NEWSLETTER FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS OF NORTH CAROLINA

NEWSLETTER FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS OF NORTH CAROLINA

 

 

Volume 20                                                                                          21                                                                                                          SeptemberJune 2005

Text Box: A quarterly newsletter produced by the Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina (WRNC). WRNC’s mission is to share information and knowledge about wildlife rehabilitation for the benefit of native wildlife. For comments or questions, write to: WRNC, 2542 Weymoth Rd., Winston-Salem, NC  27103.

 

Editors Sally Davis and Brenda HilesEditors Sally Davis and Brenda Hiles

 

 


 WRNC’s 4th Annual Symposium

Jan. 27 – 29, 2006

 

 

      WRNC is planning for its 4th annual symposium, which once again will be held at the North Carolina Zoo’s Education Center in Asheboro. This year’s symposium will focus on hands-on activities. Necropsy and drug calculation workshops, cage building and a series of case studies are planned. We also are planning to have sessions on some very exciting topics including in-depth rabbit care, hummingbirds, imprinting and radiographs. Watch our website for more information as sessions and speakers are confirmed. The registration form will be available online in October and will be mailed to members in November. 

 

   Again this year we will have a large selection of books and supplies available for purchase.  We are requesting that you pre-order the books so we can assure that we will have enough copies of the popular  titles. Submit your order on our website or by mailing in the form on Page 9.  

  

   Would you like to give a presentation at the symposium?  See the Call for Speakers on Page 6 to find out how to submit a proposal. Speakers are granted a waiver of the registration fee for the symposium.   Would you like to create a poster to be displayed?  We are holding a poster contest. Use the Call for Speakers form to submit your entry.

  

  

We are looking forward to the best symposium yet.  See you there.


WRNC’s Beginner Classes

WRNC is offering a two-day beginner wildlife rehabilitation class at several places in the state between now and spring. We are trying to identify areas that do not have a class taught locally so we can help build a local network. Classes are planned for Washington, Jacksonville, and Fayetteville.  Registration is required. Register on our website or send an e-mail to the contact person for the location that you wish to attend.  The fee for classes is $25.  For additional details and directions, log on to: http://ncwildliferehab.org

 

Date

Location

Contact

Washington

Oct . 8-9

Goose Creek Nature Center

ocracokebirdworld@earthlink.net

Jacksonville

Nov. 5-6

Hammocks Beach State Park

oneil9734@yahoo.com

Fayetteville

tbd

tbd

jchamberlain1@alltel.net

 

WRNC’s 4th Annual Symposium

Jan. 27 – 29, 2006

 

   WRNC is planning for its 4th annual symposium, which once again will be held at the North  Carolina Zoo’s Education Center in Asheboro.   This year’s symposium will focus on hands-on activities. Necropsy and drug calculation workshops, cage building and a series of case studies are planned.  We also are planning to have sessions on some very exciting topics including in-depth rabbit care, hummingbirds, imprinting and radiographs.   Watch our Web site for more information as sessions and speakers are confirmed. The registration form will be available online in October and will be mailed to members in November. 

   Again this year we will have a large selection of books and supplies available for purchase.  We are requesting that you pre-order the books so that we can assure that we will have enough copies of the popular  titles. Submit your order from our Web site or by mailing in the form on page x.  

   Would you like to give a presentation at the symposium?  See the Call for Speakers on page x to find out how to submit a proposal.  Speakers are granted a waiver of the registration fee for the symposium.   Would you like to create a poster to be displayed?   We are also accepting posters presentations.  Use the Call for Speakers form to submit your entry.

   We are looking forward to the best symposium yet.  See you there.

Related articles:

·        Buy supplies, page

·        Order books, page

·        Make a presentation, page

 

 

 

 


Continuing Education

 

·         For updated calendar, course information and registration go to:            http://www.iwrc-online.org/training/training.cfm

Text Box: Disclaimer
The opinions, techniques, and recommendations expressed in the articles of this newsletter are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by WRNC.

·        The WRNC Web site maintains a training information page with contact details.  Check it out at:      http:////www.ncwildliferehab.org/wrnctrain.htm

 

·        For a refresher course in your town, contact Carla Johnson at  Wildlifeed2@aol.com or Jean Chamberlain at jchamberlain1@alltel.net for details.

·        The WRNC Web site maintains a training information page with contact details.
 Check it out at:    
http://www.ncwildliferehab.org/wrnctrain.htm

 

For a refresher course in your town, contact Carla Johnson or Jean Chamberlain for details

·        Like to travel?  IWRC upcoming classes and locations:

Date

Course

Location

 

 

 

Oct. 8- Oct. 9

1AB: Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation

Kingston, RI

Nov. 8 – Nov. 09

1AB: Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation

Toronto, ON CANADA

Nov. 8

4BB: Initial Wildlife Care

Toronto, ON CANADA

Nov. 9

3BB: Wildlife Feeding and Nutrition

Toronto, ON CANADA

 

Text Box: End-of-Year Reports

Please get your end of year reports in to WRNC.  File existing federal records or print your own form at http://www.ncwildliferehab.org/end_of_year.html.
WRNC will be presenting statistics and other findings based on submitted reports at the next symposium.
Text Box: Hurricane Katrina Update

IWRC is posting reports about wildlife in states hit by Katrina. The website is: http://www.iwrc-online.org. They have also established a place for folks to enter requests for help.
NWRA also is posting news about rehabilitators in the storm-ravaged area. Their site is http://www.nwrawildlife.org.
 

 

 

 

 

 



North Carolina State FlagNews from North Carolina

 

 

 


NC Permit Policy Clarified

 

   By Jean Chamberlain

jchamberlain1@alltel.net

 

         Because there has been confusion about North Carolina’s policy on subpermittees and application requirements, we have asked Daron Barnes at the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to clarify the policy for us.

    North Carolina does allow subpermittees under the rehabilitation permit, Barnes said.  A permit is issued to an individual at a specific location.  Others do not need their own permit to work under that individual at the permitted location.  However, if an individual wants to take an animal home or to any other location, a separate permit is required.  Subpermittees are not listed on state permits as they are on federal permits.

    When a North Carolina resident applies for a federal permit, a state permit must be submitted with the application. Barnes noted that one must also be covered by a state permit to be a subpermittee on a federal permit.  One may either hold a state permit or be a subpermittee under another's state permit to meet this requirement.could

    Barnes also clarified the policy on the application requirements for the state rehab permit, particularly the training requirement. The permit application requires the submission of two references from people in the animal field.  A letter of recommendation from each of these references should be attached to your application. They are developing new requirements for formalized animal training that will be required when applying for a permit. They  prefer that a copy of the certification from a course be sent with the application, if possible. Completion of ourthe WRNC refresher course is one way to meet this requirement.  

