10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2015

My work as a wildlife rehabilitator over the past forty-five years has allowed me a unique perspective on a disturbing trend. Consider this: ninety percent of birds treated at wildlife centers are admitted as a result of human interactions that have nothing to do with “nature.” The difference seems obvious.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 189

Wildlife Rehabilitation Bald Eagle Rescue Wildlife 189

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 12, 2016

Today’s blog was written by Kathy Hershey, co-founder of Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators in Hope, Indiana. Animal control authorities had been on his trail for weeks. Local animal control, the police, and our rehabilitation center were all called, but he proved uncatchable. It was happening again … Parker was back.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 133

Wildlife Rehabilitation Mice Indiana Game 133

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2015

There would then be three options: 1) re-home them to people who will keep them inside; 2) drop them off at an animal shelter as far away as possible; or 3) humanely euthanize them. Enough hand-wringing, enough taking butchered birds to exhausted, emotionally drained wildlife rehabilitators. It’s time for this to end.

Feral Cats 259

Feral Cats Feral Cats Wildlife Rehabilitation 259

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

This guest blog was written by Debbie Souza-Pappas, the director and founder of Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation in Price, Utah. Thanks to his work, many people and animals have functioning limbs and can live productive lives. The trap was not attached but it was obvious this was the cause, and the x-ray confirmed it.

Eagles 147

Eagles Wildlife Rehabilitation Utah Vet 147

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 15, 2013

“I’ve seen her around, when I was setting my traps,” said the trapper himself, who brought her to Tamarack Wildlife Center , in Saegertown, PA. This is why certain wildlife rehabilitators end up misanthropic and homicidal. Birds Albino leghold traps leucistic Red-tailed Hawk wildlife rehabilitators'

Wildlife Rehabilitation 196

Wildlife Rehabilitation Wildlife Birds Delaware 196

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2014

So I asked seven wildlife rehabilitators, “Tell me your favorite (or one of your favorites) release story – the kind that makes you keep going, in spite of everything.”. “A I’ve really been wracking my brain because for me releasing is very traumatic,” said Cara Petricca, with Bluebird Farm Animal Sanctuary in Cheshire, MA.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 223

Wildlife Rehabilitation Ohio Tulsa West Virginia 223

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2012

All of the animals, birds and reptiles who live there are native species who were once injured, have gone through rehabilitation, and ended up with a permanent disability which prevented their return to the wild. I wanted to say, you are a testament to the best of humanity, and I am in awe of your compassion.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 206

Wildlife Rehabilitation Wounded Zoos Reptiles 206

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2012

My rehabber friend Lisa Acton, who is with Animal Kingdom USA Wildlife Rehabilitation , picked up her phone and heard the voice of an elderly lady. Lisa installed a mirror in his enclosure, handled him as little as humanly possible, and hid her face when she brought him his meals so he wouldn’t associate a human with food.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 191

Wildlife Rehabilitation Turkey Humane Wildlife 191

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2021

Normally the slender, fairy-feathered shorebirds are shy and avoid the humans who encroach on their territory. That’s it,” said Gay, as rehabbers take it for granted that once they release a bird or animal they will never see it again. Snowy Egrets like to keep their distance. That’s not it,” said Elton.

Virginia 264

Virginia Wildlife Transported Fish 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 29, 2012

Why do you wildlife rehabilitators waste your time saving a cardinal with a broken wing, when you could be giving your money to save habitat? They don’t, because humans are so vastly superior to animals – even child molesters, serial killers, and terrorists. Only once has a child guessed correctly. It’s buckshot,” I say.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 253

Wildlife Rehabilitation Wildlife Rescue Emotional 253

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2020

Faithful 10,000 Birds readers will remember Suzie as our wildlife rehabilitation beat writer. Your posts for 10,000 Birds took us into the unique world of wildlife rehabilitation. But one in particular did not even involve contact with an animal. I can run but I can’t hide. There are so many!

Wildlife Rehabilitation 258

Wildlife Rehabilitation Bald Eagle Eagles Wildlife 258

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2015

In a sequence of events to which every wildlife rehabilitator can relate, stories of the brothers who cared for injured birds circulated, their telephone began to ring, and their quest for medical knowledge escalated. Their bedrooms doubled as operating rooms and critical care units, and the roof of their house became an aviary.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 262

Wildlife Rehabilitation India Rescue Wounded 262

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2012

In responding to Suzie’s post defending wildlife rehabilitation I began to think again about the areas in which animal rights and animal welfare overlap with the field of conservation, and the ways in which they don’t. Not from an environmental perspective but from a “don’t you like animals?”

Animal Rights 263

Animal Rights Rights New Zealand Animal 263

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2016

This blog is written by writer, photographer, and animal advocate Ingrid Taylar. Years ago, I became a wildlife volunteer and advocate because of a cat who caught a bird. I’d rescued birds before, but this time I had to face the wildlife center with a personal connection to the carnage. One typical, blue-sky, L.A.

Cats 213

Cats Stray Cat Stray Wildlife Rehabilitation 213

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2013

But then we get a few heroes who do everything right, who go far out of their way to help an injured wild creature, and who restore … well, maybe not our complete faith in humanity, but at least our confidence that we won’t end up in jail for the rest of our lives. He called Lisa Acton, of Animal Kingdom USA Wildlife Rescue , who took over.

New York City 231

New York City Owls Rescue Wildlife 231

Animal Person

SEPTEMBER 5, 2009

I was watching a news segment on a wildlife rehabilitation center here in Florida. My animal rescue-life has had many phases. It was time to feed the bird of prey who was about to be released and while the rehabber was speaking with the interviewer someone emerged from a walk-in freezer with a tray of baby chicks.

Euthanasia 100

Euthanasia Wildlife Rehabilitation Fowl Birds 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2012

This lovely tribute to a crow was written by Erin Baker, Animal Care Supervisor & Environmental Educator at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, NY (www.teatown.org) The photos show the lengths dedicated people will go to in order to keep non-releaseable birds happy and entertained.

illegal 180

illegal Rescue Raised Animal 180