10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2014

“Here’s an idea for a blog,” wrote Donna Osburn, a wildlife rehabilitator from Kentucky. Erin Smithies-Baker wrote, “I once had someone call and say they were bringing me a baby hawk … or maybe an owl… no wait, a heron … I couldn’t wait to see what the heck this baby hawkowlheron was. This is a great topic.

Wildlife 257

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Falcons Pit Bulls 257

10,000 Birds

JUNE 28, 2013

A wildlife rehabilitator friend, newly licensed, recently called to ask if he could feed a recovering Turkey Vulture anything besides defrosted rodents. Normally I feed vultures, as well as hawks and owls, defrosted mice and rats. Birds raptors turkey vulture wildlife rehabilitators' He ate my last quail.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 210

Wildlife Rehabilitation Rodents Mice Rats 210

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2013

Wildlife rehabilitators are not known for our bling. First of all: most of us don’t have much, because we spend all our money on gauze, antibiotics, and frozen rats. People who work with wildlife wearing nice clothes? People who work with wildlife wearing nice clothes? Wildlife rehab can be so metaphorical.

Bald Eagle 237

Bald Eagle Wildlife Rehabilitation Vet Birds 237

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.”

Wildlife Rehabilitation 189

Wildlife Rehabilitation Bald Eagle Rescue Wildlife 189

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2016

Injured wildlife are not the most cooperative of patients. Wildlife rehabilitators have an arsenal of equipment and techniques we use to protect ourselves. I was working at the Coastal Wildlife Rescue Center here in Alabama, and he had either been blown in during a storm or caught a ride on a ship.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 180

Wildlife Rehabilitation Wounded Wildlife Opossums 180