 

 


State Airdrops
Rabies Vaccine For Raccoons

North Carolina began an airdrop in August aimed at stopping the spread of rabies among raccoons in the western part of the state.

Planes dropped fishy smelling baits that resemble a ketchup package in Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties.

The oral vaccine also was distributed by hand in urban areas, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The program is being funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services Agency and the state Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Public Health.


   Because there has been confusion about North Carolina’s policy on subpermittees and application requirements, we have asked sssssssssssss at the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to clarify the policy for us.  

  North Carolina does allow subpermittees on the rehabilitation permit, he said.  A permit is issued to an individual at a specific location.  Others do not need their own permit to work under that individual at the permitted location.  However, if an individual wants to take an animal home or to any other location, a separate permit is required.  Subpermittees are not listed on state permits as they are on federal permits.

  A state permit must be submitted with the application for a federal permit.  One can be a subpermittee on a federal permit if one is a subpermittee on a state permit at a location covered by a federal permit.

  Xxxxxxxxxxx also clarified the policy on the application requirements for the state rehab permit, particularly the training requirement.  Formalized animal training is required.  The training can be course work or an apprenticeship.  The permit application also requires the submission of two references in the animal field.  It is preferred that a copy of the certification from a course be sent with the application if possible.  Completion of our refresher course is one way to meet this requirement.  

Basics for Beginners - Soft Releasing Squirrels

By Jean Chamberlain

 jchamberlain1@alltel.net


    We all want to release our animals under the best conditions possible.  For squirrels this means we should provide a soft release.  Fortunately this is fairly easy to do.  One morning open the door of the cage.  ; tThe squirrels will eventually venture out.  This provides them an opportunity to explore and practice climbing and jumping on high branches, getting needed exercise.  Just before dark they will return to their nest box in the cage.  Close the door after they have all returned. Continue to open the door in the mornings, closing it at night.  The squirrels will find an abandoned nest or build a new one.  They will locate the local food supply.  One night they will not return.   It normally takes a week or two before they are ready to leave the cage for good. 

Text Box: A 3-inch hole on one side of the cage near the top allows squirrels to come and go as they please until they find a better home.     Some people use another method.  They have a hole about 3 inches  in diameter on one side of the cage near the top.  The hole should be large enough for the squirrels to go in and out, but not large enough for predators to enter.  It is covered until it is time to begin the release.

   Open it for the release.  InWith this method the squirrels will also leave each morning and return in the evening until they have found a better home.  

    For both methods it is important that you   use the outdoor cage that the squirrels have


been  the outdoor cage that the squirrels have

been using for some time prior to the release.  It must have a nest box that they think of as their own.  Success depends on their  the squirrels  returning to it each evening until they have found another safe place to spend the night.


.

 

 


 

How to go ELECTRONIC

Here is your chance to do your little bit for the environment and also save money for things
   
 of of  more use to the membership than printing and sending paper in the mail.

Send an e-mail to WRNCnews@aol.com from the e-mail at which you would like to receive your newsletter.

  Include your name in the body of the email so we can track your preference.

 

 

 


 


Clip 'n' save

Dangers lurking at the bird feeder                 

By Elizabeth Hanrahan

birdworld@ocracokenc.net

 


   The growth in birding has manifested itself in many ways. Bird-watching is said to be the second most popular form of recreation, exceeded only by gardening.

    An estimated one-third of American households maintainmaintains bird feeders or feed backyard birds. Range expansion of many species -- northern cardinal, mourning dove, red-bellied woodpecker and house finch -- has been related to supplemental feeding. Feeding may help many birds, especially those that are weak, through extremes in weather. 

       In However, in some cases, bird feeders can attract weakened or sick individuals and promote the spread of avian disease. Backyard feeding creates a concentration of songbirds and can increase the risk of disease. Direct bird-to-bird contact, aerosols, or contamination of food or birdbaths may spread infectious agents. 

    Sick birds usually are less active and may have ruffled or fluffed feathers. They may roost near feeders, increasing the chances of spreading disease. The disease itself may cause death or make the birds so sick that they are  more susceptible to predation, harsh weather or accidents. 

   The most common disease risks at feeders include  trichomoniasis, mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, aspergillosis and salmonellosis. 

 

1. Trichomoniasis is caused by a protozoan parasite. It is frequently seen in mourning doves and pigeons. It can occur in raptors that prey on sick birds.  Trichomoniasis causes yellowish masses in the mouth and throat. Sick birds are often emaciated and may have difficulty breathing, eating and drinking. Birds may drop trichomonas-


contaminated food or water from their mouths, creating a source of infection for  healthy birds. Parent doves can spread the disease to their young when they feed them crop milk. Proper maintenance and cleaning of feeders and birdbaths are important in reducing the transmission of “trich.” 

2. Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis or “house finch conjunctivitis” is a bacterial infection first recognized in 1994. Signs include swelling, watery, mucus discharge from the eyes or nostrils of house finches. Clinical signs may be resolve with timed on their own,  or more commonly result in blindness and death. Transmission at bird feeders can occur by direct contact with infected birds or by contact with contaminated objects. It is known to spread through the air when large numbers of house finches use bird feeders. 

3. Aspergillosis is a common disease most often associated with waterfowl and aquatic birds.  It is also seen in songbirds. Many birds do not exhibit clinical signs, though they may have respiratory distress and appear emaciated and weak. Aspergillosis is caused by a fungus that grows in warm, damp environments. It can be found in damp feed orand damp vegetative matter on the ground under bird feeders. Birds inhale the fungal spores which that can cause this respiratory disease and ultimate death. 

4. Salmonella infection in songbirds results in intestinal illness characterized by diarrhea and weakness. Birds may become dehydrated, emaciated and die. The bacteria is shed in the feces and passed to other birds through food contaminated by sick birds. Several outbreaks of salmonella in birds have been associated with feeders contaminated by rodent, reptile or mammal feces. Transmission of salmonella by songbirds does not pose a significant health

 

(Continued on next page)


(Continued from previous page)

 

 


contaminated by rodent, reptile or mammal feces. Transmission of salmonella by songbirds does not pose a significant health risk to people. However, washing hands with warm, soapy water is recommended after potential exposure to sources of infection from any source. 

 

These recommendations for bird feeders will reduce the spread of these and other diseases:

 

 

1. Space out feeders in the yard to avoid crowding birds. A dispersed and diversified feeding arrangement will reduce stress, lessen the risk of transmitting disease and will attract more birds of different species. 

