Wildlife Rescues
Gray FoxSeptember 24, 2015-November 2, 2015
“Foxy” came to Into the Wild on September 24th, the day after an astute driver noticed her lying on the side of a nearby, busy road and did what few people would - she stopped to see if the fox was alive. Hit by a car, Foxy was alive but likely in shock. It made me wonder how many people saw her lying there on the side of the road and assumed she was dead. Any longer in her condition and her chances for survival would have been slim.
The rescuer placed Foxy in a dog carrier, allowed her to rest in a dark warm location at her home, and searched for help. The next day I received the call and arranged to meet Foxy’s rescuer at Ballston Spa Vet Clinic (BSVC) where Dr. Salamun and Tina Zakrzewski, LVT, CCRP examined Foxy. Based on the healthy condition of her teeth and her weight (8lbs on intake) I estimate Foxy is a young adult. Her primary injury was an infected, deep laceration to the inside, upper-right, front leg. The wound appeared to be at least 24 hours old at the time of intake. For medical reasons, Dr. Salamun recommended leaving the wound open and uncovered to allow the natural healing process to do the rest. Foxy was given rehydration fluids, a long-acting antibiotic injection, and her wound was thoroughly cleaned. Finally, Tina fitted Foxy with an Elizabethan collar (a.k.a “E-collar”). I monitored Foxy closely over the next few days, cleaned her wound twice a day, coating it afterwards with an antibacterial power prescribed by Dr. Salamun, and continued rehydration therapy. For the first two weeks, I brought Foxy to BSVC every couple of days for wound laser therapy. Tina and I quickly fell into a routine during laser treatments, and Foxy, for the most part, obliged. Outfoxed by a fox? Foxy challenged us was by getting out of three different sizes and styles of E-collar. With each new collar I needed to rearrange the food and water bowls so that she could easily reach them. I also added square, rubber, interlocking floor mats to the bottom of her caging to ensure she would not slip and re-open her laceration. Captivity is stressful for any species so the objective is to speed the healing process, to the extent possible. What Foxy could not have known was that each time she removed her collar, she delayed her release. Two weeks into her rehabilitation, Foxy’s wound was healing but not as quickly as we had all hoped. On October 8th, Dr. Salamun decided to surgically close the wound. The nature of the wound would make this challenging but the surgery was a success. While Foxy was sedated, Tina came up with the ultimate solution to keeping her from licking her would. She fitted her with a “no-bite” collar/harness and another E-collar that did the trick. The E-collar was unnecessary a couple of days after surgery but Foxy remained in the no-bite collar for the better part of her remaining rehabilitation. Although Foxy would not need to dig herself a den upon release (gray fox prefer hollow trees, thick brush or the abandoned den of another animal for shelter, dens are generally only used for birthing and care of young) I worried that her muscles would be weaned from a lack of exercise. Tina taught me how to provide daily physical therapy to improve the circulation and work the muscles she had not been able to fully exercise during rehab. I only recently learned that gray foxes are considered to be resistant to Sarcoptic mange, contrary to highly susceptible red foxes. Gray foxes are also thought to have a higher immunity to rabies virus than red foxes. The top predators of gray foxes are coyote, bobcats and humans (mainly vehicles and fur trapping). Gray foxes have evolved into excellent, cat-like climbers, scaling high trees for shelter and even hunting. It wasn’t until a couple of days before her release that Foxy finally figured out how to get the harness off and slip out of the collar one morning when I was getting her out to take her for laser treatment. It was one of several subtle clue Foxy gave me to know she was ready for release. Sure enough, Dr. Salamun gave the OK to leave the no-bite off and closely watch Foxy for 24 hours to ensure she didn’t bother the wound site. She had gained 2 pounds (bringing her to 10 pounds) since her intake and her wound was looking great. If Foxy ‘behaved’ she could be released. I was thrilled to send a text to Tina the next day declaring victory for Foxy. The unusually warm weather in Upstate New York over the past week set the stage for a perfect end to the successful rehabilitation of this adult gray fox vixen. As is typical, Foxy’s road to recovery was not without challenges. Working as a team, we were able to overcome and give Foxy a second chance at life. Dr. Salamun, Tina and I were also able to share in the ultimate rehabilitation reward - we released Foxy Into the Wild on November 2, 2015. Enjoy the release video - and be sure not to look away or you might miss her go! Foxy - I have no doubt you will stay as far away from humans as your habitat permits. May you have lots of healthy babies and live a full life as nature intended. Thank you, Dr. Salamun, Tina and the rest of the team at Ballston Spa Veterinary Clinic. I could not have done this without you! Godspeed, Foxy. P.S. Enjoy Foxy’s release video - be sure not to look away or you may miss her go! ~Peace Elena Rizzo, President and Co-Founder Into the Wild, Inc. |
RaccoonsApril 17, 2012
Our first baby raccoon of the season has arrived. Its like deja vu all over again. The homeowners were having chimney repairs done when Momma raccoon let the worker know she was there with her babies. They were advised to place an ammonia soaked rag in the base of the fireplace, a common means of chasing off raccoons, as they find the smell offensive. Mom came back and retrieved all but one of her not more than week old babies. Kudos to Jamie on getting the baby out of a tight spot, even if he did look like a chimney sweep afterwards! "Buddy" as we call him, weighed almost 200 grams on intake, which is a bit big for his age. He is likely to be a big raccoon as an adult. He is doing well but will need some con-specifics to join him soon to improve his chances of proper development. 
