Saving Wildlife On The Cayes of Belize

The first 5 months of 2024 have been very busy at Aces Wildlife Rescue! We've taken in a record breaking 93 patients this year, a 20% increase over last year! This year, we've admitted and treated 31 unique species including 52 birds, 28 reptiles, and 13 raccoons. With the huge variety of wildlife species coming in, our team was consistently kept on their toes meeting the comforts and needs of each individual species as they recovered and healed from their various ailments.

Our most memorable moment this year has been the rescue and reunion of a nestling Great Horned Owl who had fallen from the tree top shortly after exploring outside the nest. Due to its flight feathers still growing in, he was unable to get himself off the ground and was at serious risk of predation. Thanks to quick action by nearby resort employees, we were called to rescue. After some rest, rehydration, and treatment of a small wound, the youngster was found to be in good health and approved for a reunite attempt with its parents. Our team located the parents, climbed the tree in search of a safe location for the baby to perch, and waited in the distance with binoculars for the parents to see, recognize, and reunite with their offspring. It took 3 hours and the cover of darkness but the moment we had been waiting for happened! The nestling and mama (or papa) were calling to each other and slowly made their way closer and closer, until finally they were perched side by side. In the following days, our team went up to check, making sure all was still going well and the baby was being care for, and each time we were overjoyed to see the parent still perched next to growing nesltling, and baby fuzz starting to be replaced by beautiful feathers.

Of the 52 avian patients admitted into care this year, 20 were waterbirds such as pelicans, frigatebirds, terns, gulls, cormorants, spoonbills, and gallinules. Reasons for intake ranged from fishing hook and line injuries, fractures, cat/dog attacked, starvation, and our first ever case of avian botulism (yes, he healed and was released!). Our second most frequently seen group were doves, followed by songbirds, raptors, parakeets, hummingbirds, and woodpeckers. 

Our reptilians were represented by black and green iguanas, boa constrictors, and American crocodiles. One whose story sticks with us and reminds us of the everlasting issue of single-use plastics, is a green iguana who swallowed a plastic bag. The bag handle slipped over the lower jaw and bag was ingested and as the body worked to move the bag down the digestive tract, the more the handle squeezed the lower jaw. The eventual result before being rescued was the severing of the jaw bone as the bag handle constricted around the jaw. Despite the long-term cruelty he was faced with, this iggy is a fighter! With help of a surgically applied brace, his jaw is slowly starting to heal and his energy returning to his frail body.

The mammal category was entirely made up of Northern raccoons this year, most of which were orphans. Once stabilized, they were sent to our partner organization on the mainland who specializes in raccoon care.

This quarter we have decided to take our rescue to the next level: we added a much needed helping hand, our first employee! With the increased request from the community and increased intake numbers, we were being stretched too thin to cover each and every task, so decided it was finally time to grow our team. Herman has lived on the island for 39 years and worked as a tour guide, landscaper, construction worker, and handy man so brings a diverse set of skills and enthusiasm to the rescue.

We cannot thank all of our supporters enough for helping us meet the needs of our community and wildlife! I know we say it over and over, but we truly cannot say it enough. We cannot do what we do without your support so our full gratitude goes out to each and everyone of you who believe in our mission. Thank you for supporting us past, present, and future. All our successes and achievements belong to you.

-Christina Manzi, Director and Wildlife Rehabilitator

Aces Wildlife Rescue