First, I love my job. I get to combine my passion for wildlife with my professional skills. Then, there are the people I work with. I’ve learned so much from them. Every day I go to the office I learn amazing facts. Take yesterday for example.

We admitted a Pied-billed Grebe that had crash landed on a road instead of in a nearby lake.

After a physical exam and x-rays to check for internal damage, she was given a clean bill of health. The amazing part of this story? She had an egg in her. Yep, we could see it on the x-ray, and you can too:

Yes, this is cool because you can actually see the egg, and see that it’s still soft – the thin white circle around the dark circle is the actual shell. You can see the vertebrae behind the egg in fact. But the really neat part of this? It’s by far earlier than normal for grebes to be nesting. There are no records outside of the month of May here in Minnesota.

We quickly returned the uninjured grebe to the nearby lake, hoping she’ll continue her nesting cycle.

The other neat thing that happened yesterday is we learned that the oldest wild pelican on record was a 20-year old bird in Montana. Why would we learn that? Because we received a report back from the federal Bird Banding Laboratory on a band that we removed from an injured pelican last winter. Turns out that pelican, which sadly had to be euthanized, was 17 years old and was banded as a young fledgling in 1994. A pelican that was 17 years old! I had no idea they lived that long.

All learned in an exciting day at WRC. Wonder what today holds in store…

The start of WRC’s Nursery Season is a bit like sipping a highly caffeinated drink. The adrenaline slowly builds until by mid May it’s just a continuous rush.

From winter when we may not admit even one animal a day, to May when we admit more than 100 animals a day, is a drastic change and we welcome this slow ramping up of patients. It gives us time to fully set up the nurseries, gradually train our seasonal staff and interns, and then bring more than 400 volunteers on board without swamping them on their first day.

We’re currently admitting 8-10 animals daily, and today we received our first cottontail bunnies of the season.

They were orphaned when a dog scared the mother away from the nest. The people waited to see if she’d return and after a couple days brought them in to us.

The important thing to note regarding bunnies, is that the mother rabbit does not actually stay with the nest. So don’t assume bunnies are orphaned when you find them in your yard. She only comes to nurse them twice a day, and then immediately leaves. This is to help prevent detection of the nest by predators. (there’s more info here in our FAQs)

We ask that before you bring any bunnies in to us, that you call first to help ascertain that they’re really orphaned. Of course, if you find any animal with injuries, you do not need to call first, just bring it in.

Today also marked the day that we welcomed back to the building two of the larger, more developed Red Fox kits. We have four total: three littermates and one single orphan.

The markings on both the bunny’s ears and the fox kit’s ears are non-permament marks that we use to help identify them from their littermates.

We moved the kits into a large room where they’ll spend time until they’re old enough to move into outdoor caging. We provide logs, twigs, leaves and other items for enrichment.

Here’s the first video we took of them just peeking out of their kennel (which will serve as a den). We shot another video later today when they were feeling a bit more brave. You can see the first time that they actually fully step outside the kennel!

With warm weather this weekend, our admits will most likely continue to increase. You can find additional updates on our Facebook page.

We know spring has arrived when baby mammals start arriving at WRC. Typically, our first infant mammal admit is an Eastern Gray Squirrel or Eastern Cottontail Rabbit. However this year, just like last year, we deviated from the norm: Our first mammal admit was a Red Fox kit!

Last year, our first mammal admit (three Red Fox kits) occured on March 27th. This year, March 12th. Does this mean animals are breeding earlier?? Not necessarily. What it means is that the weather is milder than this time last year and people are outside enjoying the weather and stumbling across these little creatures.

The kit was found near a bike path in Hanover, Minnesota, with no mom in sight. It is a female and only weighs 161 grams. How tiny is that? Hold 32 nickels in your hand or an apple. She weighs less than most smartphones. That’s it!

She is about 6-7 inches long from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail. Her eyes and ears are still closed, she is toothless, and completely helpless at this stage of life. We are estimating she is about 1 week old.

