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!