Wildlife in Crisis, Inc.

12/01/2023

As I hear chainsaws humming in the distance, I think of our longtime resident Marty, who has been with us for 12 years. He is missing one foot and two toes on his other foot due to a chain saw. This was one of Eversource’s mass tree cutting campaigns. Please leave trees standing whenever possible, and only hire companies that check trees thoroughly for residents before cutting. Even in winter animals like Marty are resting in small hollows.🌎🌲

11/28/2023

is today. Giving to Wildlife in Crisis directly benefits our patients. Over 5,000 debilitated wild animals, encompassing over 200 species, come through our doors each year. Our patients receive the very best care and comfort they deserve. Each has a story to tell. The barred owl hit by a car, the fox poisoned by rodenticide, the cardinal injured by a cat, the bald eagle caught in a leg hold trap, the duck entangled in fishing line...Please help us help them by donating today. Donations to benefit our patients can be on our website at http://wildlifeincrisis.org.
Thank you for your support!💚
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11/27/2023

This robin was brought to us bleeding from his nose and mouth after flying into a window. After a week of rest, treatment and nutrition he was delighted with freedom.💚

Please remember to place decals on windows to prevent bird strikes. We find hawk silhouettes cut out of black contact paper very effective. Place multiple silhouettes on outside of windows in diving positions. A great project to do with kids!🌎

11/24/2023

We are still receiving many migratory birds who have collided with windows. This hermit thrush has recovered from a traumatic head injury and is now on his way to winter grounds.

The hermit thrush is the state bird of Vermont. Walt Whitman construes the hermit thrush as a symbol of the American voice. If you take a walk in the woods on a summer evening, you may be treated to the ethereal, flute-like song of the hermit thrush, often the only bird still singing at dusk (and the first bird to sing in the morning).

The hermit thrush has a rich brown upper body and smudged spots on the breast, with a reddish tail that sets it apart from similar species in its genus (Catharus). Thrushes are in the same family (Turdidae) as bluebirds.

Hermit thrushes feed on the forest floor, rummaging through leaf litter for insects. They rarely visit backyards and generally do not visit feeders. However, during migration, they forage under leaves or eat berries in yards with trees or shrubs. They sometimes forage by “foot quivering,” where they shake bits of grass with their feet to get insects.

East of the Rocky Mountains the hermit thrush usually nests on the ground. In the West, it is more likely to nest in trees. Males usually gather food for the nest, while females feed the nestlings. The young birds start by eating bits of larvae, then grasshoppers, moths, and spiders.

To help hermit thrushes and other migratory birds, preserve open space in your community and create a conducive backyard habitat. To help prevent bird strikes on large windows we have found hawk silhouettes cut out of black contact paper and placed on the outside of windows to be easy and effective.🌎

11/21/2023

This adorable woodcock was brought to us after colliding with a window. He is resting comfortably now. After treatment for severe head trauma, he has started eating earthworms-they’re favorite food! Hopefully, we can get him healed and fattened up quickly so that he can continue his journey south.🙏🏻

Woodcocks are fascinating birds. They can open the upper tip of the bill while it's underground, searching for earthworms which provide about 60 percent of the bird’s diet-an adult woodcock may eat its weight in worms every day. They also eat ants, flies, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, grasshoppers, various larvae, crustaceans, millipedes, centipedes and spiders. Woodcock primarily feed in early evening and just before dawn.

American woodcocks are ground nesting birds, which makes them vulnerable to free roaming cats and other predators. Chicks are precocial, meaning they are able to leave the nest and self feed within a few hours after hatching.

Steady human encroachment on moist woodland poses the greatest threat to the species. Mortality factors include predation, window collisions (many occurring during night flight), hunting, disease, parasites and bad weather. Woodcocks that migrate north too early may be caught in late-season snows or freezing cold, which seal off their food supply. A few years ago we ended up with 80 woodcocks caught in spring blizzard!

11/20/2023

This beautiful cedar waxing was brought to us after a collision with a window. He is recovering from a wing fracture and head trauma. He’s making steady progress and enjoying a diet of wild blueberries and fortified pellets.

