Ellicott Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Orphans and injured adults in all shapes and sizes continue arriving to rehab.  EWRC rehabbers are hopping with intake, phones that don’t stop ringing, paperwork, and of course, LOTS of animal care.  Troy’s squirrel is back to the vet for yet another abscess.  Aurora is busy with baby songbirds, and she has squirrel releases in the very near future.  You can help us help these animals and the people who find them by making a tax-deductible donation to EWRC.  Without your donations, we cannot provide services.

Perry Park fox recovered beautifully from mange and was released this weekend.

“Tango,” this Western Tanager, suffered major head and spinal trauma after colliding with a window.

Yesterday we released several critters, including doves, a mallard, Grant the Goose, and a black-headed grosbeak.  A big THANK YOU to Michelle McMurray and her husband, John.  Additionally, volunteer Nate picked up a poorwill from a warehouse on 48th and Pecos in Denver, transported it all the way to Monument, where volunteer Justin met him and got the bird, and brought it all the way out to Ellicott.  Big day but with more arrivals to rehab every day, this is typical of the next few months. 

Grant the Goose has been in rehab with us since last fall. Today was his big release at Fountain Creek Nature Center. Mel watches as Grant moseys on down to the water line.

Black-Headed Grosbeak released into a tree.

The good thing about Fountain Creek Nature Center is there are always lots of nature lovers enjoying the park, and here a gentleman named Mel along with a couple of teenagers assisted Michele and John with their kennels (mallard in this one) down to the ponds.

EWRC is a very busy place right now!  We’re all full of babies and injured/convalescing adults.  And they’re arriving to rehab daily.  More releases scheduled this week will create more space for wildlife requiring the outdoor enclosures.  Great new re the “Imprint Kid” from Denver.  After several days of quality time with his little “brother” from Kansas, the “Imprint Kid” now seems to realize he is indeed a Great Horned Owl, and FINALLY prefers the company of the other GHOs.  This is HUGE and we couldn’t be happier!  Below he sits with the other GHOs, in a defensive posture (!)  He’s the the third one from the left.

The imprinted GHO baby from Denver FINALLY prefers the company of other GHOS over the company of people. This is HUGE progress!

Spring baby season has hit like a sledgehammer and this is the time of year we like to remind everyone to PLEASE don’t interfere with nests and eggs, and please don’t be a baby-napper!!  The best situation for baby wildlife is their own natural parents.  We people are a poor substitute!  Please call BEFORE picking up “orphans” so we can determine if, in fact, they really are orphaned.  Fledgelings are small, fully feathered birds found hopping around on the ground.  Their parents are still caring for them and they nearly always do NOT need to be picked up.  Over the last several days we’ve received numerous calls about the “K-Mart Geese” in town.  The adults are fine, the nest is fine, and there’s an egg in there.  Yes, it’s a busy part of town but the biggest problems these birds face right now is PEOPLE and interference.  Feel free to observe from a distance, but please leave the birds, the nest, and the egg/s alone, not just because it’s what is best for the birds but also because it is a State and federal offense to interfere with wild bird nests and eggs.

Volunteer Rhetta went and checked out the “K-Mart Goose” situation, and shares her picture with us.

Busy season is here–baby season–and you can help native wildlife in rehab by sponsoring a critter; donate toward “your” animal’s food and care in wildlife.  We have several animals available for sponsorship with more coming into rehab nearly every day.  This is also a good time to donate those gift cards you received for Christmas that you might not plan on using.  We’re grateful for gift cards for gas, health food stores, grocery stores, home improvement stores, pet stores, and wild bird stores.  This work simply isn’t possible without the help and support from people like YOU!

Poorwill and baby dove share a heating pad. Both are available for you to sponsor, along with several baby owls and other critters.

Troy of Colorado Springs had observed this squirrel over the course of the last couple of months as she struggled with abscesses, one after another.  Ultimately he managed to live trap the squirrel and she was taken to the vet for abscess excision and antibiotics.  Unfortunately, the swelling isn’t decreasing and we fear another abscess is forming.  Squirrels seem prone to abscesses from fighting amongst each other as well as dental problems.  Sometimes they develop tumors (cancer) that we feel are likely caused by pesticides.

This squirrel suffers from abscesses on her face and neck. She’s been treated by the vet.

This Great Horned Owl was delivered to rehab last night by a wildlife officer.  Apparently the owl was observed to be hit by a train.  The bird clearly has sustained significant head trauma and a wing injury.  Wildlife officers have named the owl Train Wreck.  Let’s hope Train Wreck recovers from his injuries.

This poor owl was hit by a train.

People are always asking us what they can do that makes a “real” difference in helping wildlife in their own back yard.  There are many, many things you can do.  How about helping the bluebirds this year?  You can help them by building and hanging a bluebird nesting box (plans and specs available online.)  Make sure your bluebird box has a metal baffle around it to protect it from predators, particularly cats, coons, and skunks.  Additionally, you can help them by hanging up a mealworm feeder.  Once their babies hatch, the bluebirds are run literally to exhaustion trying to catch bugs to feed their babies.  You can make their lives easier by hanging up a mealworm feeder.  Mealies can be bought cheaper in bulk by online vendors, such as Sunshine Mealworms.  Another thing you can do to help the birds is to offer them a bird bath.  The bird bath needs to be kept in or very near the bushes or under a tree, to protect the birds from flying predators like kestrels and hawks.  Keep the bird bath clean and full.  The Wild Bird Center on  is a wonderful resource for your bluebird and birding needs, not to mention a fabulous place for Mother’s Day gifts!!!

Yesterday brought not one, not two, but THREE baby Great Horned Owls to rehab; one from the Broadmoor area, another from DIA in Denver (sibling of one that came here on Saturday,) and one from Kansas, who doesn’t have a broken leg after all but a damaged toe.  That skinny little GHO was found with his dead mother underneath a power transformer.  He’s eating well and seems to be an excellent companion for the imprinted little GHO that came on Saturday.  Keep your fingers crossed!  Last night brought us a hatchling dove from the vet.

GHO Baby from Kansas

The only bird known to hibernate and a bird with an excellent physical adaptation–the ability to blend in with its surroundings–the poorwill!  This poorwill came to rehab after a cat had gotten it and chewed up its head.  Cat saliva is loaded with nasty bacteria, and usually infection sets in, in a critter attacked by a cat.  Most don’t survive cat attacks.  We’re hoping the poorwill survives his injuries.  Additionally, he is emaciated so a secondary concern is getting his weight up to within normal range.  Later on today we’re expecting another baby GHO from Denver and a baby GHO with a broken leg from Kansas.

Poorwill in Rehab.