This owl and five other animals became the last patients of the 2009 year.  The Crosby owl was joined by an injured opossum, a pelican, two red-tailed hawks and a screech owl.  All were examined, treated and medications administered.  They as with the owl were tucked into warm cages as they ushered in the new year with a new chance at life.  

Each year the Wildlife Center takes in over 7000 injured ill or orphaned wildlife.  WR&E staff and volunteers are always curious which species will be the first of the new year. 

The first animal for the 2010 new year was a gorgeous adult red tailed hawk.  He was found in a yard on High Island, with an injured wing.  After a ride on the ferry to Galveston and a car trip up I-45 he arrived at the Wildlife Center.  A through exam revealed a sprained wing that probably occurred when it hit a power line or moving vehicle.  The first few days of the new year proved to be very busy at the Wildlife Center as it also received an injured squirrel, a common egret, a vulture, a pelican, another red tailed hawk, a cormorant, and several doves.

As Sharon talked with the gentleman it was determined he would be coming right by the Wildlife Center on tracks that ran through Houston.  He called back when he arrived in Houston and Sharon jumped over the fence behind the Houston SPCA and rescued the little Screech Owl.

The train blew its whistle, as it chugged away and the Screech Owl came to the Wildlife Center for a couple of weeks of supportive care to bring it up to a healthy weight.  It was released several weeks later after time in a big flight cage to build muscle tone.

Patient 09-100533. came to us after crashing into a window at the VA Hospital.  The very large Red-tailed Hawk had some minor wing damage and was of poor body weight.  He spent many weeks at the Wildlife Center under the watchful eye of several veterinarians.  He began to put on weight and soon the soft tissue damage was healed.  After several weeks of flight therapy in an off-site flight cage to strengthen this wings, he was released to once again soar over the skies of Houston.

Patient 09-100146 was the prize trophy of a neighborhood cat.  The little Eastern Grey squirrel had several puncture marks and was scared to death.  After a complete exam the little guy’s wounds were treated and he was hand fed for several weeks. 

On April 14th he was released with six other Eastern Gray squirrels on a small acreage in League City.   This area was hit hard by hurricane Ike so the property owners are providing back up food and nesting boxes for these little squirrels to aid them until the habitat returns to pre-hurricane status.