Dandelions Wildlife Rescue

09/02/2024

07/15/2024

I have rewritten this several times due to my internal conflict. I want this to be professional and to the point. I don’t want to go off on an emotional rant about the injustice of it all…

The picture below is of my first rodenticide case, with a fox. He was four months old and bled out internally before we could save him. Because pest control companies frequently accuse animal welfare organizations of exaggerating the effects of rodenticide on non target species, we shelled out over $400 for a necropsy and lab work to prove that this was indeed from poison. It turned out to be from three different types of rat poison. I would watch many other animals die horrible deaths, over the years, from rat poison.

I attended a zoom meeting with the pest control board of Massachusetts, this past Thursday. The pest control board is responsible for the regulation of pesticides and is supposed to follow up on any complaints and record any negative effects that a pesticide may pose.

Recently a coalition of Massachusetts residents petitioned the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to immediately suspend the use of anticoagulant rodenticide use. MDAR put the pesticide board in charge of looking into this.

During the meeting, the board stated they have not been receiving many notifications or complaints regarding rodenticide incidents. They have been limited in their actions because no one has let them know. At the same time, no one from the public was permitted to speak at this meeting and comments were disabled…

Despite the fact that they do record the meetings, the recordings are not posted for public viewing…

Directly following the meeting, a letter was sent to all permitted wildlife rehabilitators in the state stating that the pesticide board wants us to know who they are and what they are responsible for. They also stated they want to know when there is an alleged rodenticide incident. This will help them to “accurately assess the prevalence of alleged rodenticide incidences in the state.”

I am not sure if they are aware of the eagles that we had perish who were in the news that were confirmed to have died from rodenticide poisoning or if they had access to the studies that Tufts Wildlife Clinic or the EPA released regarding rodenticide in Massachusetts.

But I am thankful they are interested in looking at these alleged issues.

I need you to speak up, please. If you have had a pet perish due to rodenticide poisoning or if you are a wildlife rehabilitator that witnessed animals die from secondary rodenticide exposure, you MUST let the pesticide board know. If they do not hear about it through their email or website, apparently they just don’t know about it at all…

All veterinary clinics, wildlife clinics and pet owners who have proof of this need to come forward. Please. I am begging you…

We will be sending along our tests and our proof. I’m begging you to send yours. I’ve seen far too many animals perish due to these poisons. It must stop.

Please send your complaints to: Michael McClean, Cheif Pesticide Inspector. Phone number 617-626-1782 or email [email protected]

Thank you

04/28/2024

The dandelion is the only flower that symbolizes the sun, moon, and stars. ☀️ 🌙 ⭐️ The yellow flower represents the sun, the puffball symbolizes the moon, and the dispersing seeds resemble stars. The dandelion opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to sleep.
Every part of the dandelion is useful: its root, leaves, and flower can be used for food, medicine, and dye for coloring.
Until the 1800s, people would remove grass from their lawns to make room for dandelions and other beneficial "weeds" like chickweed, malva, and chamomile. The name "dandelion" comes from the French word "dent de lion," meaning lion’s tooth, and they boast one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant. Seeds can travel up to 5 miles from their origin. Animals such as birds, insects, and butterflies consume the nectar or seeds of the dandelion. 🐝
Dandelion flowers do not require pollination to produce seeds. They were known to ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years. In folk medicine, dandelions are used to treat infections and liver disorders. Dandelion tea acts as a diuretic.
Dandelions are arguably the most successful plants in existence, masters of survival worldwide.
Every year, countries spend millions on lawn pesticides to maintain uniform lawns of non-native grasses, and 30% of the country’s water supply is used to keep them green.
📷 Kelsi Case

04/12/2024

While dandies are going off, make up a batch of this dandelion salve.

https://homespunseasonalliving.com/dandelion-salve/

04/07/2024

I am so privileged to be able to care for these creatures.

02/25/2024

Baby Opossum fact... opossums do not “nurse” from their mom. Mom has what is like feeding tubes instead of teats, 13 of them, 12 of them in a circle and 1 in the center within her pouch. THEREFORE, when infant opossums are rescued we rehabbers have been trained on how to tube feed them because they don’t nurse or suck a bottle/nipple. It is a very intricate type of feeding using special tubes.
So if you find baby opossums your job is to keep them warm and find a rehabber asap.
Opossums are not rodents, they are marsupials. Babies are born at only 12 days after their parents mate! The babies had no placenta and finish physical development in the pouch. Therefore they are super small, about the size of a small honeybee. Moms can have up to 25 babies in one litter, however the first 13 to crawl to her pouch and swallow her feeding tubes (which then swell up in their mouth so they will stay latched) will be able to survive. They do not have umbilical cords, therefore they need their mom's milk for all of their immunities. Never feed any wildlife cow milk.

So if you find a severely hurt mom and babies, please try to bring mama with the babies because she can be treated too. As long as we can keep her alive it gives her babies a better chance, that is what she would want too.

If you have any questions about these amazing animals, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are not in Texas we can help locate your rehabber near you as well

11/04/2023

Worth a watch

A Tasmanian man befriends a platypus while protecting the species from urban development.

08/21/2023

Yesterday was bittersweet. Release day for our very first raccoons. To see them happy back in the wild is something special.

