This Eastern Cottontail rabbit arrived to the Whatcom Humane Society wildlife rehabilitation center with and eye injury, several cuts and bruises, and one of its lower incisors (front teeth) broken off below the gumline. OUCH!
Rabbits have hypsodont teeth, which means that they grow continuously throughout their life in order to make up for extreme wear from chowing down on tough plant matter. This is good news beacuse it means that the broken tooth was able to regrow - something that can't be said for many other broken mammal teeth. However, it also means that there is a danger of the top incisor growing so long without the matching lower incisor to counter it, that the top tooth punctures the lower gumline.
Lucky for this rabbit that our trained wildlife rehab staff were able to monitor her tooth growth carefully and keep the rabbit's mouth healthy until she was fully recovered from all of her injuries and released back into the wild where she belongs.
www.whatcomhumane.org/wildlife
Spring is in the air and shelter dog Bella is ready to find her new BFF and have some FUN! This big, bold, sweet 1 year old female pitbull/wigglebutt mix is hoping her new forever home likes playing ball as much as she does. Bella arrived to WHS several weeks ago under less than ideal circumstances and is now looking for a stable home to invest in her future. She loves pretty much everyone and would make a great companion for a home looking for a smart, sassy, albeit strong dog to enjoy daily adventures.
Visit Bella Tuesday thru Sunday 11am - 6pm or visit www.whatcomhumane.org for more info.
Mabel is excited about the arrival of Spring this week. She is getting in the spirit by sharing (well, not exactly sharing...) a homemade vegan cupcake (baked by our talented outreach staffer Alaina) with our farm caretaker Kami. www.whatcomhumane.org
UPDATE: ADOPTED!!!!!
Cedar is a 1 year old male mixed breed dog looking for a home ready to invest in his future. This is Cedar's second time at Whatcom Humane Society. He and his littermates, along with his mom spent several weeks at WHS and in a wonderful foster home last year before being adopted. Unfortunately his first home was not a good fit and Cedar did not do well with the children in the home. Now back at the shelter, Cedar is looking for an active, ADULT-ONLY (no exceptions!) home that is looking for a smart, super energetic, fun-loving dog to go on adventures with. Positive based training is mandatory for this young guy to ensure he and his new person get life started off on the right paw. To learn more about Cedar, visit www.whatcomhumane.org or stop by the shelter Tuesday thru Sunday 11am - 6pm and ask our staff and volunteer teams about him.
Happy World Wildlife Day! The WHS Wildlife Center is proud to do our part for local wildlife and thereby support local and global ecosystems! Did you know that many of the avian species living in Washington migrate to other parts of the country and the world? Our mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and fish also play important roles by distributing nutrients, keeping insect and plant populations in balance, and generally keeping our local ecosystems healthy. This in turn contributes to global ecosystem health and supports international migratory species, and this by extension also supports worldwide ecosystems!
As a celebration of the diverse wildlife found locally, please enjoy a recent release video! This young Virginia opossum was brought to our center thin and lethergic but after care by our rehabilitation team, she has made a full recovery and was released in excellent health and body condition!
If you find wildlife in need please call the WHS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at 360-966-8845. Thank you for doing your part to support local wildlife.
Earlier this week the Whatcom Humane Society wildlife rehabilitation center released 5 trumpeter swans back into the wild.
Swans spend the winter primarily in Whatcom and Skagit counties before migrating north into the Yukon for the summer. These swans arrived to our wildlife center injured and in need of care and treatment. Lucky for them, our specially trained and permitted wildlife rehab staff was able to provide the care and rehabilitation needed for a full recovery and release back into the wild.
Keep your eyes on the sky and your ears tuned for the trumpeting calls of these majestic swans over the next month or so as they begin their long migration north. If you see a swan that looks sick or injured, grab a picture and never attempt to contain a swan yourself - their wings are extremely dangerous! Instead give the WHS wildlife rehab center a call at 360-966-8845 or call the WDFW swan hotline 360-466-0515.
To support the ongoing work at the WHS wildlife center and help provide services for injured and orphaned wildlife in need, visit www.whatcomhumane.org/wildlife
Looking for expert advice on where to place your bet for the Super Bowl? The shelter dogs have it under control. Check out their video, then visit the shelter in person to adopt one of these pups and enjoy the big game together.
www.whatcomhumane.org
Sweet Chimney (5 year old female) is still looking for her forever home. Visit www.whatcomhumane.org to learn more. WOOF!
Buddy is still waiting to find a new home. Adopted from WHS many years ago, his beloved owner took exceptional care of him, but recently went to live in assisted living and felt it was best to find a new home for Buddy where he could live his best life. An adult only, indoor-only home would be best for this sweet adult tabby.
If interested in learning more, contact [email protected].
Thanks to Nessa's Pet Pastries, many of our shelter dogs enjoyed some tasty treats. Visit www.whatcomhumane.org to learn more about the dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals available for adoption, then come by and find your new best friend at the shelter.
Fantastic video from the Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
This northern saw-whet owl arrived at the Wildlife Center suffering from head trauma and significant injuries to one eye. Wildlife center staff were able to stabilize the owl and our partner veterinarian, Dr. Rabkin at Maplewood Animal Hospital, surgically removed the eye, which was no longer visual and causing the owl pain. The owl recovered extremely well from surgery, but that was only the beginning!
After surgery came the long journey of helping the owl adjust to performing normal behaviors with only one eye. Only some wildlife species can ethically be released back into the wild with one functioning eye, but this feisty little owl proved that it was able to perform natural behaviors including hunting, flying, vocalizing and caring for itself with no issues.
After months of professional medical and rehabilitative care, this beautiful, small but MIGHTY owl was released and returned to its home territory in peak condition.
The WHS wildlife rehabilitation center depends on community support for daily operations. If you can help with a gift of any amount, please visit www.whatcomhumane.org.
Looking for an ADVENTURE BUDDY? Look no further. Meet Chase - a young, active, smart, silly, strong, goofy male mixed breed ready to embrace the day with a BFF. www.whatcomhumane.org
The Whatcom Humane Society - caring for animals since 1902.
