Check Out Some Hope for Wildlife Videos:This huge 22.5 pound snapping turtle was brought to us after he was hit by a car. Fortunately, there were no broken bones and his shell was fine, except for a few abrasions. After a week with us, the injuries had already started to heal, and with it being late in the season we sent him home to get ready to brumate for the winter. He will bury himself in soft mud or silt, which will provide protective layer of insulation and cover from the cold, and then he will enter a state similar to hibernation to wait for the warmth of spring. ____________________________________________________________________ This fiesty pileated woodpecker was admitted after being found unable to fly on the side of the road. He's got a leg injury that he's been recovering from, but it hasn't stopped him from being an escape artist. He pecked his way out of his first enclosure: a tent we set up for him. Then he proceeded to peck his way out of the mesh-walled unit we thought would be a challenge. Now he's in a steel unit, and while we feel confident he won't peck his way out of this one, it doesn't appear to be stopping him from planning his next escape. ____________________________________________________________________ We gave some young red squirrels a mini pumpkin for them to explore and chew on. Squirrels like to eat the soft fleshy bits and they love the seeds, so giving them a treat that they have to work for is good for them. ____________________________________________________________________ This little black-capped chickadee was admitted with minor injuries after running into a window, and now that he's on the mend, boy does he enjoy his bounty of seeds. We mean he's really, really serious about pecking those seeds! How does he even do that? ____________________________________________________________________ Back in the spring and summer we had some orphaned Common Tern fledglings in care. Like most birds, terns need water to help recuperate in. Swimming and bathing are natural ways for them to clean their feathers, remove parasites, and to prepare for preening. After bathing, terns will "preen" their feathers, which involves spreading natural oils from a gland near their tail all over them, which helps to keep their feathers zipped together and waterproof. When feathers are properly preened, they will also trap air close to the body and help the bird stay warm (or cool, depending on the weather). Bathing is not just about hygiene, it’s also a stress-relieving behavior. They enjoy it! Being able to wash and play in water helps them recover both emotionally and physically. ____________________________________________________________________ Our friends at Propeller Brewing Company have generously offered to donate proceeds from every 6-pack of Propellers Black Bear Dark Lager sold directly to Hope for Wildlife to help us care for injured and orphaned wild animals all across Nova Scotia. They recently came out to visit us to see how we help animals, and they put together this nice video! Thank you, Propeller! ____________________________________________________________________
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