Raccoon Updates
5/8/12 Update: Buddy has been joined by a pair of neonate siblings, a brother and sister, ironically the siblings were also evicted from a chimney and abandoned by mom. They have passed the two week quarantine period and have joined Buddy in his enclosure. Although Buddy has reached over 500 grams, has opened his eyes and is almost twice the size of the siblings, they seem to love the company. The siblings arrived with their cords still attached, approximately 3 days old and 120 grams each. Our youngest raccoon patients yet! See photos below. 5/12/12 Update: Buddy is now spending some time in the big boy cage, indoors, of course. He spent some time outside, practicing his walk today. I swear I have some of the exact same photos of Bubby from last year (refer to article noted above) See photos below. Buddy's First Steps
Buddy's First Outdoor Adventure
Eastern Cottontails
First intakes of 2012 April 14, 2012 Three Eastern cottontails from the same litter came in today; a domestic cat found the nest and was "sitting on top of it." They are about 4 days old, eyes and ears closed, weighing between 46-49 grams. We love cats just as much as any other animal, but this is a perfect example of why domestic cats should be kept indoors. They do a lot of damage to native wildlife. As you can see in the first two photos, some of the mother's hair from their nest was saved to make the bunnies feel more "at-home." 
Cottontail Updates
4/22/12 Update: We lost one bunny of this litter and gained a few others. The two remaining siblings seem to have digestive problems similar to the one we lost but we are doing everything we can to keep them going. Wish us luck! 
5/8/12 Update
The litter above did not survive. Necropsy (animal autopsy) on two of the three indicated failure of the digestive system, likely due to blockage in the intestinal tract to digest food, perhaps an inherited deficiency. It is always sad to lose patients but it is important that they at are given a chance. We have to keep in mind that we cannot save them all. As long as we try like hell, its worth it. Season Summary: We ended up with 6 total and 2 were successfully released. Below: Raised and Released
The two cottontails pictured above were successfully raised and released. Cottontails are extremely difficult to raise in captivity. We consider a 33% survival rate pretty good - some rehabilitators have better luck than others; however, we cannot expect the bunny experts to take in all those in need of care. Many rehabilitators will not accept cottontails due to the low survival rate.
We have heard rumors that new research will be published soon providing evidence of digestive system problems among young cottontails and we are hopeful that this leads to improved protocols for their rehabilitation. |
2012 Rehabilitation Patient Mini-Montage
Top row, left to right:
Eastern cottontail bunnies from three different litters: The first litter’ of three had their nest destroyed by an outdoor domestic cat, two siblings were killed in the attack; the second litter’s mother was found in the road, having been killed by a car; the third litter was “kidnapped” by humans with good intentions – but a lack of knowledge about the wildlife living in their backyard. The homeowners assumed that since the mother was not in the nest or nearby in the yard, they had been orphaned. In all likelihood, mom was intentionally not near the nest while foraging so she did not attract attention to the babies in her nest.
Orphaned Virginia opossums - eight siblings were rescued from a homeowner’s shed where they were found crawling and suckling on their recently deceased mother. We suspect that mother died from exposure to rat poison in the shed. Opossums are the only marsupial found in the United States. Luckily, we were able to flush the toxins from the joeys with fluids. The babies were transferred to other rehabilitators in our network and all have survived.
