Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care                                                                       August 2006  

Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care                                                                       May 2006

 
EASTERN SIERRA WILDLIFE CARE HOSTS A “WILD BABY SHOWER”

Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care is throwing a “Wild Baby Shower” on Sunday, June 18, 2006, to usher in our busy annual “baby season” and the whole family is invited to attend. Held from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Pegasus Gallery on Main Street, Bishop, the event will feature refreshments, games, door prizes, and a 50/50 drawing. Special games and prizes for kids. Names of those bringing a “baby gift” from our Wish List will be entered in a special prize drawing and raffle tickets for a twin-size quilt made and donated by Nancy Wood of Sew It Seems will be on sale and the drawing is at 5:00 PM. [Advance tickets on sale at Curves, Sew It Seams, Radio Shack (Mammoth and Bishop; winner does not need to be present at drawing.]

With the arrival of spring, ESWC—the only wildlife rehabilitation center serving the Inyo-Mono community—is flooded with orphaned or injured baby birds and mammals. Baby hummingbirds, owls, cottontails and raccoons are brought to the facility for care. Nests are knocked down by high winds, mothers killed by cars or cats, and tiny ducklings separated from their mom. Our Rescue and Return team succeeds in reuniting some babies with their parents (six Great-horned Owls and three Ravens so far), not all are so lucky. Trained rehabilitators care for these young orphans, insuring that they grow up healthy and wild, and able to “earn a living” (more) as part of our native wildlife population. Bring the babies a gift from our Wish List and help give these little ones a second chance. Wild bird and thistle seed, unscented tissues, Science Diet Puppy Chow, heating pads, X-large paper towels (Smart and Final), and unflavored electrolyte solution are some of the items needed.
Call Linda at 872-3926 for further information. April 2006

April 24, 2006

MAMMOTH’S SMALLEST SURVIVOR “ENDANGERED BURROWING OWL” FOUND NEAR AVALANCHE DEBRIS

(Mammoth Lakes, CA) - Mammoth Mountain Ski Area recently received national media attention when an avalanche occurred at the top of the mountain on April 17th. Fortunately, no deaths occurred in this freak accident although several people suffered minor injuries. The Eastern Sierra Resort has experienced record snowfall this season totaling a staggering 664 inches (over 55 feet).

On Tuesday morning (the 18th), Mammoth’s smallest survivor of these violent April storms was discovered. A Burrowing Owl was found sitting in the snow at an elevation well over 10,000 feet in the middle of a favorite ski run entitled “Cornice Bowl”. This Endangered Owl was only yards from the avalanche path and was found the next morning. Ski Area Employees scooped up this rare owl and a call was placed to Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care, Inyo and Mono counties wildlife rehabilitation facility. Volunteers responded quickly and picked up the extremely cold and stressed bird.

Appropriately nicknamed “Cornice”, the Burrowing Owl immediately captured the hope and fascination of the community that has suffered so many losses this season. The Burrowing Owl is endangered in Canada, threatened in Mexico, and a species of special concern in most of the western USA. “Cornice” was probably migrating from South America to Canada and was caught in the 100+ mph winds that ripped through Mammoth on Sunday night. How he survived a night on the 11,053-foot mountain and a massive avalanche occurring only yards away has volunteers at Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care baffled.

Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care had its beginnings in 1995 when Cindy Kamler moved to the Eastern Sierra from the Bay Area where she did wildlife rehab at WildCare. Based in the Bishop area, the Center now admits nearly 400 wild birds and mammals a year and is the only such provider for 200 miles. ESWC fields wildlife emergency calls from as far north as Walker and Topaz and as far south as Death Valley. The facility is permitted by both the California Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care is currently seeking funding for a large raptor flight complex and, in the future, a larger facility.