2. Use feeders that have smooth edges, are easy to clean and have good drainage. 

      3. Keep feeders and birdbaths clean! A solution of 1 part household bleach in 9 parts water is a


good, inexpensive, disinfectant. Clean particulate matter off the birdbath surface,


      parts water is a good, inexpensive, disinfectant. Clean particulate matter off the birdbath surface, disinfect by spraying the solution and leaving it on for 10 minutes, then allow the feeders to dry before refilling.

Soc    Socksks used for thistleseed can be thrown in the washing machine. Disinfect feeders and birdbaths twice a month or weekly in hot weather. Platform and hummingbird feeders may need more frequent cleaning. 

 

4. Areas under feeders should be kept clean and free of seed debris, spoiled food, and droppings.

5.  Do not allow seed and bird feed to become damp or wet. Discard moldy seed. Protect your valuable bird feed from rodents and other animals.

6. If a disease outbreak occurs, clean and move feeders and birdbaths to a new location or stop feeding for several weeks.

 


 

 

Need Supplies? Let Us Know

  

 


WRNC will offer supplies to members at its next symposium for what it costs us to purchase them. Please let us know if there are specific items you would like to have available that are not listed below. We will do what we can to obtain them at the lowest prices possible through discounted and bulk buying.  The pricing quoted below is the cost of purchasing items from us. 

  Send an e-mail to Beth at WRNCnews@aol.com if you are interested in purchasing any of the following items, and including include the desired quantity so that we may order sufficient supplies to have on hand. The items marked with (* ) will only be ordered if members send an e-mail to say they would like to purchase them (otherwise there will be none available at the symposium).
 * These items can be viewed at:. http://www.cynmar.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=owl. The Web site doesn’t include shipping and handling costs.


 

 


·        5 ½”½r rounded point metal tweezers
 for bird feeding at $1.20 each

·        7 ½” bandage scissors at $2.30 each

·        Nitrile gloves (stronger than latex) at $4.30 - $5 for a box of 100

·        Syringes, 20cc, 5cc, 3cc and 1cc

·        Needles, 25g, 22g and 20g

 

·         

·        Feeding tubes, 3.5 FR, 5 FR

·        Nuts and bolts for carriers

·        (*) Barn owl charts (2) at $7

·        (*) Owl pellet manual, $30

·        (*) Owl pellets, $1.75

·        (*) Charts – dissection, $29

 

 


 

 

 

 

CALL FOR SPEAKERS
WRNC 4th Annual Symposium
    January 28 – 29, 2006

 

Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina invites members and associated wildlife professionals to give a presentation at its annual symposium on January 28 – 29.  Presentations may be on topics such as species needs, natural history, veterinary medicine, education programs, administration and wildlife care.

 

Submissions will be accepted by mail or online.  Submissions should include a brief abstract of the proposed presentation.  A short biography should be included with your application. It should describe relevant experiences in your field and on the topic being presented. Individuals may submit more than one abstract. All submissions are subject to committee review. The symposium registration fee is waived for speakers. 

 

 

 


TYPES OF PRESENTATIONS

 

ORAL PRESENTATION: a powerpoint/slide presentation, demo, case study or skit on wildlife rehabilitation topics

 

WORKSHOP: a guided “hands-on” session demonstrating techniques or skills used in wildlife rehabilitation or closely related field

 

POSTER:  a visual display on a particular technique, project, or case study that may include photographs, diagrams, pictures and drawings.

 

 

 

 

PRESENTATION PROPOSAL

 

Please complete a form for each presentation that you would like to propose.  Mail the completed form to WRNC, 2542 Weymoth Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27103.  Alternatively, complete and submit the form on our website (http://ncwildliferehab.org). 

 

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

 

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

 

City/Town: ______________________  State: _____________     Zip code: _______________

 

Telephone number: _______________     Alternate number: ________________

 

Email address: _________________________________________________

   

 

Circle the type of presentation:    Oral Presentation   Workshop    Poster        

 

 

Presentation Title: ___________________________________________________________________

 

Abstract: (Description of the scope of the presentation..)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

 

 

Audio Visual Needs (Please check all that apply.)

__ flip chart       __white board       __overhead projector

__slide projector     __powerpoint projector

 

  

Biography: (Please briefly describe relevant experiences and your qualifications to present on this topic.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 
 
CALL FOR SPEAKERS
WRNC 4th Annual Symposium
    Jan. 28 – 29, 2006

 

Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina invites members and associated wildlife professionals to give a presentation at its annual symposium Jan. 28 – 29.  Presentations may be on topics such as species needs, natural history, veterinary medicine, education programs, administration and wildlife care.

Submissions will be accepted by mail or online. Submit a brief abstract of the proposed presentation with a short biography describing relevant experiences in your field and on the topic being presented. Individuals may submit more than one abstract. All submissions are subject to committee review. The symposium registration fee is waived for speakers presenting oral presentations or workshops. Fees are not waived for poster entries.

 

 

TYPES OF PRESENTATIONS

 

ORAL PRESENTATION: a PowerPoint/slide presentation, demo, case study or skit on wildlife rehabilitation topics.

 

WORKSHOP: a guided “hands-on” session demonstrating techniques or skills used in wildlife rehabilitation or a closely related field.

 

POSTER:  a visual display on a particular technique, project, or case study that may include photographs, diagrams, pictures and drawings.

 

PRESENTATION PROPOSAL

 

Please complete a form for each presentation that you would like to propose.  Mail the completed form to WRNC, 2542 Weymoth Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27103, or complete and submit the form on our website http://ncwildliferehab.org

 

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

 

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

 

City/Town: ______________________           State: _____________             Zip code: _______________

 

Telephone number: _______________             Alternate number: ________________

 

E-mail address: _________________________________________________

               

Circle the type of presentation:    Oral Presentation              Workshop             Poster                                   

                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                           (Continued on next page)


 

 (Continued from previous page)

 

Presentation Title: ___________________________________________________________________

 

Abstract: (Description of the scope of the presentation.)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Audio Visual Needs (Please check all that apply.)

__ flip chart                              __white board                          __overhead projector

__slide projector                      __PowerPoint projector

 

                Biography: Please briefly describe relevant experiences and your qualifications to present on this topic.  Include a list of any prior presentations. , as well as an abstract and a list of  prior presentations. Deadline is Oct. 15.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 


  Pearls of Wisdom

 

    Do you have a little “pearl of wisdom” that makes your job easier?  If so, pass it
along. Send your “pearls” to Toni O’Neil,  oneil9734@yahoo.com

 

 

 


Reserve Your Books Now!

