Monthly Archives: October 2014
Happy Halloween from Hannah and Zombie
Happy Halloween from Hannah and Zombie our education Eastern Screech owl.
Zombie’s favorite food is the brains of the mice we give him! Read on to learn about Zombie dying three times…..
A MODERN DAY LAZARUS
Found in Campbell County, Virginia in the middle of the road; hit by a car? Who knows?
The rufous-colored Eastern Screech Owl found his way to the Wildlife Center of Virginia. X-rays were needed to determine that the breaks were amenable to surgery – not all fractures are. He was stabilized prior to radiographs.
The images confirmed two fractures – the radius and ulna -, and also confirmed they were the type of breaks, when handled by experts in wildlife rehabilitative surgery, could fix by threading a sewing needle-like pin through the middle of the bones.
He ‘died’ on the x-ray table…
But – an injection of epinephrine restored his vital signs. So, monitored and anesthetized, he went to surgery, where he, once again, went into cardiopulmonary arrest.
Again, the epinephrine; again, his heart and lungs began to work.
He was, once again, alive!
Then in post-op, with the vet sitting close by, he arrested for the third time; there was no breathing! No heart muscle activity, no pumping of blood.
The vet, Dr. Kristen Britton, exhausted by a long day of surgeries and diagnostics, shook her head sadly and called off all further efforts to restore life. Two shots of epinephrine were enough. The monitoring and breathing appliances were removed. She sat vigil with the little one until he passed. Dying can be bad enough, dying alone is worse; and her heart would have no part of it.
Just then, the little owl came back to life with full vital signs!
Days into his post-op period, he managed to pull out one of the pins inserted by the wildlife surgeon, and succeed in creating two additional breaks to his ulna; total: four. Even had the vet been able to re-pin the forearm, the scarring from the breaks and the surgery would have forevermore denied him full flight.
But, he was alive and lively, and honestly, quite full of himself. The Wildlife Center called and asked Sabrina if she would take on the little guy. What a question! He was sent to Sabrina to be an education animal, to be used in programs at various civic clubs, church groups, scout organizations and the like, to live out the rest of his life with us. The little owl’s name is ‘Zombie’ – evidently because of his stubborn unwillingness to die.
But, there’s another side to this tale, a question, really, one which lends itself more to supposition than to solution:
The vet had finished a long arduous day, and given the fact that she deals with wildlife every day, there was nothing especially unique in this case. You intake an animal, you diagnose, you treat the very best you can, but sometimes animals die. It’s a sad story, but not an original one.
Question: Her shift being over, why did this vet stay at work to look after this little one? Certainly a loving heart, and a compassion for her patients must have motivated her. But I ask again: Why this case?
Those of us who try to heal, to alleviate suffering will sooner or later come to the realization that we participate only to a degree in its outcome. But it is now, has always been, and ever will be Heaven’s job to say when. When life is done.
I feel Heaven summons a heart – sometimes it’s inaudible, but heard nevertheless – or maybe it’s a nudging we cannot but barely feel that is offered us. And I believe Dr. Britton heard the whisper to stay with this little one; to be witness to this miracle; to this series of miracles –from his rescue to his near-death events. I rather expect, seeing her devotion, the Creator buffed His nails in pride.
Cooper’s Hawk Release
Cooper’s Hawk that arrived Sunday, was released today in Salem at Green Hill Park. We were relieved that the COHA passed a thorough exam by Dr. D’Orazio and began standing. Cooper’s Hawks tend to be easily stressed and we were glad for a quick
turnaround. We “assume” the patient hit a window or car and was stunned. Saturday, the hawk was found unable to stand and holding a leg and wing out to the side (trying to balance). We decide not to return him to Altavista and release locally since they are migrating.
A New Ambassador
Sadly, this opossum arrived in September after being raised by rescuers for over a month. Other opossums in rehab never accepted him (they attacked him) and we had to keep him segregated. Secondly, the previous diet was incorrect and he developed metabolic bone disease, weak bones (they need special diets).Thirdly, he was handled and became habituated.
