golden eagle had been observed struggling in Lincoln County for a week or so, unable to fly well, before one day Kyle went out to the pasture to find the cows in a huddle. Upon closer inspection, Kyle found the unmoving eagle on his back, surrounded by cows. Thinking the bird was dead, Kyle picked the eagle up, whereupon it opened its eyes. Kyle brought the bird inside, placed him in a pen, offered a freshly dead cottontail, and called DOW officer Aaron. Aaron picked up the bird and called to ask where to bring it, and I told him to the vet, please. Dr. Peacock at Animal Emergency Care Center North took time out of her busy hectic day to examine the eagle, x-ray him, and provide subcu fluids. The eagle was then brought to EWRC, arriving emaciated, skinny, feathers in bad condition, on his belly and unable to stand, feet clenched into balls, and unresponsive. More fluids were provided and by Monday the eagle had perked up a little bit. Today he is en route to the Pueblo Raptor Center, where a lead level will be drawn and chelation therapy initiated if indicated. Please keep your fingers crossed for this bird’s successful healing and hopeful release.
A squirrel and a robin in a bare, snow-dusted tree might not seem unusual to you but it is because we have never had squirrels here before and have no idea where this one came from, and also the robins don’t come here until April. So, does this mean an early spring for us?
Nick McGrane’s Second Grade Class at the Friends’ School in Boulder is helping wildlife in rehab at EWRC in a REALLY BIG way! The students, who are learning about philanthropy, are excited about learning about Colorado wildlife and are holding a coin drive to benefit the critters, just in time for busy baby season. A big THANK YOU to volunteer intern Lynn, who drove up to Boulder to visit with the Second Grade Class and the entire school to answer questions and share our work at EWRC, and how wildlife is beneficial and how we can help wildlife. THANK YOU FRIENDS’ SCHOOL SECOND GRADE CLASS!
GHO entangled in soccer netting at Harrison High School was cut out of the netting by DOW officer Steve Cooley.
We’re off to a busy beginning in the New Year! Magpie came to rehab after suffering what looked like head trauma. A sharp-shinned hawk came to rehab after hitting a window hard enough to knock himself silly. A pigeon with what looks like paramyxovirus came to rehab and is currently on syringe feedings. Pigeon with a broken wing from Douglas County Animal Services is flying, and two other pigeons in rehab are doing well. Within the next couple of weeks the phone will start ringing with orphaned baby squirrels. Spring is just around the corner!
A ringtail cat came to rehab yesterday via DOW officer Aaron. The “cat” seems healthy enough but was getting into trouble and is awaiting a suitable relocation. The ringtail cat is actually a member of the raccoon family.
Fortunately the Snowy Owl sat still long enough to get a few pix!
It seems the arctic weather we’ve had around here lately has brought more than broken pipes and frozen drains! Joy and Gary Curtis called me Friday, very excited about a bird in their Peyton neighborhood they’ve never seen before. Joy stated the big white owl was one they were convinced was a snowy owl. Seriously doubting it could be a snowy owl, I told her that probably it was a lighter phase Great Horned Owl, as the GHOs in our area tend to be very light in color. She said no, this owl had a very round head. I told her probably the GHO’s feather tufts weren’t up. Well, she and Gary went out again and found their bird, and came back in and called again. After having looked thru’ their bird books and on the Internet, they were convinced their lovely white owl is indeed a Snowy Owl! So Phil and I went out to have a look, but the bird was gone and all that remained was a huge crowd of very excited bird watchers and photographers. As near as I can find, this would be the third confirmed Snowy Owl sighting in Colorado, ever. Truly a once in a lifetime!
Update Jan. 11th 3:30 p.m.-Today I went and saw with my own eyes-it is indeed a beautiful male Snowy Owl! A man was kind enough to share his spotting equipment so we got to see very close up and I have to say, never seen anything so beautiful in my life! Makes me wish I had a fancy camera……!
If you’re going to go see the owl, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL! This is private property and people live here.
Kaz called from the Big Cats of Serenity Springs in Calhan the other day. Nick and folks from the BCSS have brought injured raptors here to rehab over the years, including a young Swainson’s hawk in late summer that was released in time for migration. Kaz informed me that during routine rounds of the big cat pens, they were quite surprised to find a small hawk in one of the tiger pens, eye to eye with what Kaz informed me was one of their more rambunctious felines-tiger Denise! The bemused feline tolerated the hawk in her pen, for how long nobody knows, before staff very carefully removed the hawk from her pen. Unfortunately the first-year Northern Harrier had suffered major head and body trauma, including massive bruising and broken air sacs; we’re guessing not from Denise the tiger but perhaps an encounter with a car or impact while hunting.
