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!