Today, it was determined he was not releasable. Lucky for him it was decided he will be an ambassador for wildlife. VERY FEW animals can be kept for education. Program animals are selected for their ability to handle being on display in front of the public. Not all wildlife are good candidates as program animals. Our first and foremost priority is to release viable animals back into the wild.
Today he was transferred to Gail A., to become a program animal. Gail will file paperwork with the Department of Agriculture. After, approval he will be available for programs.
Cooper’s Hawk
This face seems to say, “What do you mean someone thought I was a Red-tail Hawk?” The hawk that arrived tonight is a Cooper’s Hawk. This feisty patient let us know of his displeasure with the exam.
Zombie Our Education Owl
Found in the middle of the road; hit by a car? Who knows?
The russet-colored Eastern Screech Owl found his way to the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
He had two broken bones in his forearm [and yes, birds have forearms, but I think we can agree they don’t look the same as ours.] They were the type of breaks, when handled by experts in wildlife rehabilitative surgery could fix by threading two sewing needle-like pins through the middle of the bones.
But first, x-rays were needed to be sure there were no additional breaks, and the breaks were amenable to surgery – not all fractures are. He ‘died’ on the x-ray table…
But – an injection of epinephrine restored his vital signs. X-rays revealed the breaks to be surgically treatable. So, monitored and anesthetized, he went to surgery, where he, once again, went into cardiopulmonary arrest.
Again, the epinephrine; again, his heart and lungs began to work.
He was, once again, alive!
Then in post-op, with the vet sitting close by, he arrested for the third time! His monitoring indicated cardiac electrical activity, but no heart muscle activity, no pumping of blood. This situation has analogues in human medicine; the small pacemaker which all hearts are born with, may trigger a contraction of the heart, but if no contraction occurs, it’s like turning the key on a dead motor.
The vet, exhausted by a long day of surgeries and diagnostics, shook her head sadly and called off all further efforts to restore life. Two shots of epinephrine were enough. The monitoring and breathing appliances were removed.
The vet sat vigil with him as he passed, for him to die was bad enough, to die alone…? No, her heart would have it no other way.
Just then, the little owl again came back to life with full vital signs!
Days into his post-op period, he managed to pull out the rods inserted by the wildlife surgeon, and succeed in creating two additional breaks; total: four. Even had the vet been able to re-pin the forearm, the scarring from the breaks and the surgery would have forevermore denied him flight.
But, he was alive and lively, and honestly, quite full of himself. He was sent to Sabrina to be an education animal, taken to various civic clubs, church groups, scout organizations and the like, to live out the rest of his life with us. The little owl’s name is ‘Zombie’ – evidently because of his stubborn unwillingness to die.
But, there’s another side to this tale, a question, really, one which lends itself more to supposition than to solution:
The vet had finished a long arduous day, and given the fact that she deals with wildlife every day, there was nothing especially unique in this case. You intake an animal, you diagnose, you treat the very best you can, but sometimes animals die. It’s a sad story, but not an original one.
Question: Her shift being over, why did this vet stay at work to look after this little one? Certainly a loving heart, and a compassion for her patients must have motivated her. But I ask again: Why this case?
Those of us who try to heal, to alleviate suffering will sooner or later come to the realization that we participate only to a degree in its outcome. But it is now, has always been, and ever will be Heaven’s prerogative to say when. When life is done.
I feel Heaven summons a heart – sometimes it’s inaudible, but heard nevertheless – or maybe it’s a nudging we cannot feel that is offered us; offered not ordered. And I believe this vet heard the whisper to stay with this little one; to be witness to this miracle, to this series of miracles from his being found on the road to his three death experiences. I rather expect, seeing her devotion, the Creator buffed His nails in pride.
Southern Flying Squirrel
Southern Flying Squirrel enjoying his dinner tray. Flying Squirrels are found in forest with seed bearing hardwoods as oak, beech and maple. They can have two litters, spring and fall. The squirrels have a patagium, also known as a gliding membrane that is attached from their front limb to the rear leg. Turns of 90 to 180 degrees can be made in mid air with the tail and patagium.