Hours Covered: 130-140
The fawns hit a milestone today. The first two that came in are officially big enough to go into the large outside pen on the rehabilitation side. Getting the fawns into the big pen can be a challenge. The system we use is a partner system. We throw a large towel around the fawns to protect us from their poop, and we hold them to our side. It is also good to keep one hand on their chest by their neck to keep them from struggling too much. Then another person walks next to you with you to the large pen just in case you lose your grip or the fawn slips out. Moting the two fawns wasn’t too hard, but it really depends on how freaked out they get. Now that the fawns are in the large outside pen, they stay there day and night until they are ready for release. They also only get fed 3 times a day now, but they are drinking about 350-400 mL each per feeding. Now that the fawns are out in the big pen, we also have to start cutting branches for them so they can learn to forage. I have started bringing sugar maple branches and some oak in, and I know another staff member usually brings sassafras.
The rehabilitation side cages are quickly filling up. We have several cages of woodchucks and opossums, and the cages with the foxes and the one cage with the coyote. We recently got an amazing admission. It is a juvenile bald eagle that fell from the nest. I didn’t even recognize it as a bald eagle at first because it still had all its black plumage. This also brings up the surrogate great horned owl we have. There is a female great horned owl that is used for education, but stays on the rehabilitation side to be a surrogate for great horned owls that are admitted. She was with two juvenile great horned owls, but they recently grew large enough to go in a flight cage on their own. Consequently, when we removed the two owls from the surrogate, she became very aggressive towards us. Now, whoever goes in to feed her and clean the cage has to wear a helmet to protect themselves. Back on the information about the American Eagle, someone actually found an empty nest in close proximity to the original nest. So, the plan is to let the eagle heal up, and once it is healthy again, to place it in the empty nest. Without this plan, we would probably have to turn it over to the Raptor Trust organization in New Jersey because they would be better equipped to handle a bald eagle for a longer period of time. Another interesting thing I have learned about the rehabilitation world is that we usually try to put species that aren’t found often, together. For example, when we received the coyote, the director called wildlife rehabilitation centers all around us to see if anyone had a coyote too. We didn’t find any place that had one, but if we did, we would have tried to get the coyotes in the same facility. I know we have done this before with a wild turkey hatchling, so that they could be with each other for comfort and to learn what their species is.
The issue with the great horned owl becoming aggressive after the removal of the owls that weren’t her offspring is very interesting. I know we have learned that animals can be very protective of their young, but in the case where this great horned owl was a surrogate mother, it is amazing to see how attached she became. I wonder if she really knew the juveniles were not her own offspring, or if just by placing them in with her she believed they were hers. It reminds me of the birds that often sneak their eggs into another species nest in the hope that the other mother bird will raise it. Additionally, I am wondering about what makes this female great horned owl a good surrogate. On the education side of the center, we have another great horned owl, but she is not used as a surrogate. I wonder how the staff determined she wasn’t a good match. Were there behavioral observations, or did they just have to do a trial?
Overall, I am still loving the work at the wildlife center. It is amazing to see the progress in the animals, especially the two fawns that came in so little and are now big enough to be outside permanently. It might be a bit premature, but I have begun to look at places in New Jersey that I would be interested in working at. There is a place in the Poconos that does do rehabilitation with bear cubs, and that would be amazing to see. However, I’m thinking that my career search will probably take me out of the state, even though my parents are really hoping for me to stay in New Jersey. I’m also thinking about Maine, because I’ve always loved it there and there are some really cool animals that we don’t have in New Jersey.