Trained volunteers from Mammoth Lakes, Crowley Lake, Bishop, Chalfant Valley, Hammil Valley and Big Pine provide care for injured and orphaned wild birds, mammals and reptiles both at the Center and at home-based satellite facilities. More than 90 species of birds and 25 species of mammals—most impacted by humans—have been admitted, including Golden and Bald eagles, Osprey, Peregrine Falcons and even a baby Badger!

In addition to Cornice, the Burrowing Owl, the Center is currently caring for a Prairie Falcon, American White Pelican, a baby Great Horned Owl, several Douglas Tree Squirrels (Chickarees) and an Evening Grosbeak.

Cultivation and development have significantly reduced the Burrowing Owls' habitat. Burrowing owls require open areas with low ground cover, existing burrows and abundant food—all of which are threatened on the prairies. Their diet consists primarily of insects such as grasshoppers and mice and other small rodents. These owls use the burrows of animals such as prairie dogs and badgers for their nests, and many of these animals are exterminated as pests. Burrowing owls have also been killed accidentally as a result of poison programs aimed at rodents and insects.

Video footage available.

Media Contact:
Christina Ackerman
Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care
760-924-3055
530-318-6652 (cell)
ackermanc@earthlink.net

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An American White Pelican is recovering at Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care from an accident that cost her part of her wing, and nearly her life. Although she is sunbathing, taking hose showers, and eating trout—thanks to the Fish Springs Hatchery—her fate hangs in the balance. No longer able to fly, she would be left behind when the pelicans engage in their spring and fall migration flights high above the Owens Valley. Without companionship, she would not survive, never mate or raise young.

            “We’re not ready to give up on this bird,” promised Cindy Kamler, ESWC’s director. “She probably hit a power line or cable that nearly severed the end of her wing, then survived a week or more in the desert, unable to fly, with little water and no food. She’s adjusted very well to her captive state; she’s unusually calm and easy going. She’d make a great education bird at a place that has other pelicans she could hang out with.” Kamler added,  “We’re contacting places in California, hoping to find her a home.”

On April 7, ESWC got a call from CDFG biologist Alisia Ellsworth. She’d had a call from LADWP biologist Debbie House. Construction workers at the pump-back station LADWP is building for the Lower Owens River Project had spotted the downed bird. ESWC volunteer Art Lillund drove to the area that night and searched for more than an hour in the dark and wind, but was unable to find the bird.                                                             

He returned to the site the next morning accompanied by Kamler. They searched for two hours without success. Finally, they spotted the large white bird on the far side of the river bed, lying down in the shelter of some sagebrush. Driving back around to the other side of the river, they stalked 200 yards into the brush, Kamler circling below the bird, who spooked and moved forward into Lillund’s net.

American White Pelicans stand 3-4 feet high, weigh 15-20 pounds, with a wingspan of

8 to 9-1/2 feet. They prefer fresh or brackish waters; unlike the diving Brown Pelican, whites often hunt in groups by driving fish into shallow water or into the center of a circle, then scooping them up with their large yellow beaks. Locally, white pelicans can be seen during migration stopping over at Tinnemaha, Pleasant Valley and Crowley. Most of the birds summer at Walker or Pyramid lakes; a handful can be seen at the northeast end of Crowley near the river.

Volunteer Debbie Hilton has been making runs to the hatchery for fish and visiting the congenial pelican daily. “I never imagined doing this when I became an ESWC volunteer,” Debbie explained, “I’m delighted to have such a great experience.” Sheryl Smith came up with a name, “Puff,” which all the volunteers agree is perfect for this gentle bird. Art Lillund has signed up to transport Puff to her new home, once she has one.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care. “We depend on our volunteers in every aspect of the organization,” said Kamler, “as you can see from this story.” ESWC’s Annual Training Class is coming up May 14 at White Mountain Research Station in Bishop. “If you’re interested in becoming part of the ESWC family, call us at 872-1487 for more information and registration.”

