Fellow Mortals--Compassion Changes Everything

When a wild creature comes into care at Fellow Mortals, we always perform an initial examination, including looking for possible fractures.

Sometimes injuries are obvious--a bone is protruding from the skin or a leg is not positioned properly, but other times fractures and other injuries are only indicated by the way an animal is acting.  Perhaps the woodchuck is obviously uncomfortable lying on its side, or the goose's honk is unnaturally high-pitched.

Radiographs (x-rays) are extremely useful when diagnosing a wild patient's injuries.   Since wild animals do not speak human language, we need to be especially observant of their behaviors, as well as use special diagnostic tools, like x-rays, when observations aren't enough.

We like to see an x-ray that shows strong uninjured bones, but sometimes we do find fractures or other injuries that can be difficult to diagnose with naked sight.  X-rays make a crucial difference in patient care by showing us what lies within.

The Canada goose whose x-rays are shown below was not shot, but ate lead shot which was mistaken for harmless gravel eaten by birds to help digest their food.  After treatment, this goose is doing great and will be released.

The woodchuck had several fractured ribs and a fractured radius and ulna (lower arm).  He was released.

The great blue heron and red-tailed hawk whose x-rays are also shown below have already been released.

Thank you for your gifts, which help make it possible to use this important diagnostic tool for the sake of the wild ones brought to Fellow Mortals. 

Links:

• Fellow Mortals Wildlife Hospital web site

We received an interesting call yesterday about a red-tailed hawk 'caught in a chicken tractor.'  A 'chicken tractor' you ask?  That was my question too, as before I go on a rescue I like to know what I can expect when I get to the animal.

As it turns out, a 'chicken tractor' is a moveable cage, shaped like an A-frame on wheels.  There is a little door in which chickens can go in and out and the entire structure can be moved about easily.

I sometimes think of red-tailed hawks as big brown chickens, especially when I watch them walking about on the floors of their flights looking for food.  They are so graceful in flight, but not so much on the ground...

When I got to the caller's house, they directed me to the 'tractor' and, sure enough, there was a big brown red-tailed chicken inside, quite puzzled as to why he had entered in the first place.

It was an easy rescue, since I had a net and controlled the door, and he did seem a little sheepish (more farm-yard analogies for this poor bird) when I lifted him out, but after assessing that there was no lasting damage, he was free to return to his mate, who watched disdainfully from a perch a distance away, as if to say, ' what trouble have you gotten into this time?'

An easy rescue with a happy ending with the bonus of learning something new!

Postscript  When we get a call like this, we don't ask "will you donate if we come out to help?"  As with so many of our rescues and animal admits recently, the people who need us are unable to make a donation, but we help anyway--something that is only possible because of the generosity and compassion of people like you.

Thank you for making a difference for wild creatures and the people who find them in need of help.

Links:

• Fellow Mortals web site