We againOnce again we will offer for sale a wide range of books at the symposium in January.   In order to better meet the demand, we are asking people to reserve books.  Reserved books  will be held for payment until noon on Saturday at the symposium.  You  will pay no shipping charges.  Those books that are not claimed and paid for by noon will be made available forto others to purchase.  We anticipate having all the titles listed below.  Let us know if there is a book you would like us to get.  We try to purchase each book from the vendor with the lowest price.  To reserve books, send an email to jchamberlain1@alltel.net, reserve them online on our Web Site, http://ncwildliferehab.org, or send a reservation request to WRNC, 2542 Weymoth Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Text Box: Board member contact list (email)

Bergman, Linda (President) lbergman@ec.rr.com
Bryman, Mary Beth wildforlife@juno.com
Burgin, Jennifer skwurllady@bellsouth.net 
Chamberlain, Jean jchamberlain1@alltel.net
Davis, Sally (Newsletter Editor, Secretary) wekaterrapin@hotmail.com
Engelmann, Mathias mathiasengelmann@birdsofprey.org
Hanrahan, Elizabeth birdworld@ocracokenc.net
Johnson, Carla (Membership) Wildlifeed2@aol.com
Knapp-Tyner, Beth (Treasurer) WildatHeartRehab@aol.com
McMurray, Joan  mcmurray@nczoo.com
O’Neil, Toni (Vice President) oneil9734@yahoo.com
Schopler, Bobby bobbyschopler@hotmail.com
Weiss, Mary  weiss275@cs.com



send an email to jchamberlain1@alltel.net, reserve them online on our Web Site, http://ncwildliferehab.org, or send a reservation request to WRNC, 2542 Weymoth Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Title

Source

Price

Willowbrook Wildlife Center Pharmaceutical Index

NWRA

$17

Quick Reference

NWRA

$9

Introduction to Wildlife Education Programming:
Tips & Techniques for Better Presentations

NWRA

$18

Wildlife In Education: A Guide for the Care and Use of Program Animals

NWRA

$27

Principles of Wildlife Rehabilitation, 2nd edition

NWRA

$65

The Exotic Animal Formulary

NWRA

$40

Care & Management of Captive Raptors

NWRA

$30

Topics in Wildlife Medicine: Clinical Pathology

NWRA

$25

Thoughts for Food

NWRA

$16

Wildlife Rehabilitation Do It Yourself!

WRT

$9.95

The Songbird Diet Index

WRT

$33

Wild Neighbors: the Humane Approach to Living With Wildlife

WRT

$20.95

Minimum Standards

IWRC

$6

Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation

IWRC

$30

Feeding and Nutrition of Wildlife

IWRC

$20

Initial Wildlife Care

IWRC

$15

Fluid Therapy for Wildlife Species

IWRC

$10

Body Weights of 686 Species of North American Birds

IWRC

$10

Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds

IWRC

$23

Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases in the Southeastern United States

SCWDS

$20

Manual of Ornithology - Avian Structures & Function

Amazon

$30

American Wildlife & Plants, A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits

Amazon

$10.46

Text Box: Board member contact list (email)
Bergman, Linda (President) lbergman@ec.rr.com
Bryman, Mary Beth wildforlife@juno.com
Burgin, Jennifer skwurllady@bellsouth.net 
Chamberlain, Jean jchamberlain1@alltel.net
Davis, Sally (Newsletter Editor, Secretary) wekaterrapin@hotmail.com
Engelmann, Mathias mathiasengelmann@birdsofprey.org
Hanrahan, Elizabeth birdworld@ocracokenc.net
Johnson, Carla (Membership) Wildlifeed2@aol.com
Knapp-Tyner, Beth (Treasurer) WildatHeartRehab@aol.com
McMurray, Joan  mcmurray@nczoo.com
O’Neil, Toni (Vice President) oneil9734@yahoo.com
Schopler, Bobby bobbyschopler@hotmail.com
Weiss, Mary  weiss275@cs.com



Text Box: Board member contact list (email)

Bergman, Linda (President) lbergman@ec.rr.com
Bryman, Mary Beth wildforlife@juno.com
Burgin, Jennifer skwurllady@bellsouth.net 
Chamberlain, Jean jchamberlain1@alltel.net
Davis, Sally (Newsletter Editor, Secretary) wekaterrapin@hotmail.com
Engelmann, Mathias mathiasengelmann@birdsofprey.org
Hanrahan, Elizabeth birdworld@ocracokenc.net
Johnson, Carla (Membership) Wildlifeed2@aol.com
Knapp-Tyner, Beth (Treasurer) WildatHeartRehab@aol.com
McMurray, Joan  mcmurray@nczoo.com
O’Neil, Toni (Vice President) oneil9734@yahoo.com
Schopler, Bobby bobbyschopler@hotmail.com
Weiss, Mary  weiss275@cs.com

Text Box:  10% Discount at
         the Squirrel Store
WRNC members can receive either a 10% discount or Free shipping on their first order from Squirrel Store, which now carries rehab supplies (formulas, feeds, etc.) at competitive prices, in addition to other wildlife related items. Orders can be placed via their website (www.SquirrelStore.com) or by calling Misty at 1-866-907-7757. 
Make sure to mention you are a WRNC member for this special offer.

- Beth Knapp-Tyner
Text Box: 10% Discount at the Squirrel Store

WRNC members can receive either a 10% discount or Free shipping on their first order from Squirrel Store, which now carries rehab supplies (formulas, feeds, etc.) at competitive prices, in addition to other wildlife related items. Orders can be placed via their website (www.SquirrelStore.com) or by calling Misty at 1-866-907-7757. 
Make sure to mention you are a WRNC member for this special offer.

- Beth Knapp-Tyner
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Cage Grant Update


Text Box: Board member contact list (e-mail)

Bergman, Linda (President) lbergman@ec.rr.com
Bryman, Mary Beth wildforlife@juno.com
Burgin, Jennifer skwurllady@bellsouth.net 
Chamberlain, Jean jchamberlain1@alltel.net
Davis, Sally (Newsletter Editor, Secretary) wekaterrapin@hotmail.com
Engelmann, Mathias mathiasengelmann@carolinaraptorcenter.org
Hanrahan, Elizabeth birdworld@ocracokenc.net
Johnson, Carla (Membership) Wildlifeed2@aol.com
Knapp-Tyner, Beth (Treasurer) WildatHeartRehab@aol.com
McMurray, Joan  mcmurray@nczoo.com
O’Neil, Toni (Vice President) oneil9734@yahoo.com
Schopler, Bobby bobbyschopler@hotmail.com
Weiss, Mary  weiss275@cs.com



 Wild for Life in Asheville received one of three $250 grants awarded by WRNC to repair a cage damaged during storms last fall. A tree downed by flooding crashed into the enclosure used to house songbirds and small raptors, causing structural damage and destroying the hardware cloth and fiberglass screen. The newly repaired

enclosure houses 12 songbirds. WRNC plans to offer two cage grants of $250 next year. The application form,

along with requirements, will be published in the last newsletter of the year.