Cedar waxwings love their berries! In fact, they time their reproductive cycle based on when summer-ripening fruits are most plentiful toward the end of summer.

Known for their wax like feathers with tips of red, yellow and orange.

When males and females are ready to breed, both birds will pass small objects back and forth to each other, like berries or flowers. Females lay between two and six eggs, which are pale blue or bluish gray, and incubates them for 11 to 13 days. After the nestlings hatch, both parents help with feeding and care, until they are ready to leave the next after 14-18 days. Cedar waxwing pairs can have one to two broods per season. Many will spend the winter here and feed on hardy winter berry bushes like holly, juniper, hawthorn and winterberry.

Waxwings don't easily come to feeders, but they can be persuaded if you offer suitable foods in large, open platform feeders. Chopped cranberries, raisins, currants, chopped grapes, and small apple chunks may tempt waxwings.

The best thing you can do for waxwings is preserve native habitat and plant wild blueberry, juniper, serviceberry, hawthorn, crabapple, mountain ash, elderberry, raspberry, red cedar, dogwood, mulberry, crabapple, nannyberry and wild strawberries.🫐

11/18/2023

These juvenile grey squirrel siblings were found cold, listless and emaciated on the ground. We warmed them up in an incubator and they are now eating well and being hand fed formula. They are sleeping a lot and enjoying their newfound comfort.

Eastern gray squirrels exhibit many shades of gray. These two, especially the one on the left are leucistic. Leucism is a recessive genetic trait found in all mammals. Leucistic animals lack pigment over all or part of their bodies; squirrels exhibiting this trait come in varying levels of white.

Albinism is a congenital condition defined by the absence of pigment, resulting in an all-white appearance and pink eyes.💕

11/17/2023

Red bats…This red bat was brought to us after he was injured by lawn equipment. We were able to heal his wounds and send him on his way on one of our undisturbed WIC land trust preserves, where wild animals live in peace. Red bats rest and hibernate under fallen leaves. The exquisite beauty and perfection of nature allows red bats to seamlessly blend with fallen leaves, protecting them from cold and predation. Another reason to leave fallen leaves wherever you can.🍁

11/12/2023

Our late blooming juvenile goldfinches. This pair came to us as orphaned nestlings. The bird world quiets down by late summer - but not the American goldfinch, one of the most common backyard birds. September brings the peep peep, peep peep chatter of baby goldfinches begging for food.

Most songbirds switch their diet to high-protein insects when feeding their young, and they nest earlier when insects are most bountiful. For example, chickadees that keep bird-feeders busy in winter disappear in summer as they forage for insects not birdseed.

Goldfinches never make the switch. They're year-round seed and grain eaters, and delay nesting to ensure seed availability. In fact, the appearance of seed-rich composite flowers very likely stimulates nesting, along with the shifting day length of late summer.

Goldfinches are especially linked with thistles. They often line their nests with soft thistle down, and feed on thistle seeds. As for young goldfinches noisily following their male parent, the female does the nest-building, egg-brooding and tends the nestlings for a week or so, but then she's done. The male takes over. Some females that nest early enough find another mate and produce another brood.

In late fall, goldfinches too, quiet down in sound and appearance. Feather molt follows breeding, and the male's bright yellow summer plumage are replaced by feathers that match the muted palette of winter. They will happily spend the cold winter months munching on small bird seed at your feeders. Another reason to plant native wildflowers and leave part of you lawn as meadow.🌻

11/10/2023

Great horned owl recovering from a car strike.💚

11/07/2023

This roughed grouse was brought to us by a kind state conservation officer. She suffered a leg fracture and body trauma. After healing she was released in a protected habitat where other grouse are known to live. Roughed grouse are yet another native threatened species in CT due to habitat loss. Ruffed grouse require diverse forest habitats containing trees with a mixture of age classes and forest openings. They do not migrate. We pray that she will thrive!🙏🏻

