Leslie’s post reminds us of why caring for injured wild animals is such a challenging endeavor.  Most of our patients view us as a predator or competitor to be avoided or challenged; none is willing to display any sense of vulnerability.

We often balance between the poles of success and sadness; triumph and tragedy. It’s rare for us to experience both ends of the spectrum in one case, as we did with swan 88F.

As medical professionals we strive to keep our emotions in check and our attachments limited.  But Trumpeter Swans are very charismatic birds.  We celebrate their beauty and cheer their recovery from the brink of extinction just a generation ago.  In the individual case of 88F, we also were moved by the hauntingly beautiful photo of his bloodied wing, impressed by the brave and difficult rescue organized by Mary Wicklund, delighted in his successful rehabilitation and release.  Reuniting with his mate several weeks later gave the story an almost mythical resolution.

So what do we make of this story?  It’s hard to separate our emotions from the science.  Readmitting a banded bird gave us a rare insight into a successful release and a return visit from a different injury.  We know the natural world is unforgiving and often brutal.  Nature is not a Disney movie.  On the other hand, both of 88F’s injuries were caused by people, first the gunshot wound and then the lead.  Our world and that of the animals we share it with is not tidy.

But nothing in my years here at WRC has been as emotionally trying as watching this released and reunited swan be rendered helpless by lead poisoning.  Even with the 8,500+ animals we admit every year, it’s hard not to feel a personal attachment to 88F; hard not anthropomorphize his seemingly senseless death, especially after his earlier close call.

We can’t do much about the lead that already exists in our lakes, ponds and rivers; it will continue to poison wildlife for years to come.  But we can make sure that we stop putting more into our waters.

At the same time, we can also, if just for a moment, suspend our urge to blame, or to understand or explain, and reflect on just how mysterious animal behavior is, how beautiful, and ultimately how unforgiving life in the wild can be.

Photo of Hudson swans taken by Bill Gausman, Mary Wicklund’s brother, dedicated in memory of Swan 88F.

It is with great sadness to report that 88F, the Trumpeter Swan who was shot in Grantsburg, Wis., last October, released back to his home in mid-November, and was famously reunited with his mate in Hudson, Wis., a couple of weeks later, has died of lead poisoning.

88F, who tested negative for lead upon release from WRC in mid-November, was spotted by Barry Wallace (who first reported the reunification of the swan with his mate) in distress and stuck on thin ice about a week ago. Based on the swan’s behavior, lead poisoning was highly suspected. After several attempts to rescue 88F in icy waters, Barry was successful and 88F was brought to WRC for care.

Bloodwork revealed a lead level that was off the charts, which deems a grave prognosis for any swan. 88F seemed to improve initially after a few days of fluid therapy, tube feedings and chelation therapy (to help rid the lead in his blood) but his prognosis was still grim.

After a week of treatment, 88F began showing signs of a serious decline. He became very weak, was having difficulty breathing, and did not have the strength to stand or walk. Bloodwork revealed a severe deficit in white blood cells, along with some changes to the cells that were indicative that the immune system was trying hard to fight off an infection. He was severely immunocompromised from the lead poisoning, was likely in organ failure, and was obviously dying. Therefore, I made the decision to humanely euthanize him and end his suffering.

88F’s fate is sadly the fate of many swans that come through our doors every year. The swans accidentally ingest lead fragments from sinkers and spent ammunition that are degrading at the bottom of lakes and ponds. The lead then seeps out of the swan’s stomachs and into the bloodstream, where it poisons the organs and body systems, such as the nervous system.

Despite our best treatments, swans that arrive at WRC with high lead levels rarely, if ever, survive. Swans with lower lead levels may have a fighting chance, but if the lead has already taken effect on their organs and nervous system, their prognosis worsens greatly. It does not take much lead at all to make an animal very sick, and the negative effects can occur quickly, as 88F proved (since 2 months ago he was lead negative).

I hope, if anything, that people who hear 88F’s story are made aware of the horrific effects of lead poisoning in birds. Not only swans are affected; eagles, ducks, geese, loons, and vultures are affected as well. Even though lead will always be a problem since there is so much at the bottoms of lakes and ponds, hopefully people will make the personal decision to never use it for hunting or fishing.

We are all so sorry and heartbroken to lose 88F after such a wonderful release and reunification with his mate, but we are grateful that we were able to give him a safe, warm place during his final days, and a peaceful death. We are also so grateful to the many wonderful people who have monitored 88F’s health, and assisted in his rescues. He will never be forgotten, and can hopefully be an advocate for lead poisoned birds across the nation.

Below is a photo of 88F receiving subcutaneous fluids to help with rehydration.

How quickly time flies.  Remember that oil spill from last summer?  The concern over how our Minnesota loons would fare over the winter?  Well the DNR has been tracking the loons since last summer thanks to transmitters implanted in the loons.

Not only are the transmitters giving us valuable data about the actual migration patterns of loons, the data is being presented visually on a Web site.  You can even see where the loons currently are in the Gulf and along the Eastern Atlantic.

Here’s the full story from MPR’s site.

This young swallow was raised in our Avian Nursery this year.  Unfortunately, he/she became sick and needed a long course of treatment.  By the time the swallow recovered, the Minnesota swallows had already migrated and it was too cold outside to fly (in an airplane) to warmer weather.

Luckily, one of our volunteers happened to be driving down to Florida for the holidays!  So earlier this week, our almost full grown swallow began a 3-day road trip to Florida.  It’s not an ideal situation, having a wild bird in a car for 3 days with people; however, since this bird was raised in our nursery he didn’t become as stressed out by the sight of people as other wild birds are.  He’s not tame or habituated by any means, but he could tolerate the trip.

The volunteer commented that the swallow hadn’t vocalized during the trip–until they crossed the Florida state line–then he began chirping away like he knew he was supposed to be there.  Thanks much to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary (a rehabilitation center in Florida) for finishing his rehabilitation!

We ended out 2010 with a record-breaking 8,632 animals! Ironically, our last patient of 2010 and first patient of 2011 were both Big Brown Bats!

WRC admits many bats this time of year, most of which are found in people’s homes trying to hibernate. Bats prepare for hibernation by eating large quantities of insects and putting on fat during the summer and fall to last through the cold winter.

When a bat hibernates, its body temperature drops to almost air temperature, and respiration and heartbeat become very slow. Throughout the winter, bats eat nothing, surviving by slowly burning fat accumulated during the summer and fall months. Bats can be roused from hibernation fairly easily and may fly around for 15 minutes after being disturbed (this is usually when people notice them in their homes), thereby using up fat reserves needed to survive long winters.

Here at WRC, we provide the bat with food and water as they build back their fat and energy stores. Once they have reached a certain weight and body condition, they are released back into the wild at a cave in St. Paul where thousands of bats reside year round. They then resume hibernation.

In 2010, WRC admitted 120 bats, 93 of which were Big Browns! If you find a bat in your home this winter, very carefully place it in a bucket or other container that seals tightly (bats can sneak through very small slits! If you use a box, make sure to tape it up well!) Because bats are a rabies vector species, always protect yourself and wear gloves or use a towel or other object to move the bat; never pick up or touch a bat with bare hands.

Below is a picture of the Big Brown Bat that was our 1st patient admitted New Years Day 2011!