Fox had been observed moving around on 3 legs for about 6 weeks after apparently getting hit by a car. We live-trapped her and brought her to Deer Creek, where she had surgery to repair a hip dislocation. She’s using her “new” leg, albeit somewhat gingerly, but true to fox form she is busily spending her days outdoors trying to figure out how to escape! Her leg is bald from being shaved for surgery, so to prevent frostbite she’s brought in at night. Once the fur grows back she’ll be released back home! The critters need your linens! Gently-used towels, sheets, and blankets are needed. Please call 719-683-8152.
Squirrels have been coming to rehab. Squirrel (above) had been hit by a mail truck and is now improving after an eye preservation procedure by East Springs Animal Hospital, and preparing for release. Unfortunately the person who dropped him off at the vet left no information behind as to where the squirrel came from, so release and winter survival may be tricky for this juvie squirrel, who will have to be released in a place not his home, and where he has no food store for winter. Dr. Coufal at Black Forest Veterinary Clinic has conducted surgeries on other squirrels that came to rehab with significant abscesses. Dr. Coufal does a beautiful wide and deep abscess excision, taking care to spare tissue needed for functional extremities, which so far has meant all the squirrels’ abscesses have healed beautifully and without complications, and they have been released!
Pocket gopher accidentally dug up out of hibernation remains in semi-hibernation until spring, rousing herself every several days or so for a quick drink of water, munching on some rooty foods, and of course, rebuilding her “nest!”
Pocket gopher had a rude awakening from hibernation!
Barn owl from Ellicott was cut out of barbed wire fence.
Ross goose came from the Humane Society!
Critters are still arriving to rehab! An excavator from Fort Carson called, concerned over inadvertantly digging up what he thought might be a baby beaver. Tom O’Toole went from Peterson to pick up the critter and drove her to rehabber Kris. Turns out the busy little critter isn’t a beaver at all but a sleepy pocket gopher with a significant flea load. Darlice was on her way to work the other morning when she saw something hanging in barbed wire on Ellicott Road. She was shocked to find a barn owl dangling there. She didn’t have tools with her but quickly and gently untwisted the bird and brought first here, and then to the vet for care. “Barney” is currently stable and we’ll see how that wing heals. The Pikes Peak Humane Society called with a goose they recognized as wild, brought there with a wing injury. Turns out the goose, strikingly similar in appearance to a snow goose, is a Ross goose. Volunteer John Cavallo picked up the wild and winged critter, and brought here for rehab. Squirrel with abscesses is looking much improved, thanks to Dr. Coufal, and is recovering in an outdoor enclosure. Rehabber Kris managed to live trap a citizen’s injured fox, and the fox is scheduled for major hip surgery. Kris is still trying to live trap an injured coyote so it can be assessed and cared for. So much for “quiet season!”
Saw Whet Owl held her own next to Great Horned Owl Hootie!
Diana and Nadine
This weekend we enjoyed participating in Cheyenne Mountain State Park’s Creatures of the Night programs. GHO Hootie and Saw Whet Owl Nadine educated and entertained visitors of all ages!
Things haven’t really slowed down much here at EWRC! Sick and injured critters are still arriving to rehab, and yesterday brought a very late, very lost migratory burrowing owl! These owls should have migrated out of Colorado a couple of months ago, and winter over in the southern states and Mexico. Alison and her husband were driving from the Florissant Fossil Beds when Alison spotted what she thought was just another chunk of snow on the road. As they were driving over the lump, to her surpise she saw the bright yellow eyes of the little bird. Alison convinced her husband to turn the car around to check the status of the owl. The bird seemed dazed but was still alive, so Alison dumped out a box of kitchen wares and placed the owl in the box, then proceeded to look for help for the bird. She connected with DOW officer Aaron, who took the owl to the vet, where exam showed no significant findings. The vet called to say a burrowing owl needed a pickup and I was sure they had misidentified the bird, but when volunteer Steve brought the bird for rehab, sure enough it was a plump, alert, and seemingly healthy burrowing owl!
This garter snake, rescued by rehabber Kris, suffered a frost-bitten tongue.
Another strange occurence, presumably due to the frigid nights, warm days, and possible youngsters not sufficiently hibernated, was brought to rehabber Kris’ attention. In her area for a span of almost a week, a significant number of garden snakes were coming up to the roads for warmth, only to be driven over by cars. Kris went out scouting for salvageable snakes twice daily for several days and found a couple of live ones.
Kris and Bob arrived on the scene to rescue an injured crane…
…and found a bird in pain with injuries that couldn’t be repaired. This is an open leg fracture.