ESWC Annual Class
Sunday, May 14
White Mountain Research Station
3000 E. Line, Bishop.
Morning (10-12): wildlife rehab, rescue, first aid, and volunteer opportunities.Afternoon (1-3:30): training in care, feeding, diets, housing, and more.

872-1487

Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care                                                                       March 2006                   

Golden Eagle Rescue
by Charlotte Rodrigues

It was Monday, February 20, and Rebecca Deakin of Crowley Lake was contemplating writing a book while taking a walk near Warm Springs Road south of Bishop. She noticed a large bird, a beautiful golden eagle, standing on a rock. He looked so majestic that she stopped to watch him. He began jumping from rock to rock, his right wing drooping. He tried to fly, but couldn’t get more than 3 feet off the ground. She moved closer to see if he would fly away. When she was about 100 feet away, he hopped away, but couldn’t fly.
She had to get help. She called a friend and obtained phone numbers for Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care (ESWC), a volunteer non-profit organization located near Bishop dedicated to rehabilitating injured wildlife. She reached two volunteers, Janet Titus and Cathy Kelty, who were swimming at Keoughs. When they arrived, they approached the bird and were able to drop a large towel over the eagle’s head. Most birds will quiet once their head is covered. Director Cindy Kamler arrived with a carrier to transport the bird to the center for an exam and diagnosis. Careful handling was required because the eagle’s large beak and powerful, sharp talons could cause serious injury.
The bird was found about 400 feet east of Highway 395 on a busy holiday weekend and the injury was consistent with being hit by a car. Many birds and mammals are killed while feeding on road kill. Rebecca said when she was watching the bird another one was circling above.
At the center, a small triage center was set up with bandages, examining tools, fluids and homeopathic medicines. The eagle, who appeared to be a young male, was hooded and the talons wrapped for safety. His large wings were extended for examination and no obvious breaks were felt. Weakness of the right wing indicated a possible shoulder injury. A wing wrap was applied to immobilize and support the wing. The bird was treated for shock with warm fluids and homeopathic remedies, given antibiotics for possible infection, and placed in a carrier with heat to rest overnight. The next day, Dr. Diana Drumm of Bishop Veterinary Hospital did a further examination and x-rays. Fortunately, no fractures were found; the injury was to soft tissue or nerves. The eagle was now standing and was eating heartily.
On February 25, ESWC volunteerArt Lillund drove the golden eagle to a rehabilitation center in Ojai that has facilities large enough to house an eagle. ESWC is seeking funds to build a larger hawk or eagle flight enclosure for larger hawks and eagles so that transport, which causes additional stress, can be avoided. Reports from Ojai Raptor Center are that the eagle’s wing droop has improved. Once he is healthy enough to be released, he will be transported back here.
ESWC is a non-profit rescue and wildlife rehabilitation organization located near Bishop operated by volunteers and funded by donations. Volunteers assist injured wild animals from Bridgeport to Death Valley. ESWC is the only wildlife rehabilitation organization located in the Eastern Sierra. ESWC annually intakes almost 400 animals; the busiest time is during the baby season from April to October. As baby birds are displaced or fall out of the nest, volunteers help feed and raise the babies so they can be released back to the wild. Hummingbird babies need to be kept warm and fed every 15 minutes; most other baby birds are fed every 45 minutes. Volunteers are always needed for animal care, transport and office work. If you are interested in being trained as a volunter, please contact the center. An annual training class is held every May for new volunteers. A program is also available to for summer student interns.
Become part of a unique organization that works closely with our local wildlife. There are so many rewards when an animal is released back to the wild. Some fly to a nearby tree and look back at their caretakers as if to say, “Thanks,” and then, “goodbye.” Others take off and never look back.

Charlotte Rodrigues is an Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care volunteer and on the ESWC Board of Directors. She assisted with the examination of the golden eagle.

What can you do?

Be careful when driving along the highway. Watch for birds trying to carry off or feeding on road kill and give them time to fly away. Be alert so you can slow down if you see an animal trying to cross the highway.

