Duck Update and Saw-whet Owl

Update on Domestic Duck: He is doing great! Finally kicking the nasty infection after 6 weeks and he is standing! Now we just need to find him a good home!

We have a new patient: Saw-whet Owl. They are tiny owls and this one most likely was hit by a car. One eye is not visual but the other is fine. Just treating him for head trauma and will hopefully recover completely.

Lots of non- animal related things to do today! I have to get my interns for the summer lined up, finish off a large grant, get the xray/dark room completed, etc. Days like these my desk gets pretty messy!

Wild Things Auction

Last night was our annual Wild Things Benefit and Auction! It was really fun and very successful! Thank you to all who attended and to all who helped out with the months of planning!

Jason helped sell raffle tickets and my friend Holly came up from Seattle to help with basically everything else! Thank you so much Holly!

Baby Barn Owl

Received a call today about a baby barn owl! Seems way too early for this so maybe we are in for an early Spring. I should be excited about that but I am not ready for Baby Season at the center yet.

The little owl is in good shape so probably hasn't been without food too long. There were 2 dead younger siblings outside the nest hole so I am guessing something bad happened to the mom or dad or both. When food supply to the nest goes down for whatever reason, the babies get hungry and will fall/jump from the nest in search of food. Then they fall prey to dogs/cats/other wildlife and starvation. Luckily this little owl was saved but of course he isn't happy about it and is screaming to let me know!

Oiled Birds

Monday we admitted an oiled Canada Goose from Sandy Point. He was in good condition and very feisty! So feisty I didn't attempt a photo! Then Tuesday we admitted an oiled Gull from Bellingham. Not sure what is going on out there. Both birds were transferred to PAWS because they have lots of experience with oiled birds and I do not, yet! Both cases were reported to Fish and Wildlife and they are looking into it. Didn't get a photo of the gull either (I have got to get better at that).

I do have some photos of our latest project though! Maria and Kristi helped me redecorate the front room at the center. It looks way better!

Current Patients

Domestic Duck- came to us as a "wild" duck but he isn't. He has a really bad infection in his leg/foot and had to have one toe amputated.

Gull- picked up because he wasn't walking. He is severely thin (emaciated) and has intestinal parasites. He/she is doing well so far.

3 Raccoon- came to us in October as 6 week old orphans. This is unusual since baby raccoons are born in April/May. We will keep them until the weather gets warmer in March.

Right now my everyday job consists of doing projects and getting the center ready for Baby Season! This usually starts in April and we get super busy with orphaned everything! I am making lots of lists and getting stuff done!

Introduction

This is my first time doing a blog so it will be interesting to see how it goes. I first thought I would do a personal blog but then decided that most of the info on it would be about my work at NWRC. So I decided to do one for the wildlife center instead. My goal is that this blog will give people some insight into what goes on at NWRC and the daily challenges of working with wildlife and working for a non profit. So here we go!