Kris and Bob ventured out into the snow-packed, icy roads to rescue an injured crane. When they arrived, it appeared the bird had crashed, perhaps mistaking an icy paved area for water and crash-landing. Two crane companions waited next to him. Sadly, the bird suffered a significant and painful fracture that was irreparable.
Rehabber Alison managed to live-trap an adult squirrel that is suffering a major jaw abscess, and with help from Dr. Germeroth and rehabber Heilke, the abscess was cleaned and debrided, and the squirrel is getting proper care with anticipated release in the near future. Alison braved the snow and ice today to pick up an unfortunate flicker that ended up submerged in an oil pan at a mechanic shop. With gentle and not-too-excessive washings, warmth, fluids, proper food, and a stress-free environment for healing, we’re hoping the bird will survive his oily ordeal.
Old enclosure must come down…
…to make room for the new!
Today we began work on our biggest project of the year-construction of the Lauren Townsend Memorial Mammal Enclosure. Because of the generosity of Lauren’s family we are able to build an enclosure that will be the temporary home of healing wild mammals for years to come. The enclosure will consist of 3 conjoined areas that will be able to be opened to create 2 larger and/or 1 very large enclosure. Careful planning, and proper wire and materials means the enclosure will safely, securely, and comfortably house convalescing critters from bears to bobcats to badgers to bats, and everything in between! The work today consisted of tearing down the old enclosure to make room for the new. Thankfully it was a perfect weather day. Lots of pulling, tearing, and digging (so sorry, folks!) and now the area will be leveled. We anticipate construction of the Lauren Enclosure to begin two weeks from this weekend. A big THANK YOU to all of you who came out to work today; John and Louise, Sharon and Tom, Pam and Al, Brandon and Andrew, Patrick and his very well-behaved dog, Michele and Gabe, Natalie, and Ann and Rodney.
This is Colorado so we shouldn’t be surprised, but it still feels like a shock! We went from 77 degrees and sunny to frozen, snow, and black ice within the space of less than a day! Brrrrrr. We had to bring in some of the less-acclimated critters to keep them warm while others have full adult coats of fur and feathers so were fine outside! Fortunately we’re warming up over the next few days!
Meanwhile, the phone has been ringing all day with people finding hummingbirds frozen to outdoor nectar feeders. We recommend keeping those bird feeders clean and full through Thanksgiving, for the stragglers and strugglers. We believe migration is an instinct and keeping feeders does not interfere with that instinct; if a hummer is healthy and able to migrate, he will migrate. The feeders can be a lifesaver for a struggling bird. If you find a hummer sleeping on your feeder, please bring both inside and call us.
Still hopping around here! GHO from unknown location near Denver was released Tuesday evening, looking good! The Swainson’s hawks were released last month, in time for their migration to Argentina. Most of the songbirds and all of the water birds have been released. The coyotes have grown from pups into full-grown, completely wild young adults and will be released this week, back to where they came from. The last batch of cottontails has grown from neonates and are ready to moved outdoors for prerelease.
Within the last few days we’ve gotten tiny fledgeling goldfinches into rehab, and I just can’t believe it’s almost mid-October and yet we are still on a formula feeding schedule!
The “Black Forest Eagle” was released. She’s actually a red-tailed hawk that grew up, matured, and did very well in rehab!
When wildlife officer Jeromy brought this bird to rehab from Burlington, I must confess I wasn’t sure what it was, other than a young hawk. I knew what it wasn’t but not what it was, so thanks to Alex and Diana from Pueblo Raptor Center, it was determined this is an immature Broad-Winged Hawk, usually found EAST of Kansas. The bird may have been hit by a car, has head trauma.
Barn Owl from Calhan suffered a very serious and irreparable fracture of his wing.
Wow! I haven’t seen an oppossum since living in Michigan! They are apparently moving into the southern part of Colorado the last few years, though. This one was found in Pueblo, and dropped off as a malnourished youngster to Colorado Wolf and Wildlife, who promptly provided necessary critical care before sending her here for rehab. We anticipate she’ll heal well and recover from her nutrition issues, and we anticipate a spring release.
Wildlife officer Aaron brought this female merlin to rehab. She was in very bad shape, emaciated and dehydrated, in organ failure, and didn’t make it.
Oh, my goodness, it’s been very busy around here, even though this time of year we expect things to slow down a bit. Lots of releases going on right now with many more scheduled in the next few weeks, including hawks, owls, coyotes, cottontails, and more songbirds. In the meantime, more critters arriving to rehab daily, many in terrible, terrible condition; hummingbirds peeled from sticky fly traps; duck with a broken neck, birds very very sick with suspected West Nile Virus, finches and sparrows with trich, and the usual accidents and problems. We are very, very tired and looking forward to the winter “break!”
