27 Apr
The hospital received 180 animals last week, bringing the total for this year to 960.
Twenty-seven of the patients were mallard chicks. Mallards and mallard-hybrids often nest in seemingly inappropriate locations. When the eggs hatch, the mother needs to lead her babies to the nearest water, which may be across many lanes of traffic. If you can safely stop the traffic for a few minutes, mom can escort her babies across the street and continue the trek to water.
18 Apr
The hospital received 120 animals last week, bringing the total for this year to 657.
Spring is really here. In one week, the number of animals brought to us increased by over 40%. We are still seeing too many animals caught by cats–it is especially important from now through the end of nesting season (September) to keep cats indoors.
11 Apr
We are excited to announce construction has begun on our new Wildlife Hospital Behind the Scenes and new Birds Of Prey exhibits. In Behind the Scenes, an operating theater with one-way glass will let visitors witness real hospital procedures such as feeding orphaned babies. Birds of Prey is a series of interactive stations, providing hands-on opportunities to learn about our region’s fascinating raptors.
Wildlife Hospital Behind the Scenes
Wildlife Hospital Behind the Scenes will function in two ways. First, as a glass-fronted operating theater to allow visitors the opportunity to witness live presentations of real hospital procedures, such as conducting physical therapy on a raptor recovering from a wing injury or feeding orphaned babies. Second, the exhibit will include a gallery of self-guided learning stations involving microscopes, x-rays and touch screen displays.
Birds of Prey Exhibit
Birds of Prey will feature exhibits designed to let visitors explore and experience the adaptations of the incredible raptors that live around us. For example, On the Wing is an interactive flight simulator that will give children the sense of soaring high above Mt. Diablo State Park. Get a Grip lets you compare your grip strength to an eagle’s, and Unique Beaks teaches how different bird beaks are specially adapted to eat certain types of food.
24 Mar
The hospital received 62 animals last week, bringing the total to 404 for this year.
Ten of the patients were baby opossums that were found still attached to the nipples of their dead mother. The whole lot was brought to the hospital where the staff carefully removed the babies. Nine of the babies have survived so far. If you find a dead opossum, check to see if there are babies in the pouch. Don’t try to remove the babies yourself, but bring the mother, with offspring still attached, to the hospital.
14 Mar
The newest ambassador at Lindsay Wildlife Museum
We are happy to present the latest addition to the live collection at Lindsay Wildlife Museum, a handsome young gray fox. The fox, who has not yet been named, can be seen by the public beginning Wednesday, March 16 when the museum opens at noon. The gray fox was found as an abandoned pup in a barn in Humboldt county. He had been raised inappropriately by someone and then taken to a rehabilitation facility. He is too accustomed to humans and is unable to be released into the wild. The fox has been in his enclosure at the museum since February 9 with the viewing window covered to allow him time to become used to his new surroundings. The gray fox is one of four fox species native to California, is nocturnal in the wild and feeds primarily on meat but also enjoys fruit. The gray fox is the only member of the dog family that can easily climb trees! Come meet our new gray fox soon.
26 Feb
Yote in his box
By Dawn Manley, Animal Husbandry Manager
I took this picture of Yote one afternoon as I passed by his enclosure to work with some other animals. I had given him the produce box that morning as a new bed. I figured he would use it since he was partial to sleeping in small spaces, like in his plexiglass aquarium. He heard me come through the gate, and as I approached, he pulled his head out of the box and rested it on the side (as pictured). He let out a few of his usual whimpers and watched me walk by. The feeling in my heart at that moment epitomizes my relationship with him. I can’t explain in words what it is, but when you have it, you know it.
I was introduced to Yote about nine years ago, and at the time he had several keepers. In the years that followed, all of his original keepers moved on. By necessity, I assumed responsibility as lead keeper and my relationship as one of his “pack members” continued to evolve.
He was amazing to work with – so attentive and willing. I remember some early mornings when I was the first one in the building, he would start howling when he heard me come in. I loved to stand there in the dark and howl back to him from the front desk. Sometimes his howls were so emotional – loud and wild – they gave me instant goose-bumps!
Working with Yote was a gift. Although I miss him very much, I know that now he is free from his physical ailments and enjoying a freedom he never knew but very much deserved.
16 Jan
The mayor of Walnut Creek has declared this the “year of the volunteer” and asked the city’s cable TV station to do a series of videos on volunteering. Lindsay Wildlife Museum was chosen as the first organization to be featured. We asked Gemma Niermann, one of our veteran volunteers who lives in the city, to represent us.
13 Jan
by Susan Heckly, Wildlife Rehabilitation Director
Curious about the animals we received in 2010? We received 5451 animals: 4078 birds, 1263 mammals, 98 reptiles and 10 amphibians.