She will need feedings every few hours around the clock, and is currently being cared for by a highly trained volunteer who can give her the attention she needs. Fox kits wean at an early age, so she’ll be a rambunctious little thing before we know it!

On Leap Day I thought I’d share some facts about the many different “leaping” critters we see come through our doors.

Of course, the Eastern Cottontail is one of the most prolific animals we see. Probably because here in Minnesota they can have 3-4 litters every year! Each litter has 5-7 bunnies, also called “kits” by the way. You can see why they’re so important to the natural food cycle. Here’s a rarely seen albino bunny:

Albinos can be born into regular litters:

But when you’re talking white rabbits in Minnesota, most people tend to think of the Snowshoe Hare. Snowshoes live farther north than the Twin Cities and replace the cottontail in the food cycle. They’re brown through the spring-fall, turning white in the winter. Here’s a young snowshoe that was admitted a few years ago:

Perhaps the most thought-of leapers are frogs and toads. We have several in Minnesota including…

Gray Tree Frog:

Boreal Chorus Frog (also known as the Western Chorus Frog) is Minnesota’s smallest frog, measuring only .75-1.5″ long:

The Bullfrog is the largest native frog in N. America. Here in Minnesota, it’s common only to the southeast corner of the state, but can be found in other areas. Fun fact: when underwater bullfrogs close their nostrils and breathe through their skin!

Green Frog (note the large tympanum behind its eye):

Northern Leopard Frog (named for its spots). Fun Fact: Some leopard frogs do not have any spots. These are Burnsi Leopard Frogs.

The American Toad starts its life in water as a tadpole, but then migrates to dry areas returning only to mate and lay eggs:

Oddly, we see a fair number of out-of-staters who have “leapt” their way into Minnesota via backpacks, trucks and even potted plants.

This cool looking Cuban Tree Frog hitched its way from Florida via potted plants. We’ve actually received a couple of these in recent years. In Florida they’re invasive and are decimating the native frogs:

And what would Leap Day be without leaping lizards? All of these lizards arrived in frozen Minnesota by accident:

Ornate Tree Lizard (from outside Phoenix):

This cute tiny lizard (it was only 2.5″ long), that we never ID’d:

And this Brown Anole that traveled from Texas:

For all species that mistakenly end up in Minnesota, they’re returned to where they came from if possible. If we don’t know exactly where they hitched a ride, we place them in a zoo or work with the Herpetological Society at the UMN. The exception to this is the highly invasive Cuban Tree Frog which cannot be re-released in Florida (so we need to place or euthanize).

And, last but not least, one of our favorite leapers at WRC: The Flying Squirrel!

Contrary to their name, they don’t technically fly by flapping wings. Instead they leap into the air, extend their legs and use the large skin flaps to soar from tree to tree (you can see a bit of the flap folded above and spread out in the photo below).

Here in Minnesota we have two species: The Northern Flying Squirrel and the Southern Flying Squirrel. Both are found in the metro, but once you’re north of Brainerd/Duluth area, you’ll only find Northern Flying Squirrels. This one is a Southern Flying Squirrel and for those who follow us on Facebook this is our first admit of 2012.

Its neurological issues aren’t resolving, it still has a head tilt and cannot move in a straight line (it circles). Since we can’t release it in this condition, we’ve found it a nice new home where it’ll be an educational animal.

Last Sunday was a great day.  It’s not often one is treated to looks of wonder and excitement on the faces of hundreds of people, especially children.  But that’s precisely what the nearly 700 people in attendance delivered at WRC’s annual Open House.

As a wildlife hospital we can’t share with the public an actual look at the wonderful work that goes beyond the front counter.  Our patients are highly stressed and, with a goal of eventual release back to the wild, they must retain their wariness of predators to survive.  Our permits from both DNR and US Fish and Wildlife also prohibit the public display of animals.

But our annual Open House gives people a chance to see first-hand our state-of-art medical facility, and a chance to experience the process of examination, treatment and rehabilitation that every patient undergoes – from the standpoint of a unique species: the stuffed animal.