Volunteer intern Lynn organizes the Triage Clinic
Little brown bat from Calhan came to rehab.
The Frost family found this cottontail as a teeny tiny, eyes-closed, ears down neonate, lying on the sidewalk by the mailbox, in the hot sun. Bunny is growing and doing well!
Matt found this Mississippi kite on the 9th hole on a Colorado Springs golf course. The kites really don’t belong in this area but because of loss of habitat they’re found farther north in our state, and not doing so well. These birds require toasty weather for survival and Matt’s kite was sent to Pueblo Raptor Center for release with the others.
This is one of the saddest sights I’ve seen all summer. This baby collared dove has significant deformities of both feet, genetic or the result of grossly inadequate nutrition, I’m not entirely sure but he’s on heavy-duty vitamins and homeopathy, and hopefully we can turn this around.
Lissa’s little cottontails.
Cliff swallows from Fairplay. Dad with an injured shoulder (right) will need to be wintered over because it’s doubtful he’ll be healed in time for migration. Baby (left) was released in Pueblo with other cliff swallows, all flying like champs and looking great! Look for release video on our web site soon!
We saw this guy at the Nature Center of Pueblo. Not quite sure what he is; how about you? He’s in the process of molting and the color is actually deep orange. He sounds like a grackle but sure doesn’t look like one!
Here are our tiniest patients of the season-baby mice!
You’d never know it was August, judging by how busy it’s been around here! Lots of releases happening and more to come in the next few weeks, and of course, a late batch of baby birds and bunnies, and the usual injured and sick adults. We’re all tired and cranky, awaiting a “break” in October when things hopefully slow down just a tad!
Wildlife Triage Clinic is built and functional, though needs some finishing work on the inside…
We are seeking help via donations and volunteering\so we can finish the Wildlife Triage Clinic by painting, finishing the floors, adding a couple of more windows, electricity, insulation, and drywall to the interior of the Triage Clinic. The loft area above offers some much-needed space for storing supplies.
We are excited to announce that the EWRC Wildlife Care Center project is very slowly but very surely making good progress! Phase 1, the Wildlife Triage Clinic, was built yesterday. This is the area where individuals and agencies will bring wildlife that needs help; the place where intake paperwork will be completed, and the animals examined and assessed for placement to the new ICU, Nursery, and/or Quarantine (not built yet!) The Triage area will also be where, until the new Care Center is completed, wildlife will be placed during blizzards, when they must be removed from their outdoor enclosures for protection against the freezing temps and drifting snow. The Wildlife Triage Clinic to date has been made possible by funding from The Aiken Audubon Society, The Lawrence Foundation, the Animal Assistance Foundation, The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation, and Starlight and Larry Snell. We are still seeking donations of materials and/or funds to insulate and drywall (put up walls) for the Triage Clinic, as well as bring electricity to it. We still need to raise $20,000 to begin Phase 2 of the Wildlife Care Center project-to build the larger building for the ICU/Nursery/Quarantine areas-for animals. Please contact us for more information!
Chrissie, Kendall, Phil, and Kris upon the owl’s arrival to rehab.
Kris mentioned that on the way from Parker to Ellicott there was a very nasty smell emanating from the owl’s box. Upon removal of the owl from the box we found that the bird had coughed up a pellet on the way here. I bet you can tell by looking at the owl’s pellet (above) what it had for dinner Sunday night!
Tia and Kris of Parker were driving home late Sunday night when a pair of enormous golden eyes flashed in their windshield for a split second after which they heard a thump! against the side of their car. They pulled over to see what had happened and found a Great Horned Owl lying by the side of the road. The unresponsive, unmoving bird was picked up and gently laid on the car’s back seat, and Tia and Kris continued on home. When they got home the owl appeared to be dying, and they placed the bird on a soft fluffy towel, then into a large box, then into the barn, where they fully expected the bird to pass. Imagine their surprise yesterday morning when they opened up the barn door and instead of a lifeless body in the box they found a very ticked off owl standing up, out of the box, and across the barn! They carefully approached the owl and it postured at them, spreading its wings, bouncing side to side, hissing and clacking its beak at them! Tia and Kris called us to see what they should do. We wanted the bird brought to rehab so we could assess damage from the collision with the car. Easier said than done! This was not a motionless bird that they could pick up bare-handed and put back in the box. This was an unhappy bird that wanted no part of handling or that box, and it took some doing but eventually Tia and Kris got the owl back into the box. Tia called her sister Chrissie, who together with Kendall and Chris, loaded up the owl and drove it all the way here to Ellicott. Physical exam revealed signs of head trauma and stress, but no broken bones or obvious signs of internal injuries. We anticipate the owl will do well in rehab and be released back home soon. We’ll keep you posted!