Support Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care. Become a volunteer or make a tax-deductible donation.

You can contact Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care at 760-872-1487 or
800 Keough’s Hot Springs Road #24, Bishop, CA 93514

As residents of Eastern Sierra towns know, living in close proximity to wildlife means that humans and animals cross paths frequently. Whether it’s a bear in the garbage, an eagle hit by a car, or a bird bonking against a plate-glass window, Sierra wildlife often ends up worse for wear after such an encounter with humans. However, thanks to the work of the Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care (ESWC) in Bishop, many injured or orphaned wild birds and mammals can be released back into their home habitats as good as new.

Stunned Northern Pygmy Owl

According to the ESWC website (www.eswildlifecare.org), an animal needs help when it does not fly or run away when you approach it. If you’re not sure what to do, you can call ESWC at (760) 872-1487 for advice. That’s just what Nancy Boman, Chair of the Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce, did when she spotted a stunned-looking Northern Pygmy Owl on the pavement of the Murphey’s Motel parking lot on January 19.] Following ESWC’s advice, and with the help of Donnette Huselton and Santiago Escruceria of the Mono Lake Committee, Boman attempted to rescue the owl. To their dismay, the owl took off headed east toward Mono Lake, but struck the windshield of a Mono County Animal Control truck passing on Highway 395! The Animal Control officer, Boman and her helpers rushed into the street and picked up the owl who appeared to be dead.

Following ESWC’s advice, Huselton had prepared a box only slightly larger than the bird, with a towel for padding and a leak-proof hot water bottle to combat shock. She placed the body of the Pygmy Owl, the second smallest owl in North America, into the container and took it to her office. She planned to transfer the body to Lee Vining-based researchers from Point Reyes Bird Observatory, who would get it to a facility that could use the bird for educational display. ESWC volunteer Trina Jennison, who had been standing by in Crowley to receive the owl and provide first aid was saddened when Huselton called with the bad news.

Preparing to leave work, Huselton removed the towel-wrapped body from the box. To her surprise and delight, the little owl was moving in an attempt to get out of the towel. She placed it back in the box with a warm bottle and called Jennison to tell her that the dead owl was alive and on its way to her. After stabilizing the owl, Jennison in turn transported the small bird of prey to ESWC director, Cindy Kamler, at the Center near Bishop.

Sometimes injured birds need extensive rehabilitation, but amazingly, the Pygmy Owl showed only slight signs of head trauma and was flying within 3 days. It took a few more days for the bird to regain its strength and be ready for release. Art Lillund, an ESWC volunteer, brought it back to Lee Vining on January 30th and he and Donnette Huselton released it successfully into an evergreen tree in Hess Park, a safe distance from Highway 395.

When in doubt about an animal’s health and your ability to help, call ESWC at (760) 872-1487 or the California Department of Fish and Game at (760) 872-1171 for larger animals like deer, bears, or coyotes. With the resources that Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care provides, animals can often be rehabilitated and released safely after their encounters with vehicles, windshields, and windows. Abundant wildlife makes living in the Eastern Sierra rewarding, so help keep these fellow residents safe!

~~ ESWC NEWS ~~ ESWC NEWS ~~

Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care                                                                       June 2005                   

LOOKING TO FILL VACANCY IN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Due to family problems, one of our interns is unable to complete the program, leaving the Center with 30 hours per week uncovered. A work day at the Center (animal care duties) consists of at least 20 work-hours. With 71 animals admitted in May, and nearly 60 in-house, the loss has everyone reeling. We’re putting out the word and hoping to find a replacement intern. If you know a young person who might be interested in the internship, please ask them to call Cindy at 872-1487.

