Wild No More - The Adventures of Little June

I volunteer for a Durham-based organization called Team Chelsea, and part of what we do is help lost and stray pets get back home.

This morning I hit the road early, as we were in the middle of a huge search for a dog named Petey (now legendary), who had been on the run for several weeks.  On my way to the area he'd last been seen in I saw a beautiful white and brown cat lying on the sidewalk, unfortunately deceased.  I got out of my car and approached her to make sure she was gone, and saw that she had been nursing.

At the same time as I made that discovery I heard a voice across the street ask "are you looking for your kitten"?

This is little June, helping me search for a lost dog while we waited for the vet clinic to open.

I turned around and the homeless man who had asked me that question was looking down at the curb. I ran over and saw a tiny grey ball of fuzz.  Thinking for sure that she had also been hit, I reached down between the light post and garbage can to pick her up.  I fully expecting to feel a cold, lifeless little body.

She was cold - but only because she was chilled!  She was very much alive, and gave me a quiet meeeeewww to prove it.

I immediately got Team Chelsea on the phone to walk me through next steps, which included a trip to the vet for a once-over.  Other than ear mites she was in great shape.  We suspect that Mom had been moving her to another location when she was killed.

Next, I took to Facebook to see which of my friends could open their hearts and adopt this sweet kitten.  Within 30 minutes I'd found her a home, with a lady named Patricia who had been looking for a kitten to adopt.

By noon that morning this kitten was rescued off a busy street, had a clean bill of health, and was being handed to her new Mom.

The ladies at the clinic were keeping her company while we were waiting for the exam

In good hands with the Doctor

I found out later that day that the kitten's new human siblings had named her "June" and were in love.  June also had a new cat and dog sibling as well.  The perfect home!

I keep in touch with Patricia and it sounds like "little" June isn't so little anymore.  I am looking forward to seeing her in the near future.

Such a happy ending, and in all the excitement I never got to thank the man who had pointed her out to me.   I wish I'd had that chance, because he unknowingly made such a difference in so many lives.

Team Chelsea:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/165123396868018/

Horsing Around

I had an amazing opportunity to work on my photography skills with three beautiful horses.  I figured I was pretty comfortable photographing dogs, so how hard could photographing horses be?

Hard!

I've learned a lot doing this shoot and hope to have more opportunities to photograph horses. Processing these photos is a pleasure, the animals are so beautiful!

I had been hoping for a photo with all three side by side, but once I got in with them I realized how hard that would be.  This shot took a very long time to get.  I wish I could say it was due to my skill, but it was definitely more patience than skill that got me this shot.

Strike, Thunder and Jethro.

This is one of my favourites.  It is impossible to take a bad photo of Jethro.

Thunder, snacking in the field

Jethro, Strike and Thunder

Beautiful Strike

Wildlife in Distress

What To Do and Where To Go for Help
Updated -- November 2 2014
By Chris McConnell

If you live in Durham Region and have found an injured, orphaned or sick wild animal, you probably already know that there is little help in our area for our local wildlife when they need it.  This will only become a larger problem with all the land encroachment taking place in North Durham.

As a wildlife hospital volunteer, I am inundated with requests for advice on what to do when a wild animal that needs help is found, especially this time of year, and that has prompted me to compile the following. 

Spring marks the start of baby season and with all that cuteness unfortunately come some sad and dangerous wildlife situations.  The worst time to realize that you don't know how to help is when you are witnessing an emergency situation unfold in front of you.  Wildlife Rehabilitators do a great job of providing online information on what to do (and what not to do) when encountering wildlife in need of help, and it only takes a few minutes to read through this so that you are better prepared should you need to provide some assistance.   The best of human intentions can result in the death of an animal, or injury to humans, and it pays to be educated.

WHAT TO DO

In most cases, rehab centres will instruct you to do the following if you encounter an animal that is clearly in need of help (for example, hit by a car or attacked by another animal).  It is important to note that raccoons can carry raccoon roundworm, a dangerous parasite that can be transmitted to humans if contact is made with an infected animal's feces.  Utmost care must be exercised when working with raccoons, and not all hospitals are equipped to treat them.  Always put your own safety first! 

ADULTS:  Use a towel to cover the animal.  Gently place it into a carrier or box with airholes.  Keep it in a dark, quiet and warm place away from people and pets.  Don’t peek at it (very stressful) and never offer any food or water unless instructed to do so.  Immediately call a Wildlife Rehabilitator for further instruction. 

BABIES:  Unless it is obviously sick, injured or in immediate danger, do NOT contain it but keep an eye on it and contact a rehabilitator for instruction. 

The links below provide information on how you can help, including the safe containment of an animal, what to look for, and temporary care instructions.  Please take a moment to click through these links so that you will be ready to take action should you find an animal that needs your help.  It’s also a good idea to keep a box with air holes already in place, a towel, and a pair of gloves in your car as these tools can help in most emergency situations you may encounter.