WRC is an extraordinary organization that enriches the lives of many people and wild animals.  Our Open House is a microcosm of that; blending the best elements of our mission, values and vision together for an inspiring afternoon.

Board members, staff, volunteers, vet students all pitched in to share their passion and conviction.  It was at once exhilarating and satisfying to see the wide smiles of appreciation and hear the words of thanks and encouragement.  There were also moments of profound emotion and inspiration while talking with people who had brought patients to us in the past.  It’s just flat out difficult to adequately describe the visceral feelings of the day.

Our thanks to all the volunteers who helped prepare for the event and who made the day successful.  And a heartfelt thank-you to all the people who attended and made the day so memorable.  We can’t thank you enough for supporting this wonderful enterprise.

We receive many phone calls during the winter months regarding wildlife behavior,  especially in regards to migration and hibernation. I had a phone call earlier this week regarding whether muskrats hibernate or not. As a thick furred mammal, many people think that they do or should be hibernating, but the opposite is actually the reality for these large rodents.

Muskrats do NOT hibernate, but ARE less active in the winter months in order to conserve body heat and energy. They spend most of their time sleeping and eating in their safe, warm lodges.  The muskrat’s home has to have an entrance that is located far enough under water that it will not freeze.  This way the muskrat will be able to leave its lodge to eat even when the water is frozen. Muskrats chew through the ice to create entryways into the water so they can forage for food out of the water.  After they create an opening, they build a covering over the opening out of cattails, grasses and mud.  A muskrat’s diet consists of aquatic plants, freshwater clams, frogs, small fish and salamanders. If these foods become hard to find, they can also survive on dry twigs, stems and leaves. The fur of the muskrat is very thick and keeps them very warm. It is nearly waterproof and helps keep them from getting wet. 

So don’t be alarmed if you spot a muskrat out during the winter! He/she is just foraging for food and will soon be back in the lodge warm, safe, and napping away

Fun fact: We admitted 13 muskrats in 2011!

Being over 4000 miles apart, it’s no wonder that the diversity of wildlife in Minnesota is completely different to that of the UK, but along with different animals, comes different diseases, and many different parasites.

A parasite which I have not encountered before my time here at the WRC is a type of roundworm, whose host is the raccoon. This parasitic worm is called Baylisascaris procyonis. It usually spends its life inside the gut of a raccoon, periodically shedding its eggs within the raccoon’s feces. To the raccoon, it is virtually harmless, but very widespread, infecting up to 70% of adults and 90% of juveniles. If it is harmless though – then why write a blog about it?

Since my time at the WRC, numerous other, ground-feeding animals, such as squirrels, rabbits and woodchucks have been brought in with suspected Baylisascaris infections. These animals have accidentally ingested the eggs along with their food whilst foraging. When this happens, the parasitic larvae migrate to their brain or eyes, which is not only potentially fatal, but can also cause visual impairments, substantial neurological damage and considerable lack of coordination.

I’ve also learned that Baylisascaris is a potential threat to humans. It most commonly affects children, as they are more likely to ingest contaminated soil or sand to which raccoons may have access. Unfortunately, there is no treatment which is known to completely eradicate the disease in humans, and in cases where the infection is not fatal, severe neurological damage can occur, along with blindness.

This is the direst warning we can give to people who find orphaned raccoons in their yard, and with the best intentions, want to care for and rehabilitate them. Not only is this illegal without the necessary permits from the DNR, but it is also incredibly dangerous.

On a positive note – not all of the infected animal patients admitted to the WRC suffer fatal damage from the parasite. Sometimes the worm causes only a slight visual impairment, or some minor imbalance. One of the neurological effects of the worm can also be a decrease in aggression, and lack of fear of predators. Although these particular animals would not do well in the wild, it does make them ideal for placement, given that they do not become stressed in the presence of humans.

Recently, an infected female woodchuck came in that stole the hearts of everyone at the WRC, not only was she approachable and friendly toward humans, but the sight of her munching on a carrot in her enclosure was enough to make anyone smile.

