Cape Wildlife Center

02/12/2025

Looking for something fun to help shake the winter blues? Come whet your beak and learn about wildlife!

Join us and our friends at Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary and Cape Cod Beer for wildlife on Tap! Zak will be talking about Cape Cod’s Winter wildlife on February 26th 6:30-8:30. hope to see you there!

Meet us at Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis to learn about wildlife over delicious local beverages during our annual Wildlife on Tap Lecture Series. This three-part event offers engaging presentations by experts, highlighting recent discoveries and local insights in a warm and welcoming setting.

The next event in the series, "Wildlife in Winter" will take place on Wednesday, February 26, from 6:30-8:30 pm, and will feature a presentation from Zak Mertz, Executive Director of the Birdsey Cape Cod Wildlife Center.

Learn more and register at https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/long-pasture/news/wildlife-on-tap-lecture-series

02/08/2025

This beautiful common merganser had a slight bumper to bumper accident with a vehicle but fortunately all parties involved were unharmed and after an exam and swim test this lucky duck was back out on its way! Thank you Saugus Animal Control for bringing him to get checked out!

02/07/2025

🦊Plymouth Fox update🦊

It’s been three weeks since we rescued our fox friend in Plymouth and his mange continues to improve daily! In fact, he’s feeling so much better we decided he could be transferred to one of our outdoor carnivore cages that’s equipped with a heated den. He has plenty of heat support for those chilly days and nights and now also gets to enjoy the sun and have some extra space to run and climb around. He’s come so far in just a short period. Thank you to everyone sending healing thoughts and support his way💕

02/05/2025

Blown Away… Literally! 🦇🍂

This silver-haired bat got an unexpected wake-up call yesterday when a pair of homeowners were blowing leaves and accidentally uncovered him beneath the leaf litter. Turns out, he wasn’t injured just rudely interrupted from his winter slumber!

During colder months bats go into a state of reduced physiologic activity, called torpor. It is a bit like power-saving mode where their heart rate and body temperature drop to conserve energy while their food sources are not available. Silver-haired bats generally look for well insulated spots like knotholes, caves, under tree bark, and occasionally even under leaf litter! There is even some evidence to suggest that that leaf litter can help provide a water source for bats while they wait out the winter. Unfortunately for our flustered friend, the chilly weather and lack of insects to snack on did not leave him in a good position to find new shelter on his own. The homeowners kindly scooped him up and brought him to our hospital.

Our vet team gave him a full check-up, and we are happy to report he did not sustain any injuries in the incident. This is pretty lucky considering this bat only weighs as much as about 30 oak leaves (we checked, because you never know when a bat to leaf ratio will come in handy). We will continue to monitor him for a couple days and provide him a few good meals before slowly easing him back into a torporus state for the remainder of his visit. Once the weather warms up and the bugs start flying, he’ll be ready to once again feel the wind beneath his wings, just not from a leaf blower this time!

02/04/2025

This barred owl is recuperating at our cape hospital after sustaining some soft tissue trauma to her wing. She is responding well to treatment and was upgraded to one of our smaller aviaries where she can slowly start using it again and building up strength. Barred owls have a very unique call which you might hear more frequently around this time in February as they begin their courtship activities. Whoo knows what their call sounds like?!

01/31/2025

Our veterinary team frequently assists in wildlife abuse cases. This week we were asked to evaluate a very special patient for our colleagues at Raptor Tales Rescue of Shrewsbury. This red-tailed hawk had all of his wing and tail feathers cut off, most likely done as an attempt to try to illegally keep him as a pet. Despite this horrific ordeal we fortunately did not find any further injuries. Due to the severity of damage to his feathers, this hawk has a long road to recovery, but we will continue to work alongside Raptor Tales Rescue to provide the best rehabilitative and veterinary care. This is an open investigation with Massachusetts Environmental Police. To learn more about Edwards’s story please follow Raptor Tales Rescue of Shrewsbury!

01/24/2025

Look whooo passed his flight test!!

This great horned owl was the first patient of the year admitted to our Weymouth hospital. He was stabilized and transferred down to our cape branch to receive treatment for some soft tissue trauma to his wing which was affecting his ability to fly. He has improved significantly during this past month and you can tell just by the look on his face. He was super grumpy when admitted but today was happy to be moved to a larger flight cage for a flight test. He passed with flying colors so we can leave him out there so he can build up his flight muscles and get back into prime shape for the wild. He will continue to receive meds but, since he has such a great appetite we can easily medicate him in food. We are so thrilled to report his progress so far!