Raccoon – this five week old cub was orphaned when her mother and two siblings were crushed when the tree that their nest was in was cut down. We nicknamed her “Tickey” because the poor cub was completely covered in ticks when she arrived. The ticks were removed one by one and she was given fluid therapy. Tickey was released Into the Wild with three other orphaned raccoons we raised during 2012.
Gray squirrel: juvenile siblings, peeking out of their outdoor, pre-release nest box in anticipation of the arrival of breakfast as they hear us approach. The siblings were found at the base of a tall tree after an early summer thunderstorm, where a nest sat empty. Since their mother had not come to retrieve them for at least 24 hours, we assume she was unable to return for her babies.
Bottom row:
Red-ear slider turtle hatchling. “Sal” is a relatively new edition at Into the Wild, Inc. Although it is illegal to sell turtles less than four inches long in the United States, the red-ear slider has become one of the most popular “pets” in the United States among families with young children. This turtle was illegally sold at a county fair, to a teenager. The parents quickly researched the species and found out that the chances of its survival at this age are slim when raised by inexperienced persons. Unfortunately, turtles are often purchased by persons with little knowledge of how to properly care for these animals. Sal weighed 7 grams on intake, and was no more than one inch long. Two months later, he is 49 grams and 2.5” long!
Eastern cottontail bunnies from three different litters: The first litter’ of three had their nest destroyed by an outdoor domestic cat, two siblings were killed in the attack; the second litter’s mother was found in the road, having been killed by a car; the third litter was “kidnapped” by humans with good intentions – but a lack of knowledge about the wildlife living in their backyard. The homeowners assumed that since the mother was not in the nest or nearby in the yard, they had been orphaned. In all likelihood, mom was intentionally not near the nest while foraging so she did not attract attention to the babies in her nest.
Orphaned Virginia opossums - eight siblings were rescued from a homeowner’s shed where they were found crawling and suckling on their recently deceased mother. We suspect that mother died from exposure to rat poison in the shed. Opossums are the only marsupial found in the United States. Luckily, we were able to flush the toxins from the joeys with fluids. The babies were transferred to other rehabilitators in our network and all have survived.
Raccoon – this five week old cub was orphaned when her mother and two siblings were crushed when the tree that their nest was in was cut down. We nicknamed her “Tickey” because the poor cub was completely covered in ticks when she arrived. The ticks were removed one by one and she was given fluid therapy. Tickey was released Into the Wild with three other orphaned raccoons we raised during 2012.
Gray squirrel: juvenile siblings, peeking out of their outdoor, pre-release nest box in anticipation of the arrival of breakfast as they hear us approach. The siblings were found at the base of a tall tree after an early summer thunderstorm, where a nest sat empty. Since their mother had not come to retrieve them for at least 24 hours, we assume she was unable to return for her babies.
Bottom row:
Red-ear slider turtle hatchling. “Sal” is a relatively new edition at Into the Wild, Inc. Although it is illegal to sell turtles less than four inches long in the United States, the red-ear slider has become one of the most popular “pets” in the United States among families with young children. This turtle was illegally sold at a county fair, to a teenager. The parents quickly researched the species and found out that the chances of its survival at this age are slim when raised by inexperienced persons. Unfortunately, turtles are often purchased by persons with little knowledge of how to properly care for these animals. Sal weighed 7 grams on intake, and was no more than one inch long. Two months later, he is 49 grams and 2.5” long!
Facts about pet turtles
Disease Transmission to Humans
Turtles and other reptiles frequently carry the bacteria Salmonella, which causes the illness, Salmonellosis, in humans. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever and vomiting between 12-72 hours after exposure to the bacteria. Proper hand washing can prevent illness.
Red-ear sliders
Caging and Care Requirements:
Although we believe that Sal and other aquatic turtles should not be kept as pets, Sal is not native to New York State so he cannot be released Into the Wild. We have a responsibility to ensure that non-native pets that escape or are released do not become invasive species that harm native wildlife populations. Sal has been given the important job of Animal Ambassador for Into the Wild, Inc. He will help us teach children why owning pet turtles may not be as great as it sounds, both for the children and the turtle.
Please educate yourself before purchasing any pet, especially exotic species.
Turtles and other reptiles frequently carry the bacteria Salmonella, which causes the illness, Salmonellosis, in humans. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever and vomiting between 12-72 hours after exposure to the bacteria. Proper hand washing can prevent illness.
- Salmonella does not cause illness in turtles.
- Most people recover from Salmonellosis within one week; however, children under 5-years of age, the elderly, pregnant women and immune-compromised persons are at an increased risk of developing more serious complications from the illness.
