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Happy Spring everyone!
At long last we are starting to enjoy the warm sunshine and longer days along with the glorious sounds of songbirds returning to ready their nests. As this wonderful activity brings the Cape back to life, we are preparing for our busiest time of year here at Wild Care. Last spring and summer we cared for 312 orphaned birds, 453 mammals, and 27 reptiles for a total of 792 orphaned and juvenile animals in 2023! There were 1,316 patients admitted from May 1st through September 30th representing 122 species totaling 1,784 for the year! Our wildlife helpline is open to answer questions seven days a week from 9am until 5pm. When in doubt give us a call: 508-240-2255. We are here to help.
We are also preparing for our big annual fundraiser, Wild Night Out on April 5th. We have planned a fabulous evening of live music with Sarah Swain and the Oh Boys, and a creative chef-prepared menu at the West End Restaurant in Hyannis. Your ticket purchase helps support the important work we do, and we can use your support. We hope to see you there! Get your tickets today and help support Wild Care’s work to keep Cape Cod’s wildlife wild.
Stephanie Ellis,
Executive Director
If you would like to sponsor the Wild Care staff table, please contact Stephanie
READ our Spring Tips to Help Keep Baby Animals Wild
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Photo - Stephanie Ellis with Wilfred the Barn Owl by Ray Ewing, The Vineyard Gazette | |
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Barn Owl Makes the Long Journey Home
It was quite a journey for a beautiful Barn Owl from a farm on Martha’s Vineyard to Wild Care, and back again. This stunning owl was rescued by Rebecca Sanders and Whippoorwill Farm owner Andrew Woodruff after chasing off a group of crows that were attacking it. When the owl arrived at Wild Care, it was placed into quarantine, tested for Avian Flu, and treated with Vitamin K for possible rodenticide poisoning. The owl responded well to treatment and moved into Wild Care’s large aviary to allow time to observe his behavior, ability to capture live prey, and monitor flight pattern closely. After a month at Wild Care the owl was given the all clear, and headed back home to a beautiful barn on the Vineyard where Barn Owls thrive. Unfortunately with over development on Cape Cod, Barn Owls have all but disappeared.
This owl suffered from ingesting poison meant to control rat populations. Unfortunately rodenticides kill more than just rats, they kill animals that feed on their poisoned prey. There are alternative methods.
Read the entire story about the Barn Owl in The Vineyard Gazette
The Vineyard Gazette photo gallery by Ray Ewing
WATCH Executive Director Stephanie Ellis
talk about the Barn Owl's rehab at Wild Care
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The incredible rescue of Wilfred
the Barn Owl has been generously sponsored by Rebecca Sanders and Andrew Woodruff who both took the time to be sure this beautiful owl flies free on the Vineyard once more.
Photo by Ray Ewing - Stephanie Ellis with Wilfred the Barn Owl, Andrew Woodruff and Rebecca Sanders
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A MESSAGE FROM WILFRED'S SPONSORS - Thank you to the entire team at Wild Care for taking such good care of this beautiful animal! We were so happy to have this gorgeous barn owl return to our property in good health. We have made a home for him here in our large barn and hope he will choose to stay. From Stephanie we learned that the Islands, with our agricultural fields, old barns, and open spaces - really provide an ideal habitat for this particular owl. It is so important to protect this habitat.
Rodenticides kill owls and by finding alternatives to poison, we can keep the owl population healthy and allow them to keep the rodents naturally in check. We are so grateful to Wild Care for the amazing work that they do to rehabilitate wildlife and return them safely to the places where they belong.
Rebecca, Andrew and the crew at Whippoorwill Farm
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After Two Months
at Wild Care this Beautiful Red-tailed Hawk Flies Free
This beautiful Red-tailed Hawk was rescued in a West Harwich backyard suffering from a leg injury. Radiographs showed that it had a dislocated hock on the left leg from a recent injury. The leg joint was relocated by Dr. Larry Venezia and a splint was applied. After only one day the hawk began grasping food with that foot, began to eat well and was moved to our large flight aviary. After two months in our care the bird was released.
This release was generously sponsored by Susan and Dave Griffin. Thanks to their donation, this hawk graces the skies once again.
