volunteering, wildlife rehab, mild animal injury
the autumn slowdown continues. we're getting more birds in the ward, mostly migratory birds hitting windows, and then (fairly often) being attacked by cats. I asked if this was a seasonal thing, or if people were just bringing them in more often, and was told that it's a migratory bird thing, which makes sense. birds unfamiliar with city life come down where there's abundant food and shelter, and then have unpleasant learning experiences...
volunteering, wildlife rehab, mild animal injury
I got to watch (though I haven't progressed to helping yet, heh) one of the vets prepping a barred owl for a radiograph. when she brought it back (limp and groggy, but after a couple of minutes it was groggily fighting her and deemed recovered enough from the sedative) I asked how it was doing. evidently it was hit by a semi (!) and ended up in the truck's wheelwell (!!!) and is apparently COMPLETELY UNINJURED. that is one *lucky* owl!
volunteering, wildlife rehab, mild animal injury
OH AND at one point I toured the empty enclosures with another volunteer--it was neat to be able to see them, we usually have to stay out when they're occupied--and we watched a half-dozen or so rats scuttling around the raccoon silos. very big, healthy rats. we need to rent a small coyote pack...
volunteering, wildlife rehab, mild animal injury
barred owls aren't migratory, but there have been several brought in recently; now's when they start getting territorial, and evidently it also makes them a little dumber--or at least less alert to danger than usual. :P
the rabbits, deer, and most of the raccoons and opossums are gone. there's just one batch of squirrels left. a lot of our workload is now cleaning and shutting things down for winter.