Happily, she was able to be placed at the Staten Island Zoo in New York, where she will educate a whole new generation of children to love wildlife as much as we do!

A Northern Leopard frog was brought into the Center about a week ago, it was found on top of the ice of a frozen lake, and it was thought that it was trying to get under in order to hibernate, but unfortunately had made it just a bit too late.

It had some minor scratches to its skin, and a curious air bubble on its upper back, beneath its skin. I learned this is called a subcutaneous emphysema (see picture above).

The Northern Leopard frog is actually the state amphibian of Minnesota! It has been housed in an aquarium within our reptile and amphibian ward, and given some much-needed warmth and food. Now its lesions are healing nicely, and the subcutaneous emphysema has completely disappeared! Unfortunately, this frog will have to stay with us over the winter, since although it is a species well adapted to the cold, it is well past the date when it should have found a hibernation spot. It’ll be released with other over-wintered amphibians and reptiles in the spring.

‘Tis the season for reflection and party conversation, for simple answers to complex questions and for small talk and big ideas. That came home with me recently when I was asked, “So what do you do for a living?” Of course, I always eagerly anticipate that question because I love what we do at WRC. It’s also an easy question because what we do at WRC is actually quite simple. We provide medical care for injured wild animals – this year about 8,000 – and provide training to hundreds of students and volunteers.

I’ve found that what we do is seldom a conversation stopper. My answer inevitably leads to another question. “Why do you do what you do?” The answer to this question might seem simple, but it’s more complex and I think quite profound – it’s a big idea.

What we do is about the health of a single animal. While we take pride in our improved medical outcomes, that alone is an incomplete, perhaps even insufficient, reason. Why we do what we do is a reflection of our collective responsibilities as stewards of our world. I believe that by its presence in our community, WRC helps create a culture of hope, compassion and kindness. We provide a place for seemingly small, often individual, acts of compassion; a place for people to act on their instincts to assist.

Indeed, I believe there is a sacred quality to the nature of our work. It inspires us to ask deeper questions about our role on earth. While I believe we should be at the cutting edge of wildlife medicine, science can only tell us so much about whether and what animals feel. But we know that as individuals we feel, and all of us have been touched in some way by the animals with which we share our world, especially when we witness injured and orphaned animals.

As the days shorten and darkness deepens we gather with friends, family and neighbors often to just share small talk about our daily lives, but in a deeper way we gather to celebrate the promise of renewed light and rejoice in the spirit of compassion and hope.

Make no mistake, what we do is a big idea – it does make a difference in the lives we live and world we leave for future generations.

Thank you for being part of this truly inspiring enterprise. I hope we can count on your continued support in the form of a generous year-end contribution to injured animals; and to the spirit of our community.

Warms regards and best wishes for a happy holiday season.

Hi everyone! Thank you Tami for introducing me, I don’t have much to add other than I’m really excited to be here, and to have the opportunity to help out at such an amazing organisation like the WRC! I heard about the Center from a friend that I met out in Africa – proving that the news of the great work you do really does travel far!

So my first blog is going to be about a pelican that came in on Friday 2nd December – caught on a frozen river out near Hudson, Wis.

I can’t think of any birds that we get in the UK that are nearly as big as pelicans, so it was a really great experience for me! Unfortunately, it was quickly apparent upon vet Renee’s admit examination that the patient had an amputated wing as a result of some accident. We thought that this could have happened from flying into a power line. As this injury made the bird non-releasable, unfortunately the only option was euthanasia.

It was, however, amazing to work with the pelican up close. We found pouch-lice inside its bill, (see photo).

And holding the pelican felt like gripping bubble-wrap! This is due to the large amount of air sacs under the bird’s skin. These help to keep it insulated in cold temperatures, and also keep it buoyant.

Also, we managed to salvage the pelican’s other wing, which was in perfect condition. It will soon be incorporated into an educational display of avian wings in the conference room, scaling all the way down to a tiny hummingbird’s!