2025 Patient Success Stories
Baby predator re-unites with family
WCSL professionals were concerned about the wing droop on this baby so it was recommended that he be brought in for care
Western screech owl #25-154 was found alone on the ground in the cold after one of our recent Utah Summer-just-kidding-winter-again storms. He was cold but in otherwise good condition so the staff and volunteers of Wildlife Center of Salt Lake made sure he received a meal before reuniting him with his family. A HUGE shout-out to the finder, Corey, who scoped out his yard, watched for the family that night, found owl droppings and pointed us in the right direction. He followed up with us the next day that he had seen the family and we renested this little guy the same evening. We consider these cases wildly successful when we can return wildlife to their homes and families without too much intervention. It takes our staff and volunteers several weeks to get babies to the point in which their parents naturally can over a much shorter amount of time - of course - we are not owl parents! Our raptor nursery will be full soon and these babies are our most expensive patients! Please consider making a donation to our RodentPro account! You can find us on the RodentPro website by selecting "Utah," "Wildlife Rehabilitation Center," and "Wildlife Center of Salt Lake".”
After receiving an examination at the center, he was cleared to be returned to the nest
One quick trip to the store and a ladder later and this young owl is back up in the tree its family was spotted in
Just before dusk, our patient perched on the edge of the nest
Ferruginous hawk #25-77 was released earlier this year into an old orchard where there was prey-a-plenty. This big beauty was hit by a car in Erda and was brought to us by a UDWR officer. (Thank you @utahdwr for all the good work you do!) She arrived with blood in her oral cavity which she had inhaled into her lungs along with contusions from the strike. She was otherwise normal and after a few weeks in care she passed her flight tests and left our center on her way back to freedom.
Vehicle collisions are nightmares for birds, especially birds of prey. If you want to learn more about how you can help birds of prey, especially eagles, Hawk Watch International is conducting an ongoing Eagle Vehicle Strike program which can be found on their website. Ben Goldfarb released Crossings in 2023, a deeply moving investigative journalism piece that will drive you to think differently about travel and the impact of roads on our wild neighbors.
Every day the staff and volunteers at Wildlife Center of Salt Lake are inspired. We are moved by the people that show up for wildlife like the UDWR officer that brought her in, like the people who write books, like the directors and biologists that push for change. You too can be inspired, and through daily actions, voting, and support can help return these animals to the wild and keep them safe.
Helping grebes in need
Pied-billed grebe #25-58 was brought into Wildlife Center of Salt Lake after being hit by a car when flying low across the road! The finder jumped into action rescuing this bird from a busy road. If they had not saved this bird, he would have certainly been hit by another car and died.
When this grebe arrived at the center, a full physical examination was performed and the bird did not have any orthopedic (bone) injuries, so we kept her to monitor for contusions, internal bleeding, and lung damage. After she was cleared for release she was set free into a wetlands area populated by other grebes and in a much safer location.
