Megan Mosby
Executive Director
Regs, Oversight, Red Tape – really, it’s all for the good of our animals
This past week we passed our USDA inspections and are now licensed to exhibit regulated wildlife. This is a new requirement this year. So, we add these credentials to those from our other permit regulators–Arizona Game and Fish, and US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other public and private entities to whom we regularly report. This is a new endeavor as USDA just began regulating captive birds this year. Mammals have been licensed when there are more than a certain number per facility under the Animal Welfare Act.
The process was intense, examining how we care for, feed, house, exhibit, maintain paperwork, and many other details related to the welfare of these captive animals. Even though it was a bit stressful, we applaud the degree of attention given to making sure these animals are given everything they need for a good life.
All of these animals in our care should all be free to do their free wildlife thing, but through no fault of their own have been “grounded” through injury or imprinting and are deemed non-releasable. We consider ourselves fortunate that they seem willing to take a job change and become ambassadors for their species. They now help us to educate the public about the beauty and benefits of native wildlife. For this, they deserve nothing less than the best care possible.
And my thanks go out to everyone involved in showing the authorities how good we are at giving back to these creatures for helping us do our jobs.
Another new thing for us at Liberty Wildlife is the creation of our Innovators Giving Circle. This group of donors will be invested in deciding some of the new programs launched next year. Our Innovators kickoff event on May 9th will introduce the group to some of the programs launched in the past years which arose out of need that couldn’t be anticipated in the budget… HPAI protocol emerged when the HPAI virus reared its ugly head and struck many avian creatures, and in particular the endangered California Condors. The need to add medical equipment, testing, drugs, and space became apparent, and fortunately, we were able to rise to the occasion.
This year’s efforts to gain the USDA licensing called on us to up our game in some areas to meet all of the requirements. Not all organizations are able to find the resources to make such updates, and were forced to shut down their educational exhibitions. Emergency money isn’t always readily available, and we were once again able to dig into resources to make it all happen. For that, I am eternally grateful.
The Innovators Giving Circle will have the creative and financial ability to prioritize funding for special needs. Programs will be presented in the fall at a members-only gathering on our campus. Directly from the funds raised by these Innovators, new programs will take flight. Departments at Liberty Wildlife will pitch their meaningful programs and these Innovators will vote to pick the ones most appealing and meaningful to them.
You are welcome to join us. If you want more information on becoming an Innovator and attending the introductory event on May 9th, RSVP your interest to development@libertywildlife.org.
Liberty Wildlife has always been a leader of both education and rehabilitation efforts, and want to stay on this cutting edge. You can help us by joining this group of special donors. I thank you in advance.
Make this an Earth Day commitment and be proud!
This Week @ Liberty – April 23, 2024
It wasn’t but two weeks ago I’d mentioned that getting out of town—or just out of the house—could do wonders for your mind and soul. Well, here I am, sitting in a cozy Airbnb on the beach in Newport, California, and I will once again stand on that hill I’ve climbed and shout it to the world. I love Phoenix; it has been my home in different ways throughout my life. It poses a different kind of beauty than what we may traditionally think. There’s just something about the saguaros, soon to be blooming with wildflowers, that sings to me in a way the mountains, or even the beach, can’t do.
Still, traveling is in my blood, too. Being a military brat will do that to anyone, which is why I implore people to explore. It’s not just to get out of your own head, or the busyness of everyday life, it’s simply to live.
Because as cliché as it sounds, life is short, and we’ve only got this one….so you might as well make the most of it!
The Great Horned Owl and the Broken Beak
If you read the blog April 9th, you may remember the Great Horned Owl kiddo who fell from his nest and broke his beak along the way. At that time, the beak had been taped to heal those fractured bones, and was also being tube fed via a tube the veterinarians had set into his stomach. And while that does work for a time, tube feed does not provide all the necessary vitamins (especially calcium) these little guys need to grow big and strong. Because that’s the thing with these kids; they grow up fast, which means they need all the nutrients they can get.
The good news is, birds have amazing healing capabilities. And while they may sustain some serious injuries, if found early enough, and set right quickly, the bones can mend well enough. Which is exactly what has happened for this Great Horned Owl Nestling!