01/21/2025

Transformation Tuesday!
While this fox still has a long way to go, and looks a little rough around the edges, in just a week of being in our hospital he is feeling much better!

After weeks of trying to capture him, our rescue and veterinary team finally caught him and did a full assessment to asses his mange and front leg lameness. Since then, he’s responding well to treatment. His crusty skin from the mange is starting to improve with anti-parasitics, antibiotics, and antihistamines. He is no longer squinting and the infected tissue around his face is much improved. The anti-inflammatory pain meds we have him on have reduced the swelling in his leg and he no longer is limping! With his hydration level back up to normal he is out of the woods for refeeding syndrome. This is a potentially deadly condition that occurs when a starved and dehydrated animal is fed a nutritious meal right away. The rapid introduction of nutrients can cause fluid and electrolyte imbalances that lead to heart and breathing issues. We have slowly increased his daily caloric intake and he is now starting to put on weight.
His recovery journey is far from over but we will be with him every step of the way and keep you posted on his progress 💕🦊

01/19/2025

Today we were on scene with Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife , Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Town of Plymouth, MA, and & Clean Harbors responding to a suspected outbreak of avian influenza on the Billington Sea. Over 60 birds were observed deceased, and several others were acting very sick. Our veterinary team assisted by collecting samples for confirmatory testing and by capturing and humanely euthanizing birds that were actively suffering from symptoms of the virus.

While this is not a situation anyone wants to be in, we hope that today’s collective efforts have a positive impact by helping to better understand the root cause of this outbreak and by removing sick and deceased birds from the environment to reduce further spread.

As a reminder if you come across multiple sick or deceased wild birds in your area please report them to masswildlife here: https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds

Help keep yourself and your pets safe through good situational hygiene!

-Do not handle sick or deceased birds.

-keep pets leashed and away from any potentially infected wildlife.

-Practice good bio-security with backyard poultry and reduce their contact with wild birds wherever possible.

01/18/2025

Avian Influenza Info and Updates ⚠️

Hello Friends, we are starting to see an increase in the number of Bird Flu (HPAI) cases in our area. With all of the information circulating online and in the news we wanted to take a moment to share some current information and provide some helpful links where you can learn more and report birds if needed. We have included those links at the end of this post.

Overview:

For the past couple years the U.S., and many other countries around the globe, have been contending with an outbreak of H5N1, also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or “Bird Flu”. It is an Influenza A virus that is very contagious amongst wild birds and can also affect domestic poultry. Wild birds are the natural reservoir for this virus, and the spread of the disease is often correlated to their movements and migration patterns.

What’s the latest in our area?:

Here in New England, H5N1 has been detected in wild birds, particularly waterfowl like ducks, geese, and swans. Other species, such as raptors (hawks, eagles, and owls) and scavengers like crows, gulls, and vultures, are also testing positive due to their predation or exposure to infected waterfowl or contaminated environments. There have been a limited number of infections in backyard poultry.

Can I tell if a bird has HPAI?

Many birds show symptoms, but not all. It is possible for some birds, particularly waterfowl, to appear healthy and still spread the virus.
Here at NEWCS we most often see neurological symptoms such as tremors, difficulty flying, or an inability to stand, alongside other signs like lethargy and respiratory distress.

Are humans or pets at risk?

While rare, there have been isolated cases of H5N1 transmission to mammals such as fox, seals, cows, cats and dogs. You can see a full list of affected mammals and learn more here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/mammals

Human infections are extremely uncommon and thankfully the risk to the public is considered to be low at this time. The rare cases in which people have been infected occurred through prolonged close contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces. To learn more about human safety and prevention follow this link to the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/index.html

What can I do to help?

• Avoid handling sick or dead wild birds.

If you observe symptomatic or deceased birds in Ma report them to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife through their online reporting system here: https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds

For Your Pets:

• Keep dogs leashed and away from areas where waterfowl or wild birds gather.

• Do not let pets eat or play with dead wildlife.

• If you have outdoor cats, consider keeping them indoors to reduce exposure risk if HPAI is prevalent in your area.

For Backyard Chickens and Ducks:

• Increase biosecurity measures.

• Avoid introducing new birds to your flock without proper quarantine or consulting your veterinarian.

