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A Look Back at Wild Care 2022,
& Celebrating 30 Years in 2023!
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PHOTO - Kerry Reid... Laughing Gull dreaming of his next adventure! Released November 2022.
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Looking back on all of the patients that came through our doors at Wild Care in 2022, it’s easy to say that it was a very busy year! We treated over 1,836 animals including 53 raptors, 283 seabirds, 493 songbirds, and 163 squirrels (12 Eastern Gray Squirrels, 18 Red Squirrels, 12 Southern Flying Squirrels, and 21 Eastern Chipmunks) Most of these squirrels were orphans! Adding to the challenge was the ever present Avian Flu, bringing with it the need for testing, PPE, extra time, and a designated quarantine space for each of our feathered patients. One thing that always makes it all possible is the support of our community. You are the ones that care enough to take the time to make a difference in an animal’s life. Our requests for donations and supplies never go unanswered. Local businesses, emergency responders, utility companies, local non-profits, and fishing vessels to name just a few, always answer the call to work with us on solutions to give wildlife the best chance of survival. Last but not least, we could not do what we do without our dedicated volunteers who donated hundreds of hours of their time in 2022. We are beyond grateful for all of your support!
2023 will be an especially exciting year for Wild Care! We will be celebrating our 30th anniversary year marking this milestone with a "Women of Wildlife" Champagne Brunch on March 11th at the West End Restaurant in Hyannis. It will be our first large in-person event in a long time, and we have a fun and fabulous event planned. You won’t want to miss it!
We are also looking forward to breaking ground on a much needed expansion project. This new structure will serve as a dedicated intake area for animal patients, a place for the public to learn more about our local wildlife when they drop off an animal, and a well-functioning space for cleaning and sanitizing the many necessities used for patient care. Naming opportunities for our new building will be available. We will share the exciting details in the next few weeks.
Here's a look back at some of Wild Care's wonderful
success stories of 2022, made possible by your support.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!
Stephanie Ellis,
Executive Director
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SAVE THE DATE
CELEBRATE 30 YEARS WITH US
We have so much to celebrate! On March 11th, 2023 we are planning a celebration of Wild Care’s 30th Anniversary and Cape Cod’s Women of Wildlife with a Champagne Brunch at The West End Restaurant in Hyannis. A highlight of the event which takes place during Women’s History Month, includes talks by Julia Cumes, Photographer, Sarah Oktay, Executive Director, Center for Coastal Studies, Dr. Priya Patel BVM MRCVS, New England Wildlife Centers'- Cape Wildlife Center, Jennifer Taylor, Animal Care Coordinator, Wild Care, Inc., and Cynthia Wigren, CEO and Co-Founder, Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. There will also be an exciting online auction featuring six unique experience prize packages.
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Details and tickets will be available soon.
Sponsorship opportunities available now.
Email Judy or Call 508-237-7359
for more information.
Sponsorship Levels and Benefits
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JANUARY 2022
This beautiful Red-tailed Hawk was rescued after it was found hit by a car in Chatham. The hawk suffered head trauma, a tongue injury, and vision impairment to one eye and was treated for possible rodenticide exposure. After receiving supportive care, and several weeks getting flight conditioning in our large aviary the bird made a full recovery and was released.
LEARN more about Red-tailed Hawks
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FEBRUARY 2022
This lovely little bird is a Thick-billed Murre. It was found on a bike path in Brewster. Thick-billed Murres typically live in the open ocean. Strong Northeastern storms sometimes blow them inland into strange locations. This bird arrived thin, weak and dehydrated. With intensive supportive care, medication, and swim-time in our therapy pools the bird made a full recovery and was released.
LEARN about Thick-Billed Murres
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MARCH 2022
While taking down a tree, workers from Treeworks found an Eastern Screech Owl inside. March is nesting season for owls, so we were concerned that the owl might be sitting on eggs. Wild Care’s Stephanie Ellis, and Rachel Wojciak arrived with an owl nest box and carefully removed the owl from the felled tree log. The owl had a brood patch which means she was ready to lay eggs. She was placed into the owl nest box in a tree within sight of her original home.