With renewed energy and ready for whole food, this little owl found himself with a bit of a problem…that tube, still stitched in just in case, had decided to make its way the opposite way. Thankfully, it was more a nuisance than anything, and our partner veterinarians at Midwestern were able to carefully remove the tube, allowing this nestling has since been released from veterinary care and has been placed with foster parents!
Babies! Allllll the babies!
Get ready, my friends, there are a lot of pictures and a lot of stories for this one! While I did have a brief moment where I thought to separate them, this seemed a more prudent way to handle alllllll the babies we’re already seeing…
- Our first official Barn Owl nestlings have arrived. Like most we see this time of year, they fell from their nest, and being too small to care for themselves, a rescuer was able to bring them to Liberty Wildlife for care. After being assessed and kept in a warm, dark, quiet environment for a few days, these two kids will head outside to foster parents soon enough.
- Harris’s! If you’ve never seen nestling Harris’s Hawks, get ready, because they might just be one of the most adorable babes you’ll see this week. If you follow us on social media, you’ll have seen these littles being fed, and soon after, being placed with foster parents. These eggs came to us as a nest move where they were incubated, and later, hatched (obviously) here at Liberty Wildlife. While the first one had no issue doing the work themselves, their sibling needed a bit of help. Our Midwestern veterinarians and students were able to safely help this little one out of their shell, where he was placed in a warm, dark and quiet environment to settle before being fed with his sibling.
- We don’t get mammals often, but when we do, oh my, we swoon. A kit (baby raccoon) was found and brought to Liberty Wildlife dehydrated and down. Thankfully, the Midwestern team was able to work quickly to get fluids into this little guy, and get him assessed and fed, before one of our volunteers was able to transport him to Southwest Wildlife.
Eaglet
I know I said I had all the babies in one section, but this one deserves one on their own. And while we certainly see our fair share of babes, nestling Bald Eagles are not one of them.
Hailing from Gila River Indian Community, this two-week old eaglet fell from his nest. Arizona Game and Fish, who has volunteers watching these nests for just this reason, were able to get a hold of the babe on the ground before a predator got to him first. Now at Liberty Wildlife, we can confirm this kid has a fractured tibiotarsus, but is otherwise looking healthy. Midwestern veterinarian Dr. Goe, alongside our Hospital Manager, Jan, were able to place a splint on the left leg before getting this eaglet comfortable in a brooder all by himself, alongside a stuffed bald eagle we’ll nickname mom for now.
This is a precarious stage; these littles can imprint on us if we’re not careful. We help to prevent this by wearing camouflage around all new babies, remaining quiet, using puppets to help hand feed, and to keep these kids in a warm, dark, quiet environment so as not to hear the hubbub of our own everyday work. That means for this newly hatched eaglet, he’ll remain until the fracture has healed, and he’s strong enough to be placed with a foster parent who will do the work for us.
Notable Mentions
As always, thanks so much for making it this far! It’s always a pleasure to have you all here with us, and if I’ve said it before I’ll say it again; we wouldn’t be here without all your diligent eyes and ears out there on the ground.
So, without further ado, here are this week’s notable mentions:
- A Green Heron drops by the wetlands for a quick hello (1 picture)
- Anna’s Hummingbird nestlings are fed by Orphan Care Team Lead (1 picture)
- Maggie the Great Horned Owl finds a great hiding spot between her foster kids (1 picture – by Susie)
- People find inquisitive ways to transport wildlife – a bat was brought to us in a coffee cup (and remember, if you ever find a bat who needs assistance, do not touch them! They can carry rabies; if needed use gloves/towels/etc. before handling one) (1 picture)
- Lucien the Great Horned Owl poses at ANDAZ in Scottsdale for guests (1 picture)
Remember public hours are from 10am-1pm Wednesday, Saturday’s and Sunday’s, but be on the lookout for the time change. On May 1st, we’ll be switching to 9am-11am with no scheduled programming during that time.
Until next time!
Posted by Acacia Parker
Public Outreach Coordinator