 

 

 

 


Ask WRNC


 

 

 Q: Why should Imodium (Lloperamide) be used with caution, or not at all, in some mammals for diarrhea?

    

     A: Loperamide is an over- the- counter, oral synthetic opioid.  Its mode of action is increasing rhythmic segmentation in the intestine resulting in a decreased transit time of contents and increased absorption of same. It slows propulsive movement of contents through the intestine, decreasing motility. The effect is to suppress or stop diarrhea.  It is often referred to as an anti-motility drug.

     Loperamide should be used in ruminants, such as deer, with caution! Because, it may also inhibit the cyclical ruminal contractions necessary for normal rumen function (i.e. eructation (burping) of gas and , mixing of rumen contents) possibly which canresulting in lead to acidosis and bloat.

     Loperamide should NOT be used in mammals when any of the following are present: fever, blood or mucous in stool, infectious diarrhea/intestinal toxins (e.g. E. coli, Ssalmonella, Pparvovirus, or food poisoning) or liver problems.  These signs indicate that an infectious diarrhea may be present.  The anti-motility action of the drug will can give pathogenic bacteria more time to multiply resulting in intestinal bacterial overgrowth, absorption of toxins into the blood stream and sepsis, where organisms breach the intestinal mucosa and enter the blood stream, which can lead to multiple organ failure and shock. 

    Loperamide should only be used in mammals with dietary- or stress-related diarrhea. Constipation and bloat are two side effects possible with with its use in mammals.of the use of this drug in any mammal

 

 

  If you have any questions you would like WRNC to answer in future newsletters, submit them to
 Jean Beth Knapp-Tyner at
WildatHeartRehab@aol.com


 

 

Chamberlain at jchamberlain1@alltel.net


Spotlight on Wild for Life

By Mary Beth Bryman

 


   Wild for Life: Center for Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc. is a nonprofit organization in Asheville that is dedicated to the rehabilitation of western North Carolina’s injured and orphaned wild animals. The primary goal of Wild for Life is to rehabilitate the animals, recondition them and release them to their natural habitat. Our second goal is to educate the public about wildlife and about the importance of preservation and conservation.

    Susie Wright, the primary animal caregiver at Wild for Life, began rehabilitating wild animals more than 15 years ago when she obtained her state and federal permits. Mary Beth Bryman  joined the team three years later. Both have completed certified rehabilitation courses, internships, and attended continuing education classes, seminars and national and international symposiums.

     Wild for Life was incorporated in 1999 with the help of an attorney and an accountant who donated their services. Wright and Bryman nurtured the organization from its infancy to its current position. 

     Wild for Life has grown from haphazardly built cages constructed from pallets with 30 animals housed in one den, to a rapidly expanding facility. The center is housed in several buildings that include an office and animal-receiving area, a nursery for songbirds and mammals, and an area that houses injured birds of prey. The most recent additions are a 60-foot flight cage for large birds of prey built by Roots and Shoots (Who are they ?????) of Carolina Day School and a quadruplex quadruplex of 8 x 8 x 8 songbird enclosures constructed by Travis Reece, an intern from the University of North Carolina at Asheville’s Environmental Studies Department.

   When asked her favorite animal to rehabilitate, Wright quickly answers “chimney swifts.”

     “When I started rehabilitating, I was told they could not be released,” Wright said. “They were impossible to raise. I knew there had to be a way to save these guys. Last year we received 31 swifts and released 28.” 

    Bryman’s favorite animal to rehabilitate is the crow.

   “The first animal I encountered in rehabilitation was a crow, and I learned how intelligent these animals are. At Wild for Life, enrichment is an important facet of rehabilitation. I discovered early on that crows need a wide variety of stimulation.”

   Bryman and Wright also educate people about wildlife, emphasizing that wild animals shouldn’t be taken out of the wild to become pets.

   “If we can change a person’s perception about wildlife and their value, we have really succeeded,” Wright said. “Wild animals are meant to be wild, and that is the way we keep them.”

   Environmental education has grown out of rehabilitation. Wright and Bryman started rehabilitating because of the animals.

They learned that educating people is the best way to help wildlife. Whether that means talking with someone who brings an animal to the facility for rehabilitation or doing a formal presentation to the local chapter of Audubon, they try to get people excited about wildlife.

   “We want people to know they can make a difference,” Wright said.

    They especially enjoy working with children.   “To see a sparkle in a child’s eyes and know they learned something today they will take with them, is as satisfying as releasing an animal back to the wild,” Wright said.

   Wild for Life has state and federal permits for seven non-releasable birds of prey and one non-releasable Virginia opossum, Christopher.  The birds of prey include: Willow and Augustus, red-tailed hawks; Pretty Boy, a turkey vulture; Odessa, a great-horned owl; Pickles and Rufous, eastern screech owls, and Oolu, a barred owl.

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   It soon became apparent there was a need for a rehabilitation facility in Asheville/Buncombe

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County.  Wild for Life rehabilitates about 250 animals a year. But it must turns away as many animals as it rehabilitates. HOW MANY DO YOU REHABILITATE IN A YEAR? Time and money are both issues. 

      “Saying no to an animal in need is the hardest thing we do, but we must set a limit to the number of animals we take in so we can give the ones we have the quality care they need,” Wright said.

 “Eventually we don’t want to have to ever turn an animal away that needs our help.”


 Wright and  Bryman  work regular jobs so time is limited. They hired their first paid employee this summer, Laura Branch, who


interned at Wild for Life last year.

   The facility will keep growing.

 Ambassador Row (What Ambassador’s Row?) is designed and Mmoney is being sought to build Ambassador Row, a facility to house the educational animals under one roof, with room for expansion. The complex will also include space for educational programs. More rehabilitation enclosures are soon to come. They would like to expand their educational programs and add more full-time paid staff positions. They’re also looking forward to constructing a state-of-the-art facility, including classrooms and a gift shop. 


Wright and Bryman work regular jobs so time is               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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‘Just Because
 You’re a Member’

 

To let members know we appreciate them, a drawing was held  June 26 to award $10 gift certificates and T-shirts from Jeffers Pet Supplies. The prizes were mailed to winners with their June newsletter.