Owls are the earliest nesting birds of the season in New England. If you must take down trees in your yard, please check first to ensure they don't have inhabitants. Screech owls nest in the cavities of dead or rotting trees, squirrels are also nesting.
LEARN more about owls in MA
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APRIL 2022
These tiny Red Squirrels were brought to Wild Care from a nest inside the engine of a vehicle at a repair shop. They appeared thin, dehydrated, frightened, and covered in bruises and lacerations, and must have been without their mom for several days. After a few days including overnight care they gained weight and began to thrive.
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It's important to check your car engine, lawn equipment, and snow blowers on a regular basis. If you have a vehicle or a piece of machinery that has not been moved for a while - open the hood, or move the vehicle frequently, to discourage squirrels and other rodents from nesting. Rodents do not want to move into a home that is unpredictable. (This goes for lawnmowers and grills too!) If there is already a nest under the hood, call us. We can provide tips for encouraging momma squirrel or mouse to move her young. It works! 508-240-2255 | |
MAY 2022
Ilean is Wild Care’s resident Mallard Duck. She fosters all of our orphaned ducklings and became surrogate mom to eleven Mallard ducklings after their mom was killed by a car. The ducklings were rescued by Attleboro Police Department's Animal Control Officer and transported to us. A single duckling orphan from another location was also added to this happy family of twelve. Due to Avian Influenza, Wild Care is one of a few facilities in MA accepting waterfowl. These ducklings tested negative for Avian Influenza before being placed with Ilean, and with her help all them thrived and were released.
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JUNE 2022
This fuzzy Red-shouldered Hawk chick fell from its nest in Marion, MA. Although thankfully the bird was unharmed from the fall, it was examined and treated for intestinal parasites before being reunited with its family. Hollie Danhauser who rescued the bird arranged for a tree company and climber to place it back with it’s three other siblings in the nest.
READ about Red-shouldered Hawks
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JULY 2022
This large female Common Snapping Turtle was brought to Wild Care after she was hit by a car. Beeswax was used to seal the small fractures on her shell, so she can continue to heal in the wild. She was released close to where she was found.
HEAR her story
WATCH the release here
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AUGUST 2022
A beautiful Great Black-backed Gull was rescued in Provincetown with a fishing hook through it’s left eye. It had clearly been suffering from the injuries and would not have survived without care. Even after all it had been through this sweet bird acted as a role model for three other juvenile gulls in our care before all were released.
Please #trashyourtackle properly. Derelict recreational fishing gear is deadly to wildlife. When fishing, fish responsibly. Carry a box, heavy gloves, goggles and scissors in your vehicle. If you hook a gull or other bird. Don't cut the line! Reel the bird in, place it into a box, cut the line once the bird is secured, and then contact a wildlife rehabilitator. You could save a life.
WATCH the release here
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OCTOBER 2022
This beautiful male American Kestrel was found struggling in the water over ten miles off of Chatham. People in a nearby boat retrieved the bird and brought it onboard to dry off and rest. The kestrel was weak, exhausted and hypothermic when it arrived at Wild Care. The bird received supportive care and flight time before being released.
LEARN more about American Kestrels
WATCH the release here
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NOVEMBER 2022
This beautiful immature gannet came into our care after it was blown onto a lawn in Wellfleet by strong winds. Thankfully the bird was uninjured. It received supportive care and swim therapy at Wild Care, and was ready to go. Photo: Susan Wellington.
LEARN more about Northern Gannets
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DECEMBER 2022
Winter storms blew dozens of tiny Dovekies into parking lots, driveways and other locations that are unusual for a bird that spends most of its time in the open ocean feeding on plankton that they catch underwater. Dovekies require frequent high calorie feedings with a tube-feeding formula and tiny fish, and need to spend as much time as possible in our therapy pools to stay waterproof.
READ more about Dovekies
SEE the Dovekies in our therapy pool and release
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Check out our Amazon and Chewy WISH LISTS and donate much
needed supplies to help the animals being cared for at Wild Care.
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Help Wildlife While You Shop on Amazon
Go to amazonsmile.com and choose Wild Care Cape Cod as your charity. Get the same great items at the same prices, and with each purchase Wild Care receives a donation at no additional cost to you.
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