• Restrict access to wild birds by securing coops and using netting over outdoor enclosures.

• Clean and disinfect feeding and watering stations regularly.

• Avoid sharing equipment or supplies with other bird owners.

• Monitor your flock for signs of illness such as lethargy, decreased appetite, or sudden death, and contact your veterinarian if symptoms arise.

Report sick or deceased domestic birds to the Division of Animal Health here: https://www.mass.gov/forms/poultry-disease-reporting-form

*This video was taken in our hospital of a symptomatic Canada goose as an example of the type of symptoms we have been observing*

01/15/2025

Fox update!

Today our veterinary team sedated our mangy fox patient for a full work up! He got radiographs to check for any fractures, bloodwork to assess clotting times for possible anticoagulant rodenticide exposure, and skin scrapes to confirm presence of the sarcoptes mite that causes this condition.

We are happy to report he does not have any broken bones, but did find some soft tissue swelling in the leg which most likely is contributing to his lameness. His blood also clotted normally, so fortunately he does not have to be treated for SGAR poisoning.
We also were able to identify multiple mites under the microscope.

Helping us assess this fox were two licensed wildlife rehabbers from Return2Wild who were training in our hospital today. They got to see what our typical triage process is like and got some hands on experience administering injectable rehydration fluids to our patient.

He is not out of the woods yet but his prognosis is looking better after his eval today. He will continue on his current treatment plan of antibiotics, pain meds, antiparasitics, and nutritional support. Fingers crossed for our fox friend 🤞🦊

01/14/2025

Third times the charm!

Our rescue team has been tracking this injured red fox from Plymouth for the past three weeks and today on our third attempt we were able to safely capture him! We were first called out to assess him at the end of December and noticed immediately he displayed the classic signs of mange- missing, patchy fur and crusted skin lesions especially around the eyes leaving him with a squinted appearance. Despite his condition he was able to evade our fist attempts on the beach. It is dangerous to continually chase animals to try and get them into care because it can stress them out increasing their heart rate and respiration rate to the point of causing them to potentially arrest so we waited for another opportunity.
Weeks later we received another report of an injured limping fox from Plymouth Police Departmentand Officers kept tabs on him until we could get there. His mange appeared to be more severe and he now was limping on a front leg so we thought for sure we’d get him this time, but he scurried by us a second time. We were determined not to give up and finally after receiving another location sighting from Town of Plymouth MA Animal Shelter /animal control we were able to net him and bring him back to our Cape Hospital. Given the stress of the capture and transport and his level of alertness our veterinary team decided manual restraint would be too stressful. We elect to do most procedures with adult carnivores under sedation so it is less stressful for the patient and safer for the staff. Tonight we started treatment for the mange, secondary skin infection and administered pain meds, all of which was put into a small amount food. With patients that present emaciated, feeding a calorie dense diet too quickly can actually do more harm than good. Tomorrow we’ll be performing diagnostics to further evaluate his injuries and afflictions. For tonight he is warm, fed, and resting comfortably. Thank you to all the agencies who kept a watchful eye on him for us! We’ll keep you posted on his progress!

01/09/2025

These strong winds brought us our favorite winter warrior today!

This tiny dovkie was admitted to our hospital today after he was found by a Good Samaritan struggling on the shore. Although they resemble penguins, these tiny seabirds are part of the Alcidae family, which includes puffins and guillemots. Despite their small size they are masters at navigating life out on the ocean and are capable of diving to depths of up to 300 feet! They can however, be blown off course toward the shore and because their body was not designed for land dwelling they are pretty much stranded until they are put back in the water, far enough past the break line that the winds won’t just push them right back to shore. The longer they are out of water the more likely the waterproofing on their feathers will fail as they get dirty and damaged causing them to become hypothermic very quickly.

This little guy must have already been out of the water for some time because his feathers were moderately dirty. When we tried him in one of our indoor pools he got wet and couldn’t stay buoyant for very long. We set him up with a haul out and a heat lamp so he could pull himself out of the water when he gets cold and warm up. As long as they are active and alert we set seabirds up in this type of enclosure to encourage them to start preening their feathers. Preening is a vital grooming behavior for birds. First, birds use their beaks to carefully clean, straighten, and arrange their feathers. Then, they will use their beaks to squeeze a gland at the base of their tail called the uropygial or preen gland, collecting oil, and then spread it over their feathers. To help repel water. We are hoping that he can clean himself up over the next few days and won’t have to go through the stress of being washed. During this time we’ll also be providing supplement fluid and nutritional support as well as some pain meds because his tumble in the surf left him with some leg weakness. We know he’s a fighter so all this TLC should get him feeling better and back out to open water soon.