PATIENT UPDATE

A near-fledgling raven from a nest at the Control Plant in the lower Gorge crash landed. On intake, he was unable to stand. No fractures were found, but he apparently had some spinal trauma. Because of the injury, he couldn’t be returned to his parents. He was soon joined by another near-fledgling whose nest could not be found. The first arrival is now using his legs well, perching and taking short flights, along with his buddy.

Two fledgling and 3 nestling crows are also in-house. Unfortunately, return to the nest and/or parents were not an option in these cases. The nest of four Say’s Phoebes, rescued from a trailer about to be destroyed at the Lone Pine landfill, are flying and avidly searching for houseflies and other insects. n The baby Long-eared Owl rescued in Chalfant on May 12 is doing great. Sadly, efforts to locate the nest area and the baby’s parents and siblings failed, and he couldn’t be returned. He was moved into the flight on May 30 and is flying well. He still has some growing to do, as well as practice in hunting, before he can be released.

The baby badger is not so baby-like now; she is weaned and is living outdoors in her pen, consumes whole rodents and digs eagerly. She still faces the test that all rehabbed predators face learning to hunt. Since badgers stay with their mom until late summer or early fall, she still has some time to hone her skills.

Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care                                                                       April 2005     

ORPHANED BADGER CUB BROUGHT TO ESWC FOR HELP

ESWC Director Cindy Kamler answered an early morning call on Monday, April 4. The caller was a visitor from the SF Bay Area. He reported he had rescued a baby badger the evening before. The young badger was on the side of the Death Valley Road about 4-5 miles from [168].
There was no sign of the mother, and the cub was frightened, cold and distressed.
Kamler called Assistant Animal Care Director Nina Gaylord. Nina works at Pet Friendzy and was close to the Motel 6 were the badger was being kept. She picked up the youngster and brought it to the store. Kamler soon arrived with fluids and the proper formula (thanks to the ESWC library). Already warmed up in the heating-pad-lined carrier, the badger was given subcutaneous fluids to help with dehydration and shock.
Badgers are rarely seen in a rehab setting, although they are found in much of the US. Baby badgers are even more rare. There is almost nothing in rehabilitation literature on North American badgers, and ESWC could locate only one rehabilitator who had raised a baby badger.
The badger appeared to be between 5-6 weeks of age. Her eyes were open, but only the tips of her canine teeth were coming through. Within 24 hours, she was playing with her bedding and a stuffed toy. Under Nina’s excellent care, the badger gained a pound her first week and continues to put on weight and muscle.
ESWC is looking forward to the challenge of making sure that this young badger has the proper skills to “make a living” when she is released in the late summer or early fall. Badgers’ primary prey is gophers, followed by ground squirrels and other rodents, and the occasional snake, lizard, and insect. An adult badger, it is reported, can dig itself into the ground (if not too rocky), on 1-1/2 minutes!
We’ll send you updates from time to time on the progress of this beautiful young animal.

OTHER BABIES IN HOUSE
Nina, who is the primary mammal foster-care “mom,” also has 8 cottontails, 5 mountain and 3 from the desert. They are all doing well. At the center, two tiny mallard ducklings eat heartily, sleep under their feather-duster mother, and swim once or twice a day in their pool.

UNUSUAL PATIENTS
Many waterbirds are migrating northward up the Owens Valley. Our storm-blown spring has caused trouble for some of them. Four eared grebes were found, separately, on roadways where they had landed, mistakenly thinking the pavement was water. Unable to take off from land, these birds would have died from predation or starvation without rescue. Three of the four survived and were released at Klondike Lake, ready to resume their flight to the north.
An American Wigeon, hit by a snow loader on Mammoth Mountain, is recovering at the Center from a leg broken in three places. “She can limp on it now,” says Cindy, “and should be able to get back out there in about a week.” An American Bittern came down in Mammoth on another stormy day. Responding to a call, volunteer Donna Shelley rescued the bird. Suffering only from the cold, he spent a warm night, with a brief stint in her bathtub while he gobbled some goldfish, and was released the next morning at Hot Creek.