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Herring Gull from Fall River Treated for Lead Poisoning Released
In December we got a call from a woman who had rescued a Herring Gull from a street in Fall River. She and her husband drove the 80 miles to Wild Care with the gull and was very grateful to have a place to bring it. The bird came in alert and responsive, could walk and bite but had some raspy breathing. After being tested and cleared as negative for avian flu it was brought into our main clinic from quarantine.
After Recovering from respiratory issues, being given a bath to improve its waterproofing, eating well and getting feisty, we brought him out to our large aviary to be with other gulls. He did well, but was still acting a bit “off” compared to the other recovering gulls. We tested for lead poisoning and found that he had a moderate case. After two rounds of chelation treatments which took about two weeks, his bloodwork was good and was finally behaving like a normal gull. He passed the flight and waterproofing tests to be released!
After a long stay at Wild Care, staff members Kerry and Chelsea took him to Boat Meadow Beach in Eastham and set him free.
Please email Stephanie
if you would like to sponsor the care and release of this Great Black-backed Gull
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Wild Care Educational Turtle Terry Receives New 2024 Sponsorship
Thank you to ZenBusiness for their generous sponsorship of Terry the Eastern Painted Turtle in 2024! Terry is a beautiful turtle with gorgeous, vibrant coloring. He has been with us at Wild Care since 2022 because he had become habituated to people and could not be released into the wild. His personality matches his beautiful appearance, and he can often be seen posing and perched on top of a large rock in his turtle habitat.
Learn more about TERRY, and other Animal Ambassadors
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WILD CARE COMMUNITY TALKS and WILDLIFE TIPS | |
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Pictured from left: Steve Wright, Biologist, Mass. Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, Stephanie Ellis, Wild Care Director, Stephanie Sykes, Animal Control Officer, Eastham Natural Resources & Animal Control, and Tracey Plantier, President, Eastham Dog Owners Association.
PHOTO Kerry Reid
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Wild Care Talk Gives "Coyote Smart" Tips
It was a full house for Wild Care’s Coexisting With Coyotes talk with Eastham Natural Resources & Animal Control Officer/Animal Control Officer Stephanie Sykes, and Eastham Dog Owners Association President Tracey Plantier at the Eastham Public Library. The talk was full of interesting facts, and helpful information on how to keep your pets safe, and how to be "coyote smart" while out walking or encountering a coyote around your home.
MassWildlife biologist Steven Wright and Stephanie Ellis recently spoke with NPR’s Mindy Todd about coyote behavior, and how we can modify our behavior to prevent negative interactions.
LISTEN to The NPR show The Point - Co-existing with wildlife
For more helpful tips WATCH
Lower Cape TV's Cape’s Coyotes 101
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Osprey Talk at the Cape Cod Museum, of Natural History and Bird Hugger Pod Cast Features Stephanie Ellis and
her Experience with Osprey Eggs
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Wild Care’s Director Stephanie Ellis gave a recent presentation at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History on the topic of "Osprey - Incubation, Rearing and Wild Fostering". It was a full house of 80 Osprey and wildlife-loving people.
Stephanie also shared her experience with hatching Osprey eggs, raising the chicks, and finding wild fosters on the Bird Hugger pod case with host Catherine Greenleaf.
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Thank You Dr. Morgan and Dr. Venezia for
Your Dedication to Wildlife and All Animals
We would like to recognize and thank Dr. Louise Morgan, and Dr. Larry Venezia for the incredible care they give to our wildlife patients here at Wild Care. We are so grateful for the time they give, their experience, expertise, and love of all animals be they feathered, with fur, scales or shells. Thank you both for all you do to help wildlife! We are so lucky to have two such wonderful and dedicated people on our team!
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Please help us grow. Donate today, and help fund the need.
Wild Care has cared for 32,000 animals since 1993. Our expansion will help meet the need for the future. We need your help to make this possible. Donations of any amount add up, and really make a difference. Can we count you in?
DONATE to Wild Care's Expansion Project
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Check out our Amazon and Chewy WISH LISTS and donate much
needed supplies to help the animals being cared for at Wild Care.
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