 

 

Winners of the gift certificates are:

Ky Adeduji            

Robert Blohme

Anita Carter

Benita Crow

Cindy Donohoo

Leslie Franco

Beth Golic 

Jan Harris  

Susan Saunders

Jo-Anna Spector            

                               

Text Box: From the editors’ desk

Sally Davis is excited to announce the formal addition of Brenda Hiles to the newsletter editorial staff as Editor.  Brenda and Sally will work as co-editors on your newsletter for the time being.  Brenda has a background in journalism and has been assisting with the past couple of newsletters already.

This newsletter is your tool for reaching everyone else in WRNC.  Please feel free to submit comments, corrections, announcements and submissions for future newsletters to Brenda Hiles at bhiles919@earthlink.net or Sally Davis at wekaterrapin@hotmail.com.  The next editorial deadline is Monday, Nov. 7th, 2005.

    

 

 

 

 

The following members received a
T-shirt:

 Jaime Allen

Jeri Cone

Judith Dempsey

Terry Earnhardt

Mathias Engelmann

Deborah Gluck

Vicki Gower

Bernice Hilton

Martha Kraus

Lynn Mastin

Mildred McLean

Megan Miller

Tracey Ramsey

JoAnn Underhill
Linda Woods

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Spotlight on OWLS continued

 


On-site we are expanding our education areas as well. We have created a Discovery Classroom that includes information and hands-on exhibits about the variety of wildlife we share in Eastern North Carolina. It includes information about everything from birds, to bugs to reptiles and even plants. A current exhibit gives step-by-step instructions about how to create a backyard habitat and have it certified. We created a reading corner with soft pillows where parents can sit with their children and read about the wildlife in our area.  We have an owl pellet corner, an animal tracks corner, a resource library and many other educational tools available for anyone who comes to visit.  Our gift shop is a favorite spot to browse for wildlife-related souvenirs.

 

OWLS offers behind-the-scenes tours of the clinic and nurseries three days a week.  On our grounds we also have created a 2-acre nature trail where native plants are identified so visitors can consider incorporating these into their yards. A future addition will include areas to attract amphibians. A pollinator garden is being planted to teach about the importance of our natural pollinators such as hummingbirds, bats, bees, butterflies and even moths.  Outdoor bird-feeding stations cover the grounds and a large pond allows visitors to see everything from Canada geese and migrating ducks to cormorants and great blue herons.

 

In addition to OWLS' passionate and selfless commitment to providing the best possible medical attention and stewardship of all wildlife entrusted to our care, there is a self-serving goal. It's getting the community to value the service we provide. When we are perceived as valuable, we help guarantee OWLS' future and our ability to continue the important work of wildlife rehabilitation. If you're ever out our way, drop in and say hello, or visit us at www.owlsonline.org

 

 

Text Box: That gorgeous opossum cage

Any one interested in the 24 x 24 wire cage that was given away at the WRNC Symposium raffle? 
Contact Bob Kiger at 910-867-7559.
The pickup price per cage will be $50.00.

 


Beginner Basics:  Bunny Care – The Stress Factor

By Jean Chamberlain

 

Many rehabilitators hesitate to take cottontails. They have a reputation of being more difficult to rehabilitate than other mammals such as opossums and squirrels. This is because many more things are stressful to cottontails. A key to successfully rehabilitating them is to reduce stress in their environment.

Cottontails should be handled as little as possible. When they are on formula, handle them only at feeding times. Weigh them and change their bedding at the same time to reduce the number of times you disturb them.

 

Keep them in a quiet place where the temperature is comfortable throughout the day and night. If they are too young to have their eyes open, use a heating pad set on low, placed under half the container. They do best in containers appropriate for their size. Small boxes or plastic containers lined with sweatshirt material can be used when their eyes are still closed.

 

Move them to larger tubs, as they get older. Don’t use transparent or wire cages because once their eyes are open they will try to escape. It is best to have a covered tub with a ventilated lid. Tubs with the lid on top rather than in the front make it easier and less stressful when you pick up the bunny. Provide alfalfa hay for nesting.  As they reach the weaning stage, they need enough room to make individual nests. Crowded conditions are stressful.

 

Bunnies are sensitive to many things we normally don’t consider. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling them to remove creams and scents.  Never smoke around them. Don’t allow them to become familiar to dog and cat scents, including those on your hands or clothing. If you own pets, you may need to change your clothes each time you feed the bunnies.  Be sure they are kept in an area the pets don’t visit.  Also use distilled water to mix their formula. Young rabbits are sensitive to the low levels of bacteria found in well water and to the chlorine and other chemicals in tap water.

 

As the time for release nears, place them in a room with the windows open, or on a porch where they are exposed to fresh air and natural conditions. Placing them outdoors where they could be exposed to predators is not recommended

Killdeer

By Toni O’Neil

 

Killdeer, like other high-strung birds, are a challenge to raise in captivity. They’re precocial birds that must begin to eat on their own soon or they simply stop trying. The first 48 hours of care is crucial and may determine whether the bird survives.

 

If you are not successful in locating the lost parent and siblings and are truly going to have to try to raise a single killdeer, here are some tips that have worked for me:

·If it is a newly hatched bird, 8-10 grams, it may not be ready to eat right away because it is still digesting its yolk sac. It is important to keep the young bird hydrated - try giving it drops of warm Ringers Solution from your fingertip rather than tubing it orally. I have tubed killdeer as a last resort, if they weren't standing and seemed weak. Be aggressive in the fluid therapy - if it's dehydrated, it won't eat.

·Keep the baby warm! I use a heat lamp and a heating pad set on medium under three-fourths of a small plastic container, the type crabs are sold in. If the bird is on its feet, try to get it to eat. Movement is the key; use active mealworms. That means if you keep them in the refrigerator, you should allow them to warm up before feeding them to the bird. Use only small mealworms - remember the size of the bird's beak. Once the bird starts to grow, you can switch to medium and eventually large mealworms. I agitate the small mealworms frequently by shaking them and stirring them. Moving mealworms will catch the young bird's eye. Remove dead mealworms because they won't get eaten.

·I found it tricky to provide a floor surface that prevents the bird's legs from slipping but doesn't allow the mealworms to crawl under it. I finally settled on strips of adhesive tape about one-half inch apart on the bottom of the plastic container. This provides traction, and the mealworms can't hide.  Clean it by picking out the fecal matter daily. Every few days, wipe down the tape, and when it gets too nasty, replace the plastic container with one that has clean tape. I tried using the strips used in bathtubs, but they didn’t provide enough traction. The very young birds' legs kept slipping, which could lead to joint damage.  Sprinkle the bottom of the box with Start & Grow poultry chow by Purina. This will give the bird something to eat in addition to the mealworms and will also give it more traction.