The most numerous species were house finch (551), fox squirrel (475), mourning dove (432), mallard (367), opossum (297), western scrub-jay (208) and California towhee (160). Most of the patients came from nearby cities: Concord (759), Walnut Creek (758), Martinez (359), Pleasant Hill (347), Danville (284) and Lafayette (259).
7 Jan
by Trish Orlowski
, Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor
A young man called the wildlife hospital two weeks ago to ask for advice regarding an adult fox squirrel in his yard. The squirrel had gotten its head stuck in a yogurt cup!
Staff advised the gentleman on how to capture the squirrel and he was able to bring her to the hospital. Squirrels have very large teeth and very strong jaws and are capable of a nasty bite!
Once staff was wearing the right protective equipment, they held the squirrel and gently pulled her head out of the yogurt cup. Aside from some yogurt on her whiskers, she looked great and she was returned to her home! Help wildlife by properly and safely disposing of all trash!
23 Dec
by Dawn Manley, Animal Husbandry Manager
Lindsay Wildlife Museum is fortunate to have such diverse, talented and dedicated people working here. Many museum staff members started as a volunteer. For this article, I interviewed four part-time animal encounters staff members who began their Animal Encounters career as a volunteer.
Melissa Eitzel
Melissa with Diablo the turkey vulture
What is your volunteer experience at the museum and how long have you been on staff?
I was an Interpretive Guide in the ‘90s and returned to be a volunteer museum interpreter in late 2008. I’m now a part-time museum interpreter. I’ve been working here on Sundays since November 2009.
What do you do when you are not at the museum?
I’m a graduate student in Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley.
What do you like most about working in the AE department?
I love the interactions with our wildlife, our visitors and especially with my coworkers, volunteer and staff alike. The museum is a wonderful and positive place to work. I enjoy applying my love of explaining things to the worthy goal of sharing our local wildlife with fellow community members.
Summer Chrisman
Summer with the mexican free-tailed bat (L) and pallid bat (R)
What is your volunteer experience at the museum and how long have you been on staff?
I started as an Interpretive Guide in 2000 at 16 and graduated to the mammal team. After taking a break for college, I came back as an animal encounters husbandry intern for 6 months until I was hired. I’ve been a substitute keeper since April 2010. I typically work 1-2 days per week.
What do you do when you are not at the museum?
I have worked as a wildlife biological science technician for the Forest Service in South Lake Tahoe doing raptor surveys and as a wildlife biologist for the Wyoming Department of Fish and Game doing bat surveys. I am also an active Girl Scout volunteer camp counselor leading backpacking trips in the high Sierra during late summer.
What do you like most about working at the museum?
I most enjoy watching the animals interact with their environments and helping make the full-time staff’s jobs easier. I am glad I can be a part of bringing people closer to the wildlife in their backyards.
Brittany Wensky
Brittany on her day off.
What was your volunteer position in the AE department and when were you hired as a substitute keeper?
I started at the museum as an intern in the summer of 2005 after I graduated from college. I’ve been a substitute since 2006 and I currently work about two days a month.
What do you do when you are not at the museum?
I work for the US Geological Survey as a biological science technician. I recently finished a field season of nest searching for upland-nesting ducks. My next assignment will be avian influenza sampling of ducks in the Sacramento Valley and the Delta. After that, I’ll work on data and processing field-collected samples (primarily avian) in Fremont. I’m a member of Kiwanis Club of Dixon, through which I volunteer for the local community.
What do you like most about working in the AE department?
I love working with wildlife, and the museum gives me the opportunity to get to know individual animals and to learn a different skill set. I also really enjoy the fact that the work at the museum is so different from what I do Monday to Friday. The staff at the museum really makes it worthwhile, too!
Bill O’Brien
Bill with the female red-tailed hawk.
What is your volunteer experience at the museum and how long have you been a substitute keeper?
I’ve been a hospital volunteer since 1998. I spend most of my time there in the holding room, working with the raptors. I’ve been working as a substitute keeper since 2007.
What do you do when you are not at the museum?
I’ve been a freelance journalist since…well, for a long time. I started out as a volunteer reporter for KPFA in Berkeley, covering local politics and attending the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. I worked for a long time with the East Bay Express and other magazines. I’ve also worked in the wine industry, selling the stuff, teaching winemaking and working as a cellar rat during the fall crush. I’ve also painted houses, fixed guitars, and, while I was in college, worked in a state mental hospital, which was good preparation for dealing with all sorts of people (and come to think of it, animals also).
What do you like most about working in the AE department?
It’s a real pleasure to have colleagues who enjoy their work and who are committed to doing the best possible job. We all want to be here and that makes a difference in the workday. That and having the opportunity to work with some really cool animals.
Lindsay Wildlife Museum 