Wild Care 's July E-News is here

JULY 2025

A Cape Cod Summer for All

Summer on The Cape - beautiful sun-filled days and ocean breezes, the beauty of nature all around us making Cape Cod such a special place for so many. This time of year is the busiest time at Wild Care, and currently we are caring for over 200 wildlife patients. With the human population swelling during the summer months, our wildlife faces many challenges. We are grateful to be here for every animal that comes through our doors. From the smallest hatchling, to the big and the beautiful, all are treated with the same respect and care. We celebrate the victories, and wish them well as they return to the wild places they belong. While not all have a happy outcome, we know we did all we could to give them a chance.

I hope you enjoy the success stories below, and please be mindful of all of the beautiful furred, feathered, scaled, and finned creatures that call Cape Cod home too.

Stephanie Ellis

Executive Director

Photo - Great Shearwater ready to return home, Simone-Marshall Chafee

Release Video Above: Simone Marshall-Chafee

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Great Shearwaters

Stranded in P-Town,

Great Shearwater Flies

off Into the Sunset

This beautiful Great Shearwater was found stranded on a porch at a resort in Provincetown after a summer storm with strong winds. The legs on Great Shearwaters are positioned far back on their bodies making them skilled fliers and swimmers, but causing movement on land difficult and awkward for them.

After arriving at Wild Care the bird was examined and found to be dehydrated and weak. It was provided fluids and supportive care and made a quick turnaround. The bird was released by Seasonal Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant, Simone Marshall-Chafee.

Black Scoter Entangled in Fishing Gear With

Multiple Hook Injuries Recovers and is Released

Black Scoter release video by Leah Myrbeck, Staff Wildlife Rehabilitator

Photo: Black Scoter from our archives.

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Black Scoters

A Black Scoter was found on Coast Guard Beach in Eastham by Nick Sanders, Eastham Animal Control Officer. This poor bird was entangled in derelict fishing gear including a line with multiple hooks piercing through its wing. The hook was removed by wildlife rehabilitator Leah Myrbeck. It received supportive care, and time in Wild Care’s therapy pool to assure it was waterproof. This beautiful sea duck wasted no time making its way back home when released.

This bird was lucky! Please dispose of or recycle fishing gear appropriately so that it does not become a hazard to wildlife, pets or people. If you hook a bird while fishing, reel the bird in. With gloved hands, place a towel over it and place it into a box or bin. Only cut the line once the bird is secure. You could save a life!

Great Egret Release in Chatham is a Crowd Pleaser

This graceful Great Egret was found by the road in Chatham believed to have been hit by a car. This stunning bird was examined and received supportive care by Wild Care’s skilled team of wildlife rehabbers. Summer Extern Aiyanna Siew released the bird at Ryder’s Cove in Chatham with an enthusiastic welcome from onlookers on a nearby boat.

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The care and release of this incredible bird was made by JoAnn Byrnes in honor

of her daughter, L. Byrnes.

LEARN more about Red-tailed Hawks

Red-tailed Hawk Recovers from Gunshot Wound

is Released

This magnificent Red-tailed Hawk was brought to us in April from Rochester, Massachusetts from the wonderful staff at Mattapoisett Animal Hospital. Suffering from a gunshot wound to the wing, it was unable to fly. It spent two months in the care of our staff of wildlife rehabilitators receiving pain management, supportive care, and flight time in our elliptical assuring that this beautiful bird could fly and hunt effectively. After receiving the green light, it was released back in Rochester by JoAnn Byrnes, Wildlife Rehabilitator.

Shooting all types of hawks and owls is illegal in Massachusetts under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Video: Chelsea Peck, Wildlife Rehabilitator

WE’RE EXPECTING!

Wild Care has been incubating 36 Snapping Turtle eggs and 18 Diamondback Terrapin eggs (an Endangered Species) from adult turtles that were hit by cars and did not survive. According to Chelsea Peck, Staff Wildlife Rehabilitator, our Snapping Turtle eggs are due to hatch any day now! Watch this video of one of the baby turtles inside of its egg last week.

Supplies needed for the turtle hatchlings

have been generously donated by Julie Silva in

loving memory of her dad, Andrew F. Petitti, Jr.

Turtle Hatchling Naming Opportunities Available

Would like to name one of our hatchling turtles? You will receive a e-certificate to download with the name of your turtle, and we will post photos of our hatchlings along with their names on our social media pages for a donation of $100 for each hatchling. A fun way to shell-abrate someone special and support wildlife. Please email Stephanie to name your turtle.

Video: Ally Jones, Mass Wildlife

The care and release of

these beautiful turtles

were sponsored in loving memory of Danny Battista by his family.

Diamondback Terrapins Released After Spending the Winter at Wild Care

We are so happy to share this video of the Diamondback Terrapins that spent the winter growing from little hatchlings to healthy juveniles at Wild Care. They thrived in our care, and were recently released back to the site in Mattapoisett near where they were found back in November in a YMCA pool. This release was by partners of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife and Franklin Park Zoo New England as part of an ongoing mark-recapture and occupancy study in the Buzzards Bay Estuary. These turtles wasted no time swimming off and seeking shelter under some vegetation. Exactly what we’d like to see them do!

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Diamondback Terrapins

Sponsor a Rescued Animal's Care

and Release

Sponsor the care and release of one of the animals above or an upcoming rescued animal as a unique way to celebrate someone special, or honor the memory of a loved one. Your sponsorship gift of $200 or more helps with medical expenses, sanitation, nutrition, enrichment and housing for wildlife patients.

You will receive a digital photo, and details about the rescued animal and their return to the wild. Your sponsorship with personalized message will be posted on our Facebook page on a date of your choosing.

Please email Stephanie

or call 508-240-2255

to leave a message.

GET more details here