·Place a very shallow bowl of vitamin water in the corner, away from the heating pad. Try teaching the bird to drink by dipping its beak into the water. They usually get the hang of it fairly fast, but it may take a few lessons. Don't allow the bird to get wet and chilled.  Change the vitamin water daily because the vitamins degrade.

·Keep three sides of the box covered with contact paper, or drape it with a towel. In front of the clear side, place a mirrored tile so the bird sees its reflection for company.

·Hang a feather duster above the heated side of the box to allow the bird to hide. Raise the feather duster as the bird grows to allow enough space for the bird to stand upright under it.

·As the bird grows, you can move it to an aquarium. Keep the three sides covered; use two mirrored tiles along the clear side, and keep using the feather duster. Use either adhesive tape strips on the bottom of the aquarium or bathtub strips to give the bird enough traction.

·I've found "less is best" - the less you handle the young bird, the less stress you will cause. Being precocial, they eat on their own upon hatching. Force-feeding squelches self-feeding instincts. However, if one is extremely weak and has difficulty eating, I'd force-feed it a soaked mealworm every three to four hours to give it the energy to recover. Again, that's a last resort. I'd also use LRS with dissolved poultry chow for the oral rehydration treatment.   

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Killdeer continued

 

·Keep it quiet. Once the bird is eating on its own and gaining weight, I try not to disturb it. Take a quick peek to see it has enough food and water, stir up the mealworms, then leave it alone.

 

Board Meetings Summary

By Sally Davis

 

The WRNC Board met April 16th to discuss this year’s symposium and to plan for next year’s.  The symposium held Feb. 25-27 at the N.C. Zoo attracted 125 people who attended workshops, taught or helped.  The 2006 symposium will be held from Jan. 27-29. Among the training sessions under consideration for next year are: radiographs, in-depth rabbit care, idea sharing, imprinting and a question-and-answer period.  Hummingbirds, necropsy and grant writing are also among the ideas for new sessions. Workshops in 2006 may include bandaging for avian and mammals, calculating drug dosages and a session on splinting, bandaging, wound management and tube feeding.

We also will be accepting pre-paid orders for books to be picked up during the symposium. Order forms will appear in the newsletter.

 

The Board awarded three cage-building grants totaling $750 this year. We’re considering conducting a cage-building session during next year’s symposium where a cage would be built on site and raffled.  We also agreed that in order to avoid the appearance of   impropriety, board members would not be eligible to receive cage-building grants in the future.

 

Next year’s symposium will be advertised through the newsletter and fliers. Advertising through newsletters and newspapers that reach potential participants and contributors is also under investigation. Board members agreed not to spend money for advertising, but to use the existing channels of publicity.

 

After preliminary discussions by email, the board met a second time on May 25th to vote on financial foci for WRNC funds.  All board members participated.  The following motions received a majority vote:

 

·The WRNC will sponsor a continuing education program for vets and vet techs.

·The WRNC will create a plan where we can help people get their federal permit to   rehabilitate birds.   Hold classes specifically for bird rehabilitators, and/or organize some type of internship program to facilitate getting the 100 hours of experience.

·The WRNC will identify areas of the state that do not have a local organization where we can teach the expanded beginner class and help build the local network.  Also the preference was to offer these courses regionally.

·More money will be invested in the symposium itself.  Ideas that were favored incuded:  more refreshments than vegetable trays and chips, more advanced classes and spending to have speakers come.

·The WRNC will form a committee to set up an emergency fund of $2,000.00 to draw from to assist fellow rehabilitators when a hurricane or other natural disaster strikes.

·The WRNC will maintain adherence to the awarding of a cage grant at $500.00 only to those who meet eligibility requirements.

·Change the WRNC fiscal year by authorizing the treasurer to set the new fiscal year date to a date that better matches annual WRNC activity.  This date would remain constant then until this issue is raised again and put to another vote.

 

The following motions did not receive majority vote:

·The WRNC will authorize a committee to investigate and return findings to the board regarding the hiring of  a lobbyist to push for rehabilitation of Rabies Vector Species.

·The WRNC will financially assist the fawn rehabilitation program.  (The common reason given was that WRNC should not favor one rehabilitation species over another.)

 

Those decisions that did not map to an existing committee called for formation of new committees.  These committees with initial members appear below.  The board welcomes additional committee members from among the membership.  Please contact Linda Bergman if you would like to serve in an open position.

 

Committee for Continuing Education of Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians

·Jean Chamberlain

·Mathias Engelmann

·Sally Davis

·Joan McMurray

 

Federal Permits for Birds Assistance Committee

·Toni O’Neill

·Joan McMurray

·Elizabeth Hanrahan

·Seeking 1 member

 

Emergency Fund Set-up and Administration Committee

·Beth Knapp-Tyner

·Linda Bergman

·Mary Weiss

·Jennifer Burgin

 

Banded Birds for WRNC

By Elizabeth Hanrahan

 

Occasionally wildlife rehabilitators receive birds with metal or plastic bands on their legs.  Or, a goose or duck may bear a collar or other marker. Racing or homing pigeons are often received with one or two plastic leg bands on both legs.

Each year more than half a million North American birds are marked with small metal bands placed on their lower leg by licensed banders for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In spite of the massive number of birds banded annually, less than 5 percent are recaptured or recovered. Hundreds of pigeons are banded by Pigeon Racing Clubs each year. Racing pigeons can get “lost.” When someone reports the band numbers, grateful owners know that the bird is safe, and hopefully, will return home.

By reporting band numbers, the wildlife rehabilitator can contribute to scientific studies, locate the owner of a valuable sport bird, and thrill the presenter of the bird with a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S.Geological Survey. All the above provide good public relations for the wildlife rehabilitator and the rehabilitation facility. 

 

USFW Bands

 

Hundreds of passerines are banded throughout North and South America each year at stations known as  MAPS -- Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survival.  Specialized banding is done on raptors, seabirds and waterfowl. These birds are banded by federally licensed “cooperators” of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Each of these bands carries a unique serial number and the abbreviated name and address

(ContinuedTo return the pigeon, record the band number on the admission form. Then go to the internet and either Google “banded pigeons” or go to the Web site for the International Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers at www.ifpigeon.com.  Here you will find information and contacts for all racing pigeons. You also will find information on care and proper release.

 

You can easily read the band number which will tell you the origin of the bird. For example, a number might be IF-1964-SMO-2004. This series of letters and numbers would be interpreted as:

   IF  = International Federation

  1964  = the serial number identifying that bird

  SM0  = local Pigeon Club code within the organization

= the year the pigeon was born.