- Salmonellosis outbreaks among children linked to pet turtles, are common (however, Salmonellosis outbreaks are most commonly caused by contaminated food sources).
- Young children often do not wash their hands properly and have been known to put small turtles, like Sal, in their mouths. The FDA banned the sale of turtles less than 4” long in 1975 due to the risk of serious illness among children under the age of 5 with pet turtles.
- Turtles less than 4” long continue to be sold illegally in the United States.
- If you own a turtle or other reptile, be sure to wash your hands after handling the animal and any materials in its tank, including the water. Clean all surfaces the turtle has come into contact with. Consult with an experienced turtle handler (not generally found in local pet stores).
Red-ear sliders
- Many hatchlings raised as pets do not survive the first 1-2 years of life. Those that do can live up to 40 years – a long term commitment on the part of the owner.
- Red-ear sliders do not reach maturity until they are 4-5 years old; therefore, we will not know Sal’s gender for several more years.
- Red-ear sliders are native to the southeastern United States and prefer warm climates; however, the pet trade and the lack of knowledge many owners have prior to purchasing red-ear sliders has led to escaped turtles and intentional release all over the world.
- The red-ear sliders range has significantly expanded and continues to expand in to northern areas of the United States.
- They are considered an invasive species in some areas of the world, as they have been successful in establishing sustainable populations.
Caging and Care Requirements:
- Hatchlings have different diet requirements than adult turtles to ensure proper development.
- Red-ear sliders are aquatic turtles and need both dry areas in their tank to bask in UV A and B lights and deep water housing.
- A full grown red-ear slider will need a 100 gallon tank, at a minimum.
- The temperature of the water and basking areas must be maintained at specific temperatures.
- A water heater and filter are essential requirements for their tank.
- Although direct, natural sunlight is best for the health of the turtle, UBV light is required for indoor caging basking areas.
- The equipment and housing required for aquatic turtles costs significantly more than most other pets. If you are still considering purchasing an aquatic turtle, consider that Sal has been our most expensive rescue to date; his initial 10 gallon tank and equipment cost over $200. He will soon need a larger, more expensive tank.
Although we believe that Sal and other aquatic turtles should not be kept as pets, Sal is not native to New York State so he cannot be released Into the Wild. We have a responsibility to ensure that non-native pets that escape or are released do not become invasive species that harm native wildlife populations. Sal has been given the important job of Animal Ambassador for Into the Wild, Inc. He will help us teach children why owning pet turtles may not be as great as it sounds, both for the children and the turtle.
Please educate yourself before purchasing any pet, especially exotic species.
"Sal"
Update, August 2013:
We enjoyed watching and helping him develop from tiny hatchling about the size of a half-dollar. Sal outgrew his tanks several times until he settled awhile in a 50 gallon - the largest tank we could accommodate. While his antics were always amusing, we knew he was not meant to live his life in a mere 50 gallons of water without other turtles and a frequent change of scenery and foods. It would be selfish of us to keep him captive. Sal belonged somewhere that he had room to roam, even if it wasn't a truly wild place.
In July 2013, Sal went to live at a private sanctuary with various other turtles species, including female sliders, and a variety of other displaced wildlife. We are confident that Sal is happier at the sanctuary where he can find a mate and live a long life in an environment as close as possible to what nature intended.
We enjoyed watching and helping him develop from tiny hatchling about the size of a half-dollar. Sal outgrew his tanks several times until he settled awhile in a 50 gallon - the largest tank we could accommodate. While his antics were always amusing, we knew he was not meant to live his life in a mere 50 gallons of water without other turtles and a frequent change of scenery and foods. It would be selfish of us to keep him captive. Sal belonged somewhere that he had room to roam, even if it wasn't a truly wild place.
In July 2013, Sal went to live at a private sanctuary with various other turtles species, including female sliders, and a variety of other displaced wildlife. We are confident that Sal is happier at the sanctuary where he can find a mate and live a long life in an environment as close as possible to what nature intended.
Into the Wild, Inc. Publications
Dumpster Diving Anyone? (March 2014)
The Mystery Pinkie (August 2013)
Snapping Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation (July 2013)
Human Imprinting: The 'Dangers' of Raccoon Rehabilitation (2012); Addendum (2014)
The Mystery Pinkie (August 2013)
Snapping Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation (July 2013)
Human Imprinting: The 'Dangers' of Raccoon Rehabilitation (2012); Addendum (2014)
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