It has been a hot, dry summer, which can make it difficult when releasing rehabilitated wildlife. When rehabilitators are preparing to release an animal, there are several considerations that go into choosing a release site. A protected release site:
is an appropriate habitat for the species
does not allow hunting or trapping
has a year-round water source
has plenty of vegetation and trees
is not near high traffic or highly populated areas
is not a location in which the animal may become a nuisance or a depredation threat
If you are interestested in becoming a release site, please contact us at allthingswildrehab@gmail.com or (512) 897-0806.
Budgie T. released 8 raccoons and is preparing the last 2 raccoons for release.
Karen O. is rehabilitating a coyote and 30 raccoons.
Helen L. took in an armadillo, a jack rabbit, an opossum, 2 ducks, 3 raccoons, 3 skunks, 6 squirrels, 20 cottontail rabbits, and 66 songbirds. As fall approaches, the number of orphaned babies coming into rehab will decline; however, rehabilitators will stay busy with injured adult wild animals.
Natalie H. released 3 foxes, 3 three ring neck doves, and 4 red shoulder hawks. She is rehabilitating a black vulture, a caracara, a green heron, a Mississippi kite, a screech owl, and 3 great horned owls.
Kim F. took in a baby opossum and took a blue jay and a duckling to another rehabilitator.
Leanne D. is rehabilitating a baby cardinal, a baby squirrel, an injured squirrel, 2 baby foxes, 2 baby opossums, and 3 fawns.
Progress on Our New Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Despite the daily 100-degree temperatures, construction on our new rehabilitation center is progressing. The concrete foundation was poured on August 29 followed by the daunting task of keeping the concrete wet for three days during the hot part of the day so that the concrete would cure properly. The next step will be erecting the metal building, beginning in about a week.
Thank you for your hard work to Jack Ward Septic and Backhoe, Lovelace Well and Drilling Service, Silvio’s Plumbing, Silva Construction, and Whitley Steel Building Supply.
Now that construction on our new center is progressing, we are thinking about what we need to furnish and equip the building.
Tables! We need lots of folding 6’ plastic tables. They can be used, stained, or new as long as they are sturdy, but we are going to need tables for the nursery cages and incubators, for folding laundry, and for prepping food.
We will also need new or gently used cabinets and metal shelving units. Because the interior of the building will be an open bay concept, we need cabinets and shelving not only for storing supplies but also for dividing the space.
Another way you can help us is by donating toward appliances for the kitchen and laundry: a washer and dryer, two refrigerators, two freezers, and two microwaves. Because ATW is exempt from sales tax, we can save on purchasing the appliances that we need.
Raising Cody by Karen Davis Orth
One of the most misunderstood wild animals of North America is the coyote, officially known as Canis Latrans. Many people view coyotes as varmints and some, especially farmers, will shoot them on sight. This negative image is largely due to predation of livestock. However, studies are now proving that on many occasions, wild dogs or even neighborhood dogs running in groups are the predator culprits.
ATW ambassador, Cody, and his human mother, me, are hoping to help people see the coyote in a different light and recognize the value that coyotes bring to the ecosystem and to our environment. This is his story:
Cody was a miracle, right from the start. Late in the afternoon one day in the beginning of April, I received a call from a woman stating that she had a newborn coyote puppy.
Coyote pups look almost identical to fox kits when born with only a few slight differences, so the majority of the time a “coyote pup” turns out to actually be a baby fox, but the lady stated that she saw the mother give birth to this puppy. Amazingly, she said, the mother coyote was giving birth in front of her and then ran off leaving the newborn on the ground.
My husband Jim and I began the more-than-one-hour drive from Dripping Springs to out past Elgin to get the baby. Sure enough, upon arrival, there was the puppy, a small male, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket by the finder. He seemed healthy other than a few fleas and had a wet, fresh umbilical cord still attached to his belly. Obviously, the pup had not nursed at all from the mother, so he had not received any colostrum. Colostrum, the first milk from the mother, is very necessary for a newborn animal to live because it helps to build a strong immune system with its rich nutrients and antibodies that aren’t present in prepared formula. To work its magic, colostrum has to be ingested within the first 24 hours of life! So, while Jim drove, I got on the phone to try and find some colostrum because this puppy’s life depended upon it.
At first, there were only dead ends because the pet stores only had powdered cow colostrum. Goat colostrum would be ideal and fresh even better. Goat colostrum and milk are universally nourishing for most baby animals. Whereas cow milk contains enzymes that will cause diarrhea and ultimately death in wild babies, goat milk is well tolerated.
Luckily, another ATW rehabber had fresh goat colostrum that she had milked from a goat that recently kidded. She agreed to meet outside of Florence. Thank you, Brooke! The three of us sat in the parking lot at a gas station on the side of the road and fed this precious baby his colostrum. He nuzzled into his blanket on his warm snuggle safe for the long ride home back to Dripping Springs. Everyone wondered if this would work and if he would live. Goat colostrum isn’t exactly the same as coyote colostrum!
The days passed and Cody grew. He opened his eyes and began walking. He even learned to howl. Today, at almost 5 months old, he has become part of our family and gets along with the other dogs. A sweetheart in every way, he has not been aggressive to other family members such as the cat or raccoons. Unlike wild coyotes, he has the luxury of food being presented to him in a bowl every day and feels no need to hunt or kill. He spends his day tirelessly playing fetch, tug of war, and stealing anything he can that has his human’s scent!
Coyotes are special animals and do have a place in our environment. They only kill to provide food for themselves and their family. They waste very little and even cache excess food for use later. They eat tons of rodents, carrion, insects, and will even kill and eat rattlesnakes.
It is possible to address problems and issues with coyotes in a positive manner so that we can live alongside each other. The world will be much better for it.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't try this at home. Karen is a longtime, very experienced wildlife rehabilitator who has worked with raccoons, foxes and coyotes for many years. Please remember that wild animals
DO NOT MAKE GOOD PETS. For more information, please go to http//www.alltingswildrehab.org/wild-animals-do-not-make-good-pets.html. Cody and Karen
FedExCares to The Rescue
ATW is excited to announce that FedEx Cares has awarded us a $2,500 grant for materials to build an enclosure for the fawns and will send volunteers to our new center on October 20 to build the enclosure.
The fawn enclosure will be 40’ X 50’ with 8’-high cedar picket fencing to protect the babies from predators such as coyotes. This is the first of many enclosures that ATW will need at the new center, including raptors, raccoons, songbirds, water birds, opossums, skunks, rabbits, and squirrels. If you are interested in sponsoring an enclosure, please call our hotline at (512) 897-0806.
All Things Wild Rehabilitation, Inc., is a nonprofit tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax ID number is 46-1309620. Donations to All Things Wild Rehabilitation are tax-deductible as allowed by the Internal Revenue Code.
food for themselves and their family. They waste very little and even cache excess food for use later. They eat tons of rodents, carrion, insects, and will even kill and eat rattlesnakes. 
