06/13/2025
Hail storms aren’t just bad for cars, windows, and roofs, they are bad for wildlife, too. Vultures and songbirds that were hit by hail. Though these animals were injured in the same storm, their injuries and care can often differ wildly. Treatment for some can be a long and complicated task.
One of the Turkey Vultures in our care was brought in for a broken wing sustained during the storm. Much like human patients in hospitals, this patient has received rehabilitative care including bandaging of the wing to immobilize it for healing, and weekly physical therapy to keep the wing’s tendons and ligaments flexible.
While in recovery many animals lose muscle mass since they are unable to perform their usual activities of hunting, flying, digging, etc. Once this patient’s initial injury healed, it was moved into the center’s newest enclosure—the Roger Werndli Memorial Solar Flight Pen-*where larger birds are able to practice flight and rebuild muscle before release. According to staff, this patient has been flying exceptionally and should be eligible for release in the next few weeks.
Charitable donors make it possible to expand our staffing and our facility to care for the thousands of animals brought to us each year.
If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Wildlife Center, please follow this link: www.giveshelter.org/donatewildlife