11/05/2023

Another reason to curtail the use of leaf blowers. This little pine vole was blown off his mother by a leaf blower. His sibling unfortunately did not survive. Very kind homeowners brought him to us for care. He’s doing well now in an incubator and being hand fed formula. There are two species of voles in CT, the meadow vole and the pine vole, also know as woodland voles. Both species can be found throughout the state with meadow voles being the most common. This time of year, we always receive red bats, voles, salamanders and other animals who reside under leaf litter and rocks. Please be aware during fall “clean up”. Leave leaves in garden beds and try to leave a portion of your yard wild.🍁

10/31/2023

Ravens are powerful symbols in lore. This Halloween eve, we introduce a pair of ravens (Samantha and Joey) who will be spending the winter with us in a large flight cage to prepare for a spring release. Each was brought to us as a baby this summer. They were both in dire condition-helpless, emaciated and unable to stand. Over time they regained their strength and developed a close bond with one another. They are now lively, loud birds loving life.

🐦‍⬛Often associated with witches of yesteryear, ravens symbolize the opportunity to be the magician of your life. While the raven may symbolize metaphorical death and transformation for some, animals that have negative connotations are often very powerful guides.

🐦‍⬛Ravens are considered one of the oldest and wisest of animals. Also a bird of wisdom and prophecy.

🐦‍⬛One recent study claims that by four months old, ravens have full-blown cognitive skills and before reaching full maturity they can rival adult great apes and perform similar problem solving skills as children under seven years of age.

🐦‍⬛Ravens have episodic memory, much like humans and other primates. This allows them to remember human faces and other characteristics.

🐦‍⬛Ravens are a threatened species in CT due to habitat loss. Yet another reason to preserve remaining open space.

10/31/2023

The last baby bunny of the season released last week. It was a booming summer for baby bunnies, the most we’ve ever had. This little guy came in with a fractured leg a month ago. He healed well and was off like a flash into a field.🌱

10/28/2023

This mallard duck was brought to us a month ago after she was hit by a car. She was on her back, bleeding and barely conscious when she arrived. We made her comfortable and gave her pain medication thinking that she would pass away overnight. To our surprise she was still alive the next day. We started assisted feeding and propped her up so that she could begin self feeding as she regained strength and coordination. It took a while, but eventually she regained her faculties and full use of her wings and legs. After flying and swimming at the end of her recovery, it was time to set her free. Never have we seen such a happy duck! She seemed to be dancing in the water with glee for a long while until she swam away. Bless you little duck, we will miss you.💙

10/25/2023

We’re still receiving injured migratory birds each day. Yesterday we received several hermit thrushes and more golden-crowned kinglets. This hermit thrush was hit by a car and the kinglet flew into a window. Both are feeling better this morning after rest, nutrition and medication. Such sweet little birds, so vulnerable in our overdeveloped society.💚🙏🏻🌎

10/22/2023

Released this tiny golden-crowned kinglet today. He was brought to us a few days ago after being hit by a car. After medication, rest and nutrition, he was off like a flash to continue his journey south. Each fall we receive migrating kinglets, usually after they’ve hit windows. We can all help these adorable birds by avoiding all pesticides and placing decals on large windows. And keep forests intact!🌎

10/21/2023

Please leave the leaves! They’re are many options to consider based on your property and community standards. Nuance is key. Fallen leaves play a critical role in the health of trees from which they fall. They break down and provide essential soil nutrients. Leaves and tree nuts/seeds also provide crucial shelter and. food for a wide variety of wildlife.🍁

Thinking about raking freshly fallen leaves into a pile? Think again, scientists and naturalists say.

10/20/2023

Hello from Frank on this rainy day. Frank was brought to us as a small baby this summer. He had been caught by a dog and his shoulder and clavicle bones were crushed. We didn’t think he would make it, but we kept him comfortable and still while he healed. He’s a feisty big guy now with a very strong will to live and a hearty appetite. He cannot be released due to the extent of his injuries which impacted his mobility. He will live with us as a permanent resident and serve as an ambassador for his fellow opossums.💚

10/19/2023

This Yellow-billed Cuckoo (another endangered species) is recovering from significant head trauma after flying into a window. He is also very underweight, a common occurrence these days in insectivores. One of many threatened migratory birds in our care now suffering from window strike injuries. He is being hand fed and regaining strength and coordination.💚

They’re numbers are diminishing due to habitat destruction. Cuckoos prefer dense, vast forests with prolific understories. They are heavily impacted by habitat fragmentation and development. Especially in the northeast, cuckoos have even been found to move out of habitats that have high levels of vehicular traffic because automobile noise makes it harder for cuckoos to hear other cuckoos calling. They are also known as "rain crows" because their song is often heard just before thunderstorms or summer showers. Unfortunately, this rare bird raises its voice less and less without suitable habitat.

