C.R.O.W. Saving lives on Sanibel

In this day and age, success stories are always welcome.

And on Sanibel, news of animal saved from death is a joyful event.

Happily, there are many glorious stories coming from the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W) and we would like to share a few with you.

C.R.O.W provides care to more than 3,000 wild animals each year. The causes vary from serious illness, accidental injury, orphaned or abduction, loss of habitat and persecution, among others, but the goal is always the same. Guided by the C.R.O.W mission, the agency veterinarian, clinicians and volunteers work to rehabilitate and successfully release their  patients back into the wild.

In 2013, there were dozens and dozens of happy tales and happy tails (not to mention feathers) coming out the Rehabilitation Clinic.
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There were a total of 21 bird species helped by the Clinic in 2013.  Bobcats, Raccoon, Opossum and a Coyote pup were also assisted. As were alligators, snakes and turtles.  The Clinic is a friend and partner in healing for all God's creatures great and small. 

While we would like to share all of these stories with you, we will concentrate on just a few very special ones.

There was the Brown Pelican who was found hanging under a dock, tapped by hooks and fishing line that entangled his head and beak.  Suffering from exhaustion and dehydration, the poor Pelican began refusing food until it was left alone in a tub to adjust to its capture.  After some surgery to remove the fish hooks,  he was put in the Pelican complex where he made a complete recovery.

And there was the adorable baby Bobcat who had was emaciated and found to have 3 different kinds of worms.After two weeks of critical care by the Clinic staff, C.R.O.W arranged for the baby Bobcat to be transported to the Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, where it will learn normal behavior from an older, more experienced bobcat.

There was also the Peninsula Cooter who had a major fracture to its carapace, the hard upper shell.  A pain medication was quickly administered to make the patient more comfortable.  Ordinary zip ties were then glued around the defect and tightened regularly to correct the divisions.

 

 All these rescues and rehabs are just wonderful to read about, but only a certain amount of animals can be released on one property in order to avoid infestation and over-population. C.R,O.W is asking for help in that regard.  Their request is that anyone who has private property with a lot of land and would be interested in having wild mammals, birds or turtles released on it, call C.R.O.W.  The Clinic will review the set of guidelines with property owners to determine if their place is suitable.  Some of the questions include: Is the property wooded?  Is there a pond?  Is it safe from free roaming dogs?  We hope you can help!