Current Patients

Eastern Screech-Owl #21-0509 has been doing well in his enclosure, along with several other young screech-owls. The bird no longer has any discernable head tilt, can successfully feed himself, and has been able to move to different perches within the enclosure. Within the past two weeks, the staff began a regular exercise program for all young owlets, in preparation for releasing them sometime during August. Unfortunately, the staff quickly discovered that, in a larger flight space, the Eastern Screech-Owl is having difficulty flying and navigating a larger space.

During the past two weeks, the veterinary team has carefully monitored Eastern Screech-Owl #21-0509 for signs of improvement. The young bird still has a significant head tilt, though the team feels that there was a slight improvement after multiple weeks of wearing a small neck brace. Another lead text on May 26 revealed a "low" level, indicating that perhaps the lead has finally been removed from the young bird's system. 

Eastern Screech-Owl #21-0509 has remained in the Center's indoor Hold area during the past 11 days, where veterinary staff have been keeping a close watch on the bird's overall condition. On May 5, an secondary set of radiographs were taken, identifying a skull fracture that the veterinarians suspected may have been present on admission. While the precise circumstance of this injury is not known, it's possible that lead toxicity left this fledgling owl more susceptible to physical trauma. 

During the past two months, the veterinary team continued to treat Bald Eagle #21-1030’s carpal wounds. On September 10, they moved the eagle to the Center’s A3 flight pen to give her more space, which will help reduce her stress in captivity and lessen her chances of bumping her wings and aggravating the wounds. After months of bandage changes and daily treatment with topical ointments and antiseptics, the eagle’s carpal wounds appear much improved, though the prognosis is still guarded.

The veterinary team has continued to manage Bald Eagle #21-1030's significant carpal injuries this month; these wounds have proven to be very challenging, given the high-tension area and movement of the bird's "wrists". On July 21, the veterinary staff anesthetized the eagle to carefully debride the wounds and resuture them closed. Treatment will continue, though the bird's prognosis is guarded. 

The five Black Bear cubs are settling in well to their yard in the Black Bear Complex. Despite the thick growth of trees and shrubs in the yard, Critter Cam viewers are typically able to spot the cubs multiple times a day, particularly when the cubs are eating together. 

The five Black Bear cubs were successfully moved to yard #1 in the Black Bear Complex on Wednesday, July 28. A couple of the bears were anesthetized for a physical examination and ear tagging; other bears were simply loaded into a Zinger crate and then loaded onto the Center's electric vehicle for transport. 

The bears were all placed in the transition yard, a smaller portion of the bear yard where they could safely wake up and recover. After all were awake and ready to explore, the rehabilitation staff opened the adjoining gate into the main portion of the bear yard. 

On July 4, wildlife rehabilitator Katie noted that the nails on the front paws of Black Bear #21-1097 [Red Tag] appeared to be abnormally angled. Dr. Jenn was able to more carefully examined the cub under anesthesia and noted many of the cub's nails had broken or split and started to regrow, giving them a more crooked appearance. It's likely that the bear's climbing and roughhousing contributed to the condition of the nails. 

The staff have continued to carefully assess Black Bear cub #21-0545 and her increased amount of pacing. Sadly, the medication that the veterinary team started on June 3 seems to have had no effect. The staff will try one more different type of medication to see if that provides any relief. Since the Bear Pen seemed to make no difference for the young cub, the rehabilitation staff moved the bear back to the Large Mammal enclosure for observation. 

The four Black Bear cubs of 2021 are doing well in the Center's Large Mammal Isolation enclosure. The littlest cub, #21-01097, has been living in a Zinger crate in between feedings to ensure that he isn't able to slip out of the enclosure; on May 19, wildlife rehabilitator Kelsey decided that the cub was now large enough to roam with the other cubs. 

During the past week, the veterinary and rehabilitation staff have continued to monitor Black Bear Cub #21-0545's behavior and paw wounds. Rehabilitation intern Ben again noted that the pacing appears to be happening less, likely a result of the continued medication and a high amount of activity and stimulation within in the enclosure that keeps the cub occupied.