Online Emergency Instructional Resources

http://torontowildlifecentre.com/help

http://www.sandypineswildlife.org/?page_id=118

http://www.sandypineswildlife.org/?page_id=113

http://www.shadesofhope.ca/whattodo.html

WHO TO CALL

Only a licensed wildlife rehabilitator can legally keep and treat injured, orphaned or sick wildlife in Ontario.  It is important to note that your municipal Animal Services is not structured to operate as a wildlife hospital.  They have a different mandate, and in most cases, they euthanize wildlife that they receive calls about and this includes wildlife that could be easily rehabilitated.  Even if you think the animal is in severe distress and should be euthanized, it is best that you speak to a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator to discuss the situation.  They will determine over the phone if the animal should immediately be euthanized to end its suffering (in which case you may be told to call Animal Services) or that the animal should come in for treatment.  Some hospitals have rescue teams for situations that are dangerous and require special skills.  Either way, they can make this call by asking you questions about what you observe.  It is also important to note:

• Wildlife rehabilitation hospitals are not funded by government at any level and all financial resources must be focused on medical care.  In most cases they are not able to provide pick-up service and will provide you with instructions on how to safely contain the animal for transport.
• Spring to late fall is “busy season” for these hospitals.  Please be patient if you don’t hear back right away, and should you be told that the animal you’ve found can’t be admitted by a facility, don’t get angry and don’t give up.  It is difficult for these centres to turn away any animal but unfortunately lack of government support leaves them all stretched to capacity at times and they have no choice.  Try the next number on the list.
• It is easy to unintentionally orphan a young animal because you think it has been abandoned by a parent.  But an animal that appears orphaned isn't always orphaned.  Before you remove the baby, call a licensed rehabilitator for advice (unless of course it is in imminent danger, in which case consult the resource links to safely contain).
• It is not in an animal’s or your own best interest to attempt rehabilitation at home.  It is illegal and violates some or all of municipal, provincial and/or federal laws.  Many wildlife hospitals receive patients that are the result of a botched attempt at at-home rehab and in most cases they must be euthanized.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation facilities run on private donations.  Whenever possible, when you drop off an animal please make a donation to help with the care of the animal you are bringing in.    Most also have a “wish list” on their website if you are able to donate goods such as cleaning and construction supplies. 

Below are licensed Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres within Two Hours of Durham Region. 

This list has been compiled from conversations with hospital staff, and/or their published material. This listing will be updated as new information becomes available.  If you know of another licensed rehabilitator in and around Durham Region please let me know and I will add to this list.

Shades of Hope

(705) 437-4654

http://www.shadesofhope.ca

Pefferlaw, Ontario

Accept: 

Most mammals and birds, including baby mammals with eyes still closed, and nestlings (birds with our without feathers that should still be in the nest).

Do Not Accept: 

Raccoons of any age.

Toronto Wildlife Centre

(416) 631-0662

http://www.torontowildlifecentre.com

Downsview Park - Toronto, Ontario

Accept: 

Most juvenile and adult birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians 

including rabies vector species (fox, raccoon, skunks, and bats). 

Do Not Accept: 

Some mammal babies with eyes still closed (depends on species); Deer; Baby songbirds that still rely on a parent to feed them (some baby birds that are not songbirds, such as Mourning Doves, 

Pigeons and Kestrals are admitted) 

Notes:

Listen to recorded message in its entirety. During busy season (May to October), there are times when certain regions cannot be serviced due to lack of room. 

Note that phone calls are triaged and emergency calls are returned first. 

Sandy Pines

(613) 354-0264

info@sandypineswildlife.org

Napanee, Ontario 

Accept: 

Most mammals and birds, including nestlings.

Shortcut to Serenity

(705) 428-6116

Stayner, Ontario

Accept: 

Raccoons and migratory birds, some other species as well (confirm by phone)

Procyon Wildlife Vet and Rehab

(905) 729-0033

Beeton, Ontario

Accept: 

All mammal species native to Ontario

Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre

(705) 741-5000

Peterborough, Ontario

Accept: 

Turtles only

The Owl Foundation

owlmail@sympatico.ca

Vineland, Ontario

Accept: 

Owls only

Notes:

TOF partners with other rehabilitators who will stabilized injured owls and then transport them to The Owl Foundation. Do not contact via email for emergencies. 

 Contact one of the above rehabbers instead.

Wild Earth Refuge (currently unavailable)

(289) 356-2826

Kelli Polsinelli, wildearthrefuge@gmail.com

www.wildearthrefuge.com

Accept: 

Squirrels, Opossums, Rabbits, Birds and some other species (confirm by phone)

There is no government support for wildlife care in Durham.  If you live in Durham Region PLEASE contact your city council to voice your concern.  We should not have to travel for hours to get these animals the help they need and deserve.

