Caracaras and Baby Squirrels Receive Life-Saving Care

The von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been busy with 101 wildlife admissions and 21 releases in just two weeks. Some wildlife patients that are currently in our care include two crested caracaras, four grey squirrels, 12 gopher tortoises, and five double-crested cormorants. 

An interesting fact about crested caracaras is that they look like hawks and act like vultures, but they are actually falcons. Crested caracaras are only found in a few southern states but can typically find them near open grassland in Southwest Florida.

One of the caracaras was found in Ave Maria lying in a field. The bird was weak, dull, dehydrated, and pale. Our veterinarian, Dr. Kendall Carlin, collected blood from the patient and measured the bird's packed cell volume (PCV), or the percentage of red blood cells in a blood sample. Most raptors have PCVs of 35 - 45%, but this crested caracara’s PCV was only 9%. It was determined the patient likely had rodenticide poisoning. 

When birds of prey eat rodents that have consumed anticoagulant rodenticides, the birds of prey are poisoned and can die. This patient was luckier than most and responded well to fluid therapy and treatment with vitamin K to counteract the rodenticide. Currently, the crested caracara is improving and becoming stronger each day. The bird recently moved to an outdoor enclosure to start conditioning for release.

Two baby grey squirrels were also admitted recently. The rescuer suspected they were orphaned because she had previously found a deceased adult grey squirrel in her backyard before discovering the kits under a tree. Her daughter learned about the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and encouraged the rescuer to bring the squirrels to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital for care. Upon admission, the babies were very thin, cold, and showed increased respiratory effort. Based on their body condition and size, they’d been without parental care for an extended period of time. 

Typically, when a wildlife parent has died, it is hard to find the babies because they are often hidden somewhere safe. It is unlikely for the young to leave the nest until they are absolutely starving and are forced to search for food. Unfortunately, orphaned baby squirrels often fall a great distance because they usually nest high in the trees, which is what happened to these two baby grey squirrels. After a full exam, the wildlife staff began to warm the kits. Once warm, we administered pain medications, antibiotics, and fluids. Unfortunately, one of the siblings did not make it overnight. The other is still in critical care and is being monitored every three hours.

Baby season is starting in southwest Florida. If you find a deceased bird or mammal adult, please keep an eye out for orphans. If you are ever unsure about what you have found, please call the wildlife hospital. We have trained staff that can help determine if an animal is truly orphaned, as was the case with these squirrels, or if the parent will return to the nest to feed and care for the young. The wildlife hospital can identify the animal and then guide you on next steps.