They migrate to South America for the winter via Central America and the West Indies. A lot of insects are needed on this journey south! They are entirely dependent on insects. Pesticide ingestion kills many if these birds. Their entire reproductive cycle will be delayed or stopped if they cannot find enough insects like caterpillars to eat. They can be parasitic breeders – sometimes laying their eggs in the nests of other species such as robins.

A billion birds a year are killed when they crash into buildings. Fall migration is underway and birds migrate via the night sky. Millions of birds pass through CT each spring and fall along the Atlantic Flyway. In addition to preserving open space, which is THE most important thing we can do for wildlife, turning lights off at night is also helpful. Birds become disoriented from lights when they are migrating and will often slam into building en masse, killing entire flocks. We see this first hand at WIC and it’s heartbreaking. Light pollution affects all wildlife, not just birds.
Small measures can make a big difference:

🌎Turn outdoor lights off at night. Floodlights and upward facing lights are the most damaging. If you need a pathway lit, use downward facing lights with auto sensors.
🌎Close interior curtains or blinds.
🌎If you work in an office building, ask management to turn off lights overnight.
🌎To prevent daytime bird strikes, apply several hawk silhouettes in diving positions on window exteriors, especially large contemporary windows. These can be made out of black contact paper or purchased online.

10/15/2023

This big brown bat will be spending the winter with us as he recovers from a wounded wing.💚

10/14/2023

Last of our summer robins released last week.💚

10/11/2023

These baby fox were brought to us as singletons in very early spring. All were lone survivors of their families after poison, lot development and car strikes. They each arrived in grave condition and required critical care. Slowly they regained the strength to grow and thrive. First inside our clinic and later outside in our pre-release house where they were introduced to one another. They bonded through play throughout the summer months as they developed necessary skills to live independently. They beat the odds and were released together far from the dangers that brought them to us. Enjoy your freedom beauties, we will miss you!🦊

10/08/2023

Eight months ago this great horned owl was brought to us as a baby. She had a compound fracture in her wing. The fracture healed beautifully and she was placed in a flight cage with one of our permanent resident great horned owls, where she regained full use of her wing and matured. Now fully self sufficient, she is ready to live as she was meant to be. Free.💚

10/07/2023

Fallen leaves provide foundational year-round habitat for birds, insects, frogs and countless animals (in ways that might surprise you!)

10/07/2023

Earlier this week on a sunnier day, a little hummingbird was sent on her way. She was brought to us injured, listless and weak after hitting a window. With treatment, rest and nutrition she regained her strength and was ready to continue her journey south. Safe travels precious bird.💚

10/06/2023

We took advantage of the warm weather this week and released many of our patients. This little painted turtle was delighted with his freedom.🌎

10/04/2023

Opossum recovering from an unpleasant encounter with a dog.

10/02/2023

A lovely day for releases! This turkey vulture was raring to go after healing from injuries sustained from a car strike.💕

10/01/2023

Baby turtles found injured or in precarious circumstances. Painted, terrapin, snapping. A gentle helping hand to a nearby body of water is usually all that is needed. Injuries or recent topographic alteration through development can require intervention. If these little cuties are ready to go before cold weather emerges they will be released. Otherwise, they will be kept overwinter💚

09/29/2023

Rainy day napping! 💦💤 🌧️💙

09/27/2023

This hoary bat is recovering from several lacerations. He was found laying helpless on a sidewalk. Hoary bats are the largest species of bat in CT. They are solitary creatures that spend their days roosting in the leaves of deciduous and coniferous trees, often at the edges of meadows. They are found throughout North America, but are a species of special concern in Connecticut due to habitat loss.🌲 In addition to deforestation and human disturbance, hoary bats are heavily impacted by wind turbines. An estimated 76,000 152,000 hoary bats are killed each year by collisions with wind turbines. They are currently migrating to southern latitudes, a dangerous journey indeed!🌎

09/25/2023

Juvenile turkey vulture recovering from a car strike. He is a mild mannered bird, enjoying his prepared meals while he heals.