 

You may then call or write the owner of the bird and make arrangements to have the owner pick it up or release the bird and allow it to fly home. Be sure to notify the owner when the bird is released.

In the case above, the pigeon was from Naples, Fla. It entered its 10th race of the 2005 season on April 16. It was to fly from Naples, Fla. to Atlanta, Ga. A low-pressure area and storms blew it off course. It was recovered on Ocracoke Island on Monday, April 18th.

 

Book Corner 

By Brenda Hiles

 

“The Geese of Beaver Bog”

By Bernd Heinrich

HarperCollins

202 pages

$24.95

 

In the summer of 1998, biologist Bernd Heinrich became a foster parent to a gosling he named Peep. Peep lived on the lawn of Heinrich's house in Maine, following him and his family like she would her own. Heinrich devised strategies to escape Peep's attention. He'd throw cracked corn on the lawn and slip out the back door. But Peep soon became wise and followed him.

The first time she saw him get in his pick up truck, she followed, flying behind him along the road to town. "Perhaps to Peep I had entered something akin to a flock; I had disappeared into something big, mobile, and noisy," Heinrich writes. "And so she had followed." A week later, Peep leaves Heinrich, presumably to join one of the noisy, honking formations of Canada geese heading south for the winter.

    

So begins the adventures of "The Geese of Beaver Bog."

    

Bernd Heinrich, whose earlier books include "Winter World," and "Ravens inWinter," makes readers see the world afresh. The common place and the mundane become wondrous. Heinrich's enthusiasm and joy in the natural world is infectious.

    

Peep returns to Heinrich's cabin two years later. Through her, he meets the other Canada geese that inhabit Beaver Bog: Pop, Jane, Harry and the Sedge pair. He tells them apart by the slight variations in their white face patches. We're also introduced to other denizens of the pond: red-wing black birds, grackles, cedar waxwings and the frogs that provide a soundtrack to spring's arrival.

 

The book is an entrée to the private lives of Canada geese. It has all the elements of a ? The incubation period of eggs, which might not be expected to lend itself to drama, is filled with suspense: Will the eggs survive? Will Peep know how to be a mother? Will Pop be able to protect Peep and the goslings? Stay tuned.

 

Heinrich also makes a few discoveries about geese that have yet to be explained. Within two days of hatching, the parents lead the goslings on a two-mile trip to another pond. To reach the pond, they have to walk through a half-mile of forest filled with predators, over a hill through hayfields and across a road.

 

Heinrich also observed geese adopting additional young into their brood when the biological parents took off with another group of geese. He theorizes that the extra youngsters act as a predator shield by providing more eyes to see danger.

 

Heinrich chose to conduct a field study of the geese rather than an all-out scientific investigation. A scientific investigation would have involved catching the geese, banding them, videotaping the nests and spending a good deal of time begging for money to finance the study  "I lived and recorded it willy-nilly as it occurred without expectation, and hopefully without bias, to try to reveal patterns and isolate them from the imagined," he writes.

 

Heinrich also sees no problem in naming the geese rather than assigning them numbers. Most scientists avoid the practice in order to keep from attributing human characteristics to their subjects. Heinrich doesn't believe science suffers from the bond between researcher and animal. The danger for scientists is not the love of the animal, he writes, but the love of a theory under investigation. By giving the geese names, he brings their stories to life, they become members of the family, to be worried over and cherished.

 

Shortly after reading "The Geese of Beaver Bog," I had the pleasure of seeing several geese at a park in Greensboro. I was delighted to notice the variations in their white face patches. As Heinrich noted, they were all slightly different. I watched as one goose nodded his head up and down and pointed across the parking lot to a pond. "I want to go!" he was saying, just as Pop had encouraged Peep to leave Heinrich's yard for the bog. A few seconds later, the geese were crossing the parking lot, heading to the water.

 

 


Book Corner

By Brenda Hiles

 

“Ghosts of Tsavo – Stalking the Mystery Lions of East Africa”

By Philip Caputo

National Geographic Society

275 pages

$27

 


It’s difficult for most Americans to understand the fear of being stalked by an animal that views us as food. The closest thing we can imagine, Philip Caputo writes in Ghosts of Tsavo, is an invasion by space aliens.

“The word man-eater is profoundly disturbing,” writes Caputo. “Instantly it dissolves hundreds of thousands of years of human progress and carries us back to our beginnings, when we were puny hominids, slouching across the African savanna where man was born, huddling in fireless caves, waiting for death to rush at us from the long grass. The thought of being devoured offends our sense of human dignity, subverts our cherished belief that we are higher beings.”

Yet we’re fascinated by stories of animals preying on humans. Witness the popularity of “Jaws,” and the coverage that newspapers and 24-hour news channels give to the latest shark attacks. It awakens in us a primitive fear, the idea of “what if…”

Perhaps that’s why after more than 100 years, the man-eating lions of Tsavo still capture the imagination.

In 1898, two lions stopped the British Empire in its tracks in a region of eastern Africa that would later become Kenya.

Hundreds of Indian and African laborers had been brought in to build a railroad bridge over the Tsavo River. Over several months two lions killed and ate about 135 workers, sneaking into camp and dragging the men from their tents. Even more frightening was the lions’ ability to outwit the men hunting them. They eluded traps and other ruses for nearly a year, until Col. James Patterson, the engineer on the bridge project, managed to kill them.

 The Ghost and the Darkness were the names given to the animals by workers who came to see them as a supernatural force.

Author Philip Caputo grew up hearing the legend of the man-eating lions of Tsavo. As a child in Chicago, he frequently visited the Field Museum where the two cats killed by Patterson were on exhibit. In 2000, Caputo went to Africa to chronicle the adventures of four scientists trying to unravel the mystery of man-eating lions.

Caputo is adept at explaining the various theories about the lions, never getting bogged down in scientific jargon.

He also takes us on side trips through the African wilderness. With heart-stopping detail, Caputo describes what it feels like to be chased by an elephant that can cover 12 feet in a single step. He captures the brutality and the beauty of a remote corner of Africa:  the poaching of elephants for their ivory tusks, the sacred ibises pecking in the mud with their long, curved beaks, rhinos submerging themselves in a lake to keep cool.

But readers looking for an answer to why some lions seem to prefer human prey will be disappointed. Caputo has reached no conclusion by the end of his travels. He lays out both sides of the argument and leaves it to the reader to decide between science and myth.

Text Box: Directory Updates
Have you moved? Has you email address changed? Is your phone number listed incorrectly in the directory?
Send updates to Carla Johnson at Wildlifeed2@aol.com


 

 

 


WRNC

2542 Weymoth Rd

Winston-Salem, NC  27103

 

 

 

 

 

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