07/13/2023

🦅Please think about your IMPACT before using any rodenticide!!! 🐾

Research from Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine shows that the neurotoxic rodenticide bromethalin can bioaccumulate in hawks.

07/12/2023

Our newest... only about 2-3 weeks old.
He is VERY loud when he is hungry. We need NAMES...

07/12/2023

And off they GO!!

06/22/2023

Young Joeys sometimes fall off their moms back and can't keep up, if you find a small opossum 7 inches or less in size, please carefully pick them up and put them in a warm box and call a wildlife rehabilitator.

Opossums also often get hit by cars. Stop and check to see if there are babies in female opossums pouches. You could save lives!

https://wraminc.org/home/find-a-wildlife-rehabilitator

06/16/2023

06/15/2023

Here are some great tips if you have concerns about a bunny nest.

https://wraminc.org/home/find-a-wildlife-rehabilitator

06/12/2023

Finding a wildlife rehabilitator is so easy with this map of all wildlife rehabilitators in Massachusetts. Each icon represents a wildlife rehabilitator and what they take. Visit one of the websites below and click on an icon for the Rehabilitators information.

Please visit either website to locate a wildlife rehabilitator near you and don't forget to share this post!

https://wraminc.org/home/find-a-wildlife-rehabilitator

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/find-a-wildlife-rehabilitator

06/05/2023

Turtles have been on the move all over the state! Keep an eye out and help them across the road in the direction they are going.
If you find an injured turtle, please call a wildlife rehabilitator.

Below are links to the lists of wildlife rehabilitators in the state.

You'll see a green symbol with a turtle for rehabbers that takes turtles.

https://wraminc.org/home/find-a-wildlife-rehabilitator

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/find-a-wildlife-rehabilitator

05/03/2023

Please consider helping us with supplies. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2AM8L4RKIIB7E?ref_=wl_share

Thank you!

04/06/2023

First babies of the season for us! These are Eastern Grey Squirrels @ 10 days old. They were found in a car at a service station when the worker opened the hood. Sadly Mom ran off but she left very healthy babies. We will do our best to care for them until we can release them in a couple of months.

Volunteer Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in Massachusetts currently taking small mammals.

04/03/2023

03/27/2023

I love him already. He was trapped on top of metal grates inside a man made dam. We rescued him yesterday afternoon.

Being on top of cold metal for a long time has affected his feet and tail. We are treating him for frost bite.

I don’t know if this beaver is a male or female without X-rays. I’m just assuming it’s a boy because I’m tired of sassy female beavers lol. Also…if he is single…

Either way, I am glad he is here. Frostbite can be very painful and we are thankful we have the opportunity to help him get through it.

03/15/2023

Did you know skunks are not true hibernators? When nighttime temperatures are above 30°F, skunks become active, stretching their legs and searching for food. Dog owners should beware on warm winter nights! When temperatures stay below freezing, skunks sleep to conserve energy. Breeding season typically occurs from February through March. Learn more: bit.ly/MA-skunks

03/09/2023

HOP TO IT! Kristine Beebe, our amazing rabbit rehabilitator received her first litter of Eastern Cottontail rabbits of the season. The earliest ever! These babies were in a dog's mouth in Falmouth. Fortunately, unharmed. The caring owner could not find the nest and called Wild Care. The babies are doing well in Kristine's care.

Please hop on over and share Wild Care's fact sheet below. Help us to prevent rabbit nest displacement and casualties this spring and summer, by following these simple tips!

HOW TO KEEP RABBIT NESTS SAFE FROM PETS IN YOUR BACKYARD.
https://www.wildcarecapecod.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rabbits-and-Pets-pdf.pdf

Executive Director, Stephanie!~
Photo: Kristine Beebe,(rehabilitating rabbits for 31 years!)

03/01/2023

We have some very sad news to share. Last night MK succumbed to her illness. After a valiant fight her system was simply no longer able to keep up.

We will know more when the diagnostics come back, but it appears she spontaneously hemorrhaged and began bleeding internally. With the poison in her system she did not have the ability to clot and the bleeding was catastrophic and began to occlude her airway.

Our veterinary team was by her side when it happened and was able to quickly clear her airway and intubate her, provide emergency drugs and fluids as her heart rate slowed, and eventually worked to do compressions to revive her. Sadly it was not enough to bring her back. She was gone in a matter of minutes.

It was always hard to watch a patient in this condition, but MK was particularly devastating. We know how well loved she is here in the Baystate and how many people her presence inspired to connect with our natural environments and the wildlife in them. We hope her case will serve as a true wake up call for people to stop using SGARS, and will ultimately lead to true systemic change. It is time to restrict the use of these poisons. Rodent control does not need to come at the expense of our natural heritage and ecosystem.

We want to sincerely thank everyone who has shared their concern, kind words, and worked to get MK help. Our hearts go out to KZ and all of the people who loved her.

If you would like to help take the critical first steps to provide legislative change please ask your local legislators to support and sponsor HD 577 - put forward by Representative Hawkins and SD114 - put forth by Representative Feeney

We will continue to fight for change and public more education. If you would like to help us continue to provide veterinary care to those that suffer and to help lead in the fight with local politicians and organizations, please consider donating in the memory of MK.

Newildlife.org/donate

Thank you all