🦤The turkey vulture is related to the stork, not to any birds of prey.

🦤Their scientific name in Latin means “cleansing breeze.”

🦤Like all other vultures, the turkey vulture has a bald head. This is so that bits of carrion do not adhere to the skin as they would to feathers. The naked red heads of adult turkey vultures resemble those of turkeys, hence the name.

🦤Turkey vultures are the only scavenger birds that can’t kill their prey. Their feet resemble chicken feet rather than birds of prey. Their feet are harmless, but their beaks are very powerful.

🦤Turkey vultures have an extraordinary sense of smell, which is unique in the bird world. The turkey vulture has the largest olfactory system of all birds, and can smell carrion from over a mile away.
Vultures prefer meat as fresh as possible and won’t eat decaying carcasses. They can smell carrion only 12-24 hours old. Vultures help clean up the environment by eating the flesh off dead animals before it decays and spreads disease.

🦤In the early morning hours you may see turkey vultures sunbathing in a tree with their wings spread out. This is done to increase their body temperature after the cool night.

🦤When you see turkey vultures swarming around in a cluster in the early morning hours of early spring or fall, they are preparing to continue on their migration. Vultures seen in the evening hours have probably arrived in the area that day and are preparing to roost for the night.

🦤Turkey vultures can travel up to 200 miles in a day.

🦤Turkey vultures average 2 1/2 feet tall with a 6 foot wingspan. In spite of their large size, they only weigh about 3 pounds.

09/24/2023

Mallard duck recovering from a window strike.💚

09/22/2023

This is the peak time of year for window strikes. The reflection windows create causes birds to fly into them at high speeds during migration. We have been receiving birds every day with head and body trauma sustained in window strikes. This sharp-shinned hawk is recovering from head trauma and is being treated with anti inflammatories, fluids, puréed diet and kept in quiet comfort where he can rest.

This is another endangered species in CT currently in our care. Loss of habitat is the primary reason for their decline in our state.
Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest accipiters (small, narrow tailed forest dwellers) in North America.

To help preserve this species and others, apply hawk silhouettes or other bird deterrents to windows, keep outdoor lights off or install motion sensor fixtures with yellow lights, created wildlife habitat on your property, and above all preserve more open space in your community.

09/21/2023

Barred owl recovering from a leg fracture after being hit by a car.💚

09/21/2023

09/20/2023

This little brown bat was found cold and wet in a puddle on the side of a busy road. He’s recovering in an incubator and being fed fluids, baby food and mealworms.

Bats are among the world’s most fascinating, beneficial and charismatic animals, yet people often fear and misunderstand them. They are the only mammals capable of true flight. There are over 1,300 different species of bats in the world – nine different species of bats can be found in Connecticut, and all but one of them (the big brown bat) are threatened species.

Little brown bats are insectivores. They were one of the most common bat species found in CT until white-nose syndrome (WNS) was documented in the state in 2008. They are now an endangered species, with a 90% decline in population.

Little brown bats are cave dwellers who hibernate in a special roost called a hibernaculum where they congregate for winter. They are slow to reproduce. Even though little brown bats mate in autumn, females delay ovulation and store s***m for about seven months before they actually get pregnant in spring. Pups are born in June and July. Females give birth to only one pup each year. Normally, bats hang with their heads pointed down. When females give birth, they reverse their position so the head is up. Mothers catch their newborn young in a special membrane between their legs so that the baby can nurse. Mother and baby communicate through vocalizations and close physical contact.

We can all do our part to help little brown bats rebound, by preserving open space, leaving outdoor lights off or use motion sensors and yellow bulbs, install bat houses, and avoiding all pesticides.🦇

09/18/2023

Released the last of our baby skunks of the season.💕