Lake County has an abundance of wildlife. Deer, wild turkeys and even an occasional mountain lion can often be seen within the city limits of Lakeport and Clearlake as well in other residential areas around the county. In fact, conflicts between humans and wild animals have become common as more and more homes are built in rural areas.
But what happens when one of the these wild animals is injured and crawls up in your yard? Who do you call and how do you treat an injured animal without endangering yourself or your family?
Fortunately there is an organization that will handle sick and injured wildlife. It”s called Lake County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitative Services and it operates out of the Wasson Memorial Veterinary Hospital in Lakeport. The Clearlake Veterinary Clinic is also part of the Lake County Rescue Services. Veterinarian Susan A. Cannon DVM heads up the wildlife rescue service. She took over when Sandi Elliott of Spirit Wild moved out of the state.
The service has been in existence for a little more than a year and to date it has rescued 215 small animals as well as 1,174 birds. Cannon said many of the birds have broken wings or have been abandoned by their mothers. The clinic nurses them back to good health and they are then released back into the wild. This week, Cannon and her staff tended to a raven with two broken legs, a falcon with a broken wing and an injured owl.
Cannon said there are some important rules to follow when attempting to rescue wildlife. Baby birds are exceptionally fragile. Does the baby bird have feathers and is it able to hop around? If the answer is no or it appears to be injured, it should be brought to a care facility immediately. However, if the baby can move around and the parents are near, you should observe it for an hour. She said that you should avoid handling the baby bird as much as possible to avoid stressing it. Wrap it in a soft cloth and place it in a box and then transport it.
As for baby mammals such as deer or rabbits, keep and eye on them for an hour or so because often the mother is nearby and can take care of it. As with birds, the baby mammals should be handled as little as possible to avoid stress. As for injured animals, Cannon says never to handle an adult injured animal without first consulting a wildlife professional because it”s possible the animal can injure you. Do not give injured animals any food or water because they could choke.
It”s also important never to handle animals that are considered “Rabies-Vector species.” They include bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes. Any animal that bites a human must be euthanized and tested for rabies even if it shows no signs of being sick. Cannon says it is illegal for anyone without a permit from the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to care for wildlife even if the intention is to release it.
People who find injured or sick wild animals can call the Wasson Clinic at 263-5380 or the Clearlake Veterinary Clinic at 994-9100 and you will receive instructions on what to do with the animal.
Cannon said she is seeking volunteers to help her in caring for the rescued birds and mammals. This includes acting as foster care until the animal recovers. She also needs volunteers to transport the animals. She will provide all the boxes and other required materials plus complete instructions on caring for the animals.
Whereas Cannon and her staff take care of injured and abandoned wild animals, there is also the problem when encountering dead wildlife around the county. For example, if a deer gets hit by a car and it staggers onto your property and dies, it is now your responsibility to get rid of the carcass? There are several companies in Lake County that will remove the carcass for a fee. The Lake County Agriculture Department has a list of these companies. Call 263-0217 for assistance with dead or injured animals.
If the injured animal is a large animal such as an adult deer, bear or mountain lion, you can call Cal-Tip at 1-888-334-2258 and a game warden will be dispatched to take care of the situation.
