Halloween Raffle – Last Chance to Enter!
Help support the care of our Animal Ambassadors by entering our Halloween Raffle! Our ambassadors cannot be released back to the wild due to permanent injuries. These animals help us teach 200+ education programs annually! Your participation in this raffle helps provide excellent husbandry, veterinary care & nutritious food for our ambassadors. We are grateful for your support!
Drawing October 31st, 2024
Tickets: $25 each; 5 for $100
Prizes: $1,000; $500; $250 & $100
Animal Ambassadors
Charlie the American Kestrel
Charlie is our 5 year old American Kestrel. American Kestrels exhibit sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have different physical characteristics. Charlie’s slate blue head and wings, rufous back, and tan chest with black spots make him one of our most beautiful animal ambassadors!
Unfortunately, Charlie was taken from the wild as a baby and illegally raised by a member of the public. He is unable to be released as he is too comfortable with people and lacks the skills needed to survive in the wild.
American Kestrels are one of the few types of raptors that hunt as a family. Young chicks are accompanied by their parents as they learn how to catch large insects, small rodents, and even small birds! Successfully hunting live prey is a difficult skill to learn in the wild. Since Charlie was not raised in the wild with his family, or at a wildlife rehabilitation facility with other young kestrels, he lacks the ability to hunt for live prey.
As part of our team of ambassador animals, Charlie helps us teach people about his species and why you should never try to raise a wild animal on your own.
Patient Spotlight
Opossum Entangled in Netting
This female opossum was climbing up a fig tree trying to get herself a sweet treat when she became entangled in netting surrounding the tree. The more she struggled, the tighter the netting became. This happened some time during the night and the homeowner discovered the opossum the following morning.
We quickly dispatched a volunteer to rescue the opossum. When we arrived, the opossum was tightly bound and couldn’t move at all. The netting was cut and carefully removed from the opossum’s mouth and chest, allowing her to breathe easy and start to relax. At our hospital, the opossum’s full exam showed cuts along her mouth and toes, but no serious injuries.
After a few days of anti-inflammatory medication and rest, the opossum was released back to the wild. This opossum was very lucky to not have sustained life-threatening injuries, but that’s not always the case with animals entangled in netting.
Click here for information about wildlife friendly netting.
