Welcome to our blog
Happy new year. Our first patient of 2023 was an eastern cottontail. So, here at Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Clinic, it is the year of the rabbit. What this year has in store for us is anyone’s guess. But, whatever may come, we will be here every day (rain or shine) to answer your calls and admit new patients.
A happy, healthy and meaningful year to one and all.
Volunteers Strummer Nefferdorf and Michael Eibel releasing a box turtle that had been hit by a car and healed at our center. Box turtles always must be taken back to their exact point of origin once they have recovered or they will be unable to hibernate and will die over the following winter, so we have a great team of volunteers who drive them all over the Delaware Valley to ensure they return from whence they came.
Dig it, releasing the baby woodchuck from a few weeks ago that was caught up in netting. He jumped out of the release box and right into an already-existing but disused woodchuck hole, then turned around and poked his head out, like far-out man. Ready-made home.
This fledgling peregrine falcon, a threatened species in PA, was treated for a week at Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center before being released back to Manayunk from whence it came by Art McMorris, wildlife biologist who is the peregrine falcon coordinator for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, who has done a wonderful job preserving this species. Thank you to Dr. Emily Seymour for doing the radiographs.
Good news for raccoon #0028. He’s a long term patient we are treating for sarcoptic mange. He’s looking brighter and his appetite has improved since he’s been in treatment. If you are concerned about an animal who has mange, please give us a call. There are several options for ways to help an animal with this condition. Mange is common in foxes and raccoons, but other animals can get it too. Observable symptoms include loss of fur, seeing the animal scratching, and wounds on the body (from the incessant scratching). The good news is that it responds well to treatment, giving the animal relief from a very cruel infection. If you see an animal you think has the condition, we are happy to advise.
Goodbye, Goldfinch #2376. We will soon be releasing this Goldfinch back to where it was found. We release all adult animals back to their own territory. The Goldfinch was successfully treated for conjunctivitis, an eye infection to which finches are particularly susceptible. This bird 's treatment required antibiotic eye ointment, as well as 21 days of oral antibiotic to ensure the bird was free from infection and not a carrier. Although the bird probably didn't enjoy such a long captivity, this ensures freedom from disease before release. Good luck finch!
