Wildlife Rehabilitation Report for April 3, 2024
Sickly Racoon
This poor raccoon came in emaciated and riddled with parasites. Thankfully, he is responding to treatment well and is making a good recovery. It might be hard to tell from the grainy black and white picture, but he went from unable to move, to climbing around and getting his food from the crate fastened on the wall. This kind of activity is set up as a test so we can see how well he is performing at the typical things a raccoon needs to be able to do to survive. He’s been passing all of his tests, and we expect to be able to return him back to his wild home in the next week or so.
Goldfinch Window Strike
This little goldfinch was brought in after hitting a homeowner’s window. As far as window strikes go, it wasn’t too bad. He didn’t have any broken bones, and after treatment with anti-inflammatory medications, tasty seeds and some rest and relaxation, he was ready to be returned to the wild.
Great-horned Owl Update
It’s been a long haul for this great-horned owl. You may remember from previous emails that this owl came in back in January after someone found her on the ground, unable to fly. It was immediately evident she had been sprayed in the face by a skunk because she not only smelled like a skunk, but her eyes were cloudy, and she could not see very well. She also had a Capillaria parasitic infection that was making it very difficult for her to keep food down. On top of all that, she had ruptured air sacs, indicative of blunt trauma. Along the way, she has gone through a lot of ups and downs. Still, we are happy to report that the parasitic infection is gone, the ruptured air sacs have healed, and her vision has been improving. Where previously, she had a hard time seeing perches, she now lands in them every time. You can’t easily tell from the video frame capture, but in live prey tests, she has been able to find and capture her own food. A few tests are remaining for her to pass, but we are hopeful she can be released back to the wild soon.