RELEASED – Swan at Salt Pond Falmouth
Our Mute Swan was released back in Falmouth after 9 weeks of supportive care and treatment for lead poisoning. The swan was brought to us from Falmouth, by Jessica Gow, Animal Control Officer from the Town of Falmouth. The bird was emaciated, weak and debilitated, and had what is considered a high level of blood lead poisoning.
Though lead shot was outlawed for waterfowl hunting in the 70’s, our waterways are still littered with lead shot, and lead sinkers. Long-necked dabbling birds such as swans, geese and ducks are most susceptible to ingesting the shot while they are foraging on our pond/lake bottoms, leading to lead toxicosis, followed by a slow and painful death when untreated. Lead poisoning is a challenge to overcome in such a large bird. It first requires removal of the lead from the gut, followed by weeks of lead chelation and supportive care.
We are grateful to have successfully treated this swan and to see it back in the wild! Thank you Jessica Gow.
Executive Director, Stephanie ~
To see the photo gallery, visit: http://www.capecodtimes.com/photogallery/CC/20170114/PHOTOGALLERY/114009999/PH/1?start=2
A “Loony” Adventure
August of 2020 was HOT—the hottest in 120 years of record keeping according to WBUR. I spent much of it in my studio. As you might remember from last month, I’ve been nursing a sore ankle bone (no clue as to why as is often the case as we age). S
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
09 September, 2020
Poisons Are Not The Answer – A Virtual Talk
EVENT DETAILS
18 July, 2020
Swooping in for Wild Care
EVENT DETAILS
13 June, 2020
26th Annual Wild Care Yard Sale – CANCELLED
EVENT DETAILS
DID YOU KNOW??
Wild Care has a state-of-the-art seabird therapy pool, which allows seabirds and waterfowl to exercise on running water. This will help our bird friends recover more quickly so they can get back to their watery habitats!