The last few exciting weeks in wildlife.

Animal intake increased sharply in June as a wide variety of orphaned birds and mammals came through the center. Among the orphans received were six young Barn Owls. Five of the owlets were sent to us from east of the Cascades after they were anonymously left in a box on the doorstep of an Animal Shelter. The sixth owlet was found in Maple Valley and came to us after it was dropped off at the Seattle Animal Shelter. Other than a little dehydration, all 6 owlets were all in decent shape on arrival. Over the past few weeks the Barn Owls have been eating and growing, shedding their white, downy feathers for more adult looking flight, tail and body feathers. All six have been sharing a large outdoor aviary and have become capable flyers. When you enter the cage, the owls tend to huddle together and put on elaborate displays of "mantling" and "toe dusting." Mantling is a display in which the birds spread their wings, puff out their body feathers and spread their tail in an attempt to look larger than they really are. Toe dusting is often done in conjunction with mantling, and it involves the owls dropping their heads toward the ground and swishing them back and forth quickly. The combined activities are meant to deter a potential predator from coming any closer, and the impressive wing spread combined with the bizarre movements really can be intimidating.  The effect is amplified when several owls are doing it together.  I took some pictures recently when I entered the cage to check on the birds and count how many mice they are eating or not. They are now all doing individual live prey tests and all seem to be getting passing marks. By the end of July all of these Barn Owls should be ready to return to their home in the wild

One of the cases that was also brought in recently was this poor little chipmunk who homeowners discovered the hard way that mouse traps do not make a distinction between mice and any other small animals that might try to take the bait.  In this case, a Townsends Chipmunk had investigated the snap-style trap that had been put outside in the hopes of reducing the number of mice on the property.  The sound of high pitched squeaks prompted them to check their trap, and they were horrified to discover the injured chipmunk caught in its spring-loaded grip.  After freeing the unintended victim from the trap, they brought him in for treatment. The vet found that he had suffered serious head trauma.  In addition, he was bleeding from a wound by his right ear and both the radius and ulna in his right foreleg had been fractured.  He was treated for shock, given medications to reduce swelling in his brain and injured leg, and started on antibiotics to prevent infection in the wound by his ear.  He responded well to treatment.  Over the course of the following week the chipmunk slowly recovered from the head trauma.  His fractured leg began to heal and soon he was moved to an outdoor enclosure to continue his recovery. As of this last Tuesday the chipmunk was bright, alert and doing well in his new environment.  In the photo you can see that he is favoring his right forelimb.  He uses the leg when running and climbing, but it will still be some time before it is fully healed and his soreness subsides.  Fortunately though, he is expected to make a full recovery. 

how cute is this little guy

One  more that came in last week when I was there was  a bird found because a guy had walked out into his yard and saw something fall off of his roof.  When he investigated he found this Red-breasted Sapsucker sitting on the ground, seemingly unable to fly.  He scooped the bird up, placed him in a box and brought him for care. During the sapsucker’s intake examination, rehabilitators noted some bruises and swelling over the bird’s breastbone and pectoral muscles.  The bird also seemed weak and depressed.  Although the man who found the sapsucker had not seen it happen, the birds injuries were consistent with his having collided with a window. Over the next few days following his admission, the sapsucker was provided with supplemental heat, fluids and supportive care.  He slowly began to perk up and by day four he was able to make short, controlled flights.  He was moved into a large, outdoor aviary that is specialized for housing woodpeckers.  As of Tuesday he is continuing to improve and is expected to make a full recovery.

Isn't he pretty?

The last week or so have been super exciting at the wildlife center. The big news is that 6 of our bear cubs got to be released this week and it’s so happy that they get to go back to a hopefully long life in the wild.   I wasn’t around for the first release when four cubs went to the Washington Cascades but I heard from people that it was pretty chaotic. Fish and Wildlife officers are heavily involved in these releases so between them, the normal vets and rehabbers and volunteers, and the two news stations that wanted to film it, you can imagine how many people were witnessing this big event.  When they get the bears to the location of choice for the release. They are greeted by a bunch of mean bear chasing dogs and shot at with bean bag pellets to help encourage them to stay fearful of humans and run far into the brush never looking back.  I’m sure sad to see them get this distressed, especially for such a happy event,  but it’s a very much needed step in the release process to help ensure they never develop captive tendencies or ever think humans are good.

 I stole this picture from the website since I wasn't there.

 I was around this last Tuesday when two more got to get darted and loaded up to travel down to Oregon where they will be released. It was a much easier process both cause this time it was only two animals involved, but also cause we had some many less bears in the center that it was easier to tell who was who in all the chaos.  After getting them all loaded up on the trailer we got to unload what Oregon fish and wildlife brought us in exchange.  They brought two emaciated harbor seals and one very very sick looking elephant seal.  Unfortunately the elephant seal got checked out first and it was discovered very quickly that he had a very advanced case of a deadly disease and we had to euthanize him right away. But the two harbor seals seem thin but had no underlying immediate issues so they were admitted and given happy little pools to hang out in to see if we can get them fattened up and back into the wild. I had never been able to get that close to a real life seal before.  I was able to touch him and feel the cool kinda fur all over his body. It was so cool and I was  given the chance to learn how to tube feed the thing,  and besides a bunch of struggling I managed to do a fairly successful job of it. Afterwards I couldn’t help but think about how freaking cool my dad would have thought that was,  and once again I was struck by a moment of sadness he isn’t around to share all these experiences with. I know he would be proud of his daughter handing the marine life like that. 

After his tubing..

the other one.. don't they look sad.

 My life has been so much more fulfilled ever since I started to volunteer here. I have widened my knowledge on so many different animals. I have made some truly awesome friends, and I have done some things that are really incredible and would never had been able to do if not for taking the time to work hard and give my time. It’s such a weird thing to know that even in a tiny way I had an impact on some creature here.  Its one of the best things that I do and I look forward to all the time I get to spend there.