Catherine was able to attend the Wildlife Rescue Center's open house this past weekend.
Executive Director Kim Rutledge was able to give Catherine an update and the first look at Lil ' Fox since she grabbed the poor flea and parasite ridden 4 paw cutie from the weeds along Hwy 21. See earlier blog post "Lil' Fox"
I will sum it up in one sentence. She is doing great !!
Anticipated release in about two months. She has some growing to do !
I had completed nine days in a row at work. I was home relaxing with no plans of going anywhere for anything. I actually went out the evening before, and bought a nice piece of sockeye salmon, asparagus, and red potatoes for my mini celebration of the joy of days off.
I stood up, looked at Zeusy and said " You ready to make dinner? " He was ready. Of course the phone started ringing. (This really happened, you can ask Zeusy.) The caller ID said " Restricted. " No way I was answering. Then the second call came in with a number I vaguely recognized, then the voicemail. I will listen to that.
It was a buddy who works at the Clayton (Mo.) Police Dept. He said he was on the Forest Park Parkway with a Falcon that wouldn't fly. I asked him to catch it, and I would come and get it. As I explained the "How to" he sounded reluctant . I knew for sure he would do it, no police officer I know would be afraid. I said call me back when you have him. We hung up and a few moments later he had him and was taking him to the station. After shutting down the Parkway to grab it. Awesome !!
I called Catherine to see if she was available. She was the Catherine who started the lil' fox rescue. She was right down the road and in no time we were on our way.
At the station he was inside a cell inside a tupperware bin. My buddy did not want to leave the lid on until I arrived, and figured a cell will keep the bird contained.
We arrived and performed an initial exam. The Falcon was only about 60 days old and probably recently fledged. Other wise we could not identify anything wrong, except a check of the keel area showed it probably had not eaten in a few days. We suspected that the Falcon just fledged and hadn't figured out life on it's own yet.
Off to the World Bird Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital. Once there I took the bird out of the copier paper box provided by the Clayton PD.
Catherine prepared a mew and a few mice in an attempt to get it to eat. It actually grabbed one and began eating while I was holding it. Never had either one of us seen that.
It was left over night and the Veterinarian Dr. Stacy performed her exam. She found no injury and suspects the newly fledged Falcon was trying to figure out it's world.
After a few days of eating good it will be released in it's territory.
Took so long I gave up on cooking the salmon and we ate Mexican and I arrived home late . Oh well......
On the drive home from Bell Mountain Wilderness we were headed North on Old State Hwy 21, I was in the back seat with with Zeusy. Alesi rode shotgun to our dear friend and driver Catherine as she drove us home.
Suddenly Catherine honked the horn swerved slightly then anxiously stated, " I am going over it, I dont think I will hit it! "
I looked forward and saw a small fur ball in the middle of our lane. I then turned around to see the fur ball was in the same spot. Missed by the horseless carriage.
My heart then sank as I watched cars one, two, and three drive over the little fur ball. Car four swerved into the oncoming lane.
But there sat fur ball, who then slinked off the road and into the weeds.
Catherine a devoted animal person who has performed wildlife rehabilitation in Africa, the Caymen Islands and the United States, jerked the vehicle to a stop. In a flash she was out the door and into the weeds. Quickly she came walking back holding by the scruff of the neck the most pathetic, flea and parasite ridden fox kit.
The lil' fox was in a very weakened state as well and Alesi hurriedly dumped the contents of a bag I handed her onto the floorboard to make room for lil' fox. The silly part is that the bag was an "Endangered Wolf Center" reusable shopping bag.
Alesi was in charge of the bag and lil' fox until we could drive the two hours to the "Wildlife Rescue Center" in Ballwin, Mo. Because of the great reputation of the Wildlife Rescue Center we felt confident that this is the place lil' fox needs to be.
Alesi did what any animal girl would do and started snapping pictures. Later she donated one of the shirts she was wearing pushing to the bottom of the bag keeping her charge comfortable. She would not take her eyes off lil' fox exclaiming " He is so cute I cant stop staring and my eyes will burn out !"
Once at the resue center lil' fox was checked in and is going through parasite treatments and feeding to get its' strength back.
A volunteer and friend at the Wildlife Rescue Center Sherrie is keeping us updated on lil' fox's progress.
This American White Pelican was suffering from a broken wing and like most wildlife was not detered, and found a small lake with a lot of fish. The decision was made to take it from his paradise because the pond does freeze. This would leave him to starve. So an armada of two canoes and a johnboat set sail to capture the grounded flyer. Despite one man going overboard (me) in the 18 degree weather, he was soon captured. The WBS Hospital will give him the utmost care and he will probably move to the zoo to live out his life in relative comfort. Unfortunatly his injuries do not make him a release candidate.