Just Horsing Around

Not exactly wildlife, but I couldn't resist.  In addition to wild animals, I am passionate about photographing dogs and horses and was recently asked to photograph these beauties.  There's a lot to learn about photographing horses, but it sure is fun practicing!

Killdeer

Killdeer are among the most dramatic of bird species.  They play dead when you get too close to their nest or a babies, and more than once I've fallen for it!

Wild in Durham Once More

As a long-time volunteer for Toronto Wildlife Centre, I've been privileged to have been involved in rescues and releases of countless wild animals.

When I got a call letting me know that a coyote was ready to go back home, I jumped at the chance to be involved.  He had arrived at TWC after having been found by a resident of Durham Region, who had reported seeing a thin, furless and sickly coyote using her garage for shelter.  

I shared the release with three other volunteers - Craig, Jeremy and Sara - and the kind lady that found the coyote, all of us experiencing the nervous excitement that is there each and every time we're helping an animal get back home. I can only describe the moments leading up to the release as a euphoric sadness - so happy that the animal is now healthy and ready to go back to live the life it was meant to, and at the same time wondering about its future as it continues to lose habitat (407 expansion) and face the daily challenges all urban wildlife face.

It always takes me a while to find the perfect release site, and through experience I've gotten pretty good at predicting the path an animal will take. When I finally settled on a spot, my first hope was that the coyote would head for a forest adjacent to the farm property.  My second hope was that he would walk through the only moon beam in that field so that I could capture this memory with my camera.  This night, both my hopes were realized.

I always wonder if an animal who has been helped by humans is aware.  Somehow, I felt like this coyote knew.

The only moon beam in this very large field and the coyote walked through it.  Beautiful.

Flying High Again

Every animal that finds its way into a wildlife rehab facility is special and is treated with the utmost of care and respect. But every once in a while you meet one that you never forget.

Today was release day for a beautiful Great Horned Owl, and I arrived at The Owl Foundation to pick him up and bring him back with me.  Before I left I was given this owl's history and realized that this one was extra special.

He had been found tangled in some fencing (an all too common occurrence) and had a severely damaged tendon.  While it was determined he would survive, he was also in all likelihood non-releasable because he would never be able to successfully hunt for food. So best case, he would live his life out at TOF and become a foster dad to next year's orphaned baby Great Horneds.  Much better than the alternative, but never the desired outcome.

When he was admitted, TOF decided to give him a month to see if there was any chance for release.  A month passed and surprisingly, there was a tiny bit of improvement, so they decided to wait another month. 

At the end of that month, a tiny bit more improvement....and so it went.

There were two big obstacles to overcome:  could he ever hunt on his own, and could he turn in flight.

Well this owl defied all odds and not only did he start successfully hunting on his own, he started turning in his flight cage!

TOF cared for this bird for 1.5 years!  Never giving up, always being teased by the little bit of improvement they saw month after month.

Tonight I had the great honour of releasing him.  I was nervous about it...would his flight be strong, would he stick the landing...would he be ok in a forest on his own?   

When he was released he stormed out of that kennel cab, you could feel the power in his flight (though you couldn't hear it); he not only landed in a tree but maneuvered through limbs to choose his branch. He then flew back toward where we were standing, carving through the air.  At one point he jumped straight up off his branch and in mid air, changed direction.  

I've never seen such a display in agility in all the owls I've released - most typically fly into a tree and then you lose them.  It was like he had something to prove, showing us that he was every bit as able as he used to be, and he did it with such strength and confidence.  It seemed like he had never left that forest, showing no sign of trepidation at all.

I'm so grateful to TOF for doing what they do, and for believing every single creature deserves a fighting chance.  Amazing job ladies!

And to be able to share this release with two friends, Janice and Craig, who I know were every bit as moved as I was made it even more special.  What a great night!

Nature's Instincts: Release of Two Young Wood Ducks

I am always amazed at how young animals that are not raised by their parents adapt so quickly once back in the wild, even though they never had the benefit of learning from mom or dad.

Today I released two young wood ducks that were raised by Toronto Wildlife Centre, after having been brought in as orphans.  These wood ducks were the size of fuzzy tennis balls when admitted yet within moments of being released, they were finding lots of food and seemed quite comfortable in the marsh.

They were a bit cautious when they left the kennel cab...

But that changed when they discovered all the food waiting to be discovered.

Within a few minutes they had several snacks, but this one hit the jackpot when it found a mollusk! They explored 15 feet from shore for several minutes.  And once their bellies were full, they made their way to more open water to start their new lives.

Such a great release, and thanks to TWC for giving them a second chance!