01/08/2025

Meet our newest patient: a Southern flying squirrel who was found outside a home, shivering in the cold. He’s showing signs of neurological issues, which we suspect could be due to either rodenticide exposure, or possibly an injury he suffered when he was woken up from torpor prematurely —a state of deep sleep that helps these squirrels conserve energy during winter.
Southern flying squirrels are fascinating creatures and one of two flying squirrel species in New England. Despite their name, they don’t actually fly; they glide! Using a special membrane of skin called a patagium that stretches between their front and back legs, they can gracefully leap between trees, covering distances of up to 150 feet.

In winter, these nocturnal animals rely on their remarkable adaptations to survive the freezing temperatures. Unlike true hibernators, flying squirrels enter a state of torpor when it’s extremely cold, lowering their body temperature and metabolic rate to conserve energy. They also huddle together in tree cavities for warmth, and often find their way into people’s sheds or attics if there are unsecured entry points.

Our team is doing everything we can to support this flyers recovery. He is receiving daily fluids, vitamin K, heat and nutritional support. With a little luck he will be feeling good enough to rejoin his troop back in the wild this coming spring!

01/08/2025

Today we were honored to host Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Commissioner, Tom O’Shea, at our Weymouth facility!

We had meaningful discussions about the current and future challenges facing wildlife and habitats and discussed ways we can work collaboratively to protect them. He also had the opportunity to meet our educational ambassador Falco (pictured here) and observed our veterinary team in action as we treated a Red Tailed Hawk patient, showcasing the critical role wildlife hospitals and rehabillitators play in protecting our shared environment.

Thank you Commissioner O’Shea for your, and your agency’s, commitment to wildlife and for taking the time to visit us today. We look forward to continuing to work together to protect and preserve the natural heritage of MA!

01/03/2025

It’s a new year and today the ducks and geese treated after the Muddy River oil spill got a new lease on life!

After spending a month in our care, these resilient birds are back where they belong. Stabilizing them, washing away the oil, and providing follow-up care took hundreds of hours of dedicated work in our hospitals. We were so happy and relieved to see them return home—though probably not as happy as they were to be back!

This was a true team effort. A heartfelt thank you to Boston Park Rangers Brookline MA Police Department , Brookline Park Rangers, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, U.S. EPA - New England Region, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their partnership and support in this effort.

And to the public—your support and generosity made this possible. Thank you for standing with us to protect wildlife and the environment. Together, we made a difference!

01/03/2025

The first patient of 2025 at our cape hospital was this mute swan that we’ve been trying to get into care for over a week. We received multiple calls about this swan entangled with fishing line wrapped around his neck with at least one visible fishing hook. Multiple town ACOs attempted to capture but were unable because he was still flighted. Today Mashpee Police Department was successful in detaining the swan and bringing him to us for care.
Our veterinary team was able to remove the fishing line and fortunately the hook was no longer attached. We performed radiographs to make sure he didn’t accidentally swallow it and luckily no hooks were seen internally either! Due to the length of time entangled his beak and tongue did sustain some soft tissue trauma but anti-inflammatory pain meds and some antibiotics should help clear that up in no time.
Despite his ordeal he is still very feisty so for his safety, as well as our staff’s, he’ll be receiving the rest of his treatments while getting to free roam in one of our outdoor aviaries.
Thank you to everyone who tried so hard to capture this fellow he’s finally getting the help he needs!

#2025

12/26/2024

💚❤️A small Christmas miracle! ❤️💚

In just 48 hours, this sharp shinned hawk that was found with severe neuro signs during a Domino's Pizza delivery run has shown a remarkable improvement!

His head trauma signs that he sustained after a suspected vehicle collision are improving everyday with the treatment course our vet team has him on. In fact today, he was quite sprightly, so much so that we decided to move him outside to a small aviary. Sharpies are high stressed hawks in rehab and can often self harm by bashing around in cages trying to escape. For his own safety we’ll continue to monitor and treat him outside until all neurological signs are resolved. He’s still got a little ways to go but so far we are very happy with his progress.

Thank you to everyone who sent healing thoughts his way it seems to be working! 💕