Author | Lightnews

City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · 3d

We have #CommonSnappingTurtle babies! 🐢🥚

Their mom came to us in summer after a vehicle strike in DC. Sadly she didn't survive, but she laid all her eggs!

Now, 36 have hatched and 3 are unhatched. Many were released when the weather was warm enough, but we will need to keep the rest until spring!

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · 29d

🫵 You can help save the world's #birds during #GlobalBirdRescue. Join us to rescue & document birds that have collided with buildings. Visit globalbirdrescue.org

In DC, also report window strikes to [email protected]. Alive? Call us at 202-882-1000 (9-5). After hours, call DCACC 202-888-7387 ext.3

A Black-throated Blue Warbler, a Northern Flicker, and an American Woodcock are shown, as well as an Ovenbird being rescued after colliding with a window. Text reads "It is global bird rescue week! Swipe to learn more"

A deceased bird lays in front of a glass window. Text reads "Reflective windows kill birds."

A window treated with anti-collision markings is shown. Text reads "Make your windows bird-safe. Bird-safe window markings should be: 1. On the outside of the window. 2. Covering the entire window. 3. Placed every 2 inches. 4. Easily visible on the glass. 5. Larger than 6mm in diameter.

A live window strike victim sits on the sidewalk. Text reads: "How to spot an injured bird. If the bird: 1. Allows you to pick it up. 2. Cannot stand. 3. Is not using both feet. 4. Is squinting or shutting both eyes. 5. Has open-mouthed or heavy breathing. 6. Has puffed up feathers, or tucks its head under its wings. It needs to be taken to a licensed Wildlife Rehab immediately to be treated."

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 23

She will need to stay with us until spring when her species returns. Being in captivity so long is a stressful ordeal.

So far she's got a good appetite, so we're hopeful that she'll do well. But this should never have happened in the first place.

Stop using glue traps! 💔i

A common yellowthroat is held with her wing out at a different angle, showing again how her feathers have been destroyed.

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 23

Glue traps are indiscriminate & inhumane!

This #CommonYellowthroat was southbound when she spotted a buffet of bugs. Little did she know that beneath was a deadly trap.

Several of her primary feathers & her tail are destroyed.

She will not be able to complete migration. 💔

#birds #nature

A Common Yellowthroat is held displaying that several primary/flight feathers on one wing and her tail have been destroyed by a glue trap.

A Common Yellowthroat is in hand. Her feet have glue and debris stuck to them.

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 20

Support migratory birds with these simple actions, and what to do if you find a window strike victim, dead or alive.

#birds

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 20

🚨 Peak migration is here! 🚨 Many more high traffic nights, and sadly window strikes, are on the horizon.

Migrating #birds face perilous journeys due to threats like:
🌃 Window/building collisions
💡 Light pollution
🐱 Domestic animals
🌱 Habitat loss & food scarcity

Read on for how you can help👇

An infographic shows multiple window strike victims admitted to City Wildlife. Text reads "Peak migration September 22 to October 15. 1,093,700 birds crossed the District of Columbia last night between Friday Sep 19 at 7:10pm and Saturday Sep 20 at 6:50am. Lights Out DC!"

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 20

Thank you so much for your support! 🙏❤️ It means the world to us, and to our patients who we keep our doors open for 365 days a year.

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 19

Stay tuned for plenty more squirrel shenanigans. Our clinic will be pretty nuts 👀 for a while longer! ❤️

A baby squirrel curiously peeks out from under a blanket.

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 19

A few groups have already graduated from hand-feeding, now focused on honing survival skills before release back to the wild. 🌳

A juvenile squirrel peeks out from magnolia branches.

A juvenile squirrel sits atop a nest box, which they will be soft-released into the wild from once fit for survival.

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 19

These little gluttons keep us on our toes, requiring syringe-feedings of formula as often as every two hours! At the same time, many of these babies are becoming more squirrely and independent by the day.

A baby squirrel lays on their belly while they are syringe-fed a specialized formula.

A baby squirrel peeks out of a glovebox while they are syringe-fed a specialized formula.

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 19

Check out this post on how you can best help a baby squirrel found out of the nest-- one key takeway is to never give infant wildlife any food or water bsky.app/profile/dcci...

City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Aug 17

It's #babysquirrel season! 🐿️❤️ Our incubators are already filling up with infant squirrels who are injured, orphaned, or could not be reunited with their mothers.

Luckily, most squirrels out of the nest too early CAN & SHOULD be reunited with mom through re-nesting. Read on🧵

#nature #squirrels

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 19

The majority are true orphans, found alone, thin, & often burdened by parasites. 🪰 Others are caught by domestic animals or injured in a rough fall from the nest. 🤕 Ocassionally they're also unecessarily taken & fed by well-intentioned, but misinformed, people.

An eyes-closed baby squirrel is curled up. Multiple ant bites are visible on their body.

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 19

We are deep into squirrel season with nearly 50 #EasternGraySquirrel babies currently in care. 🐿️💚

Read this thread for more about these squirrely patients... cute pictures included! 👇

#babysquirrel #squirrelsky #washdc #nature

An eyes-closed baby squirrel has a stethoscope on their chest to listen to their heart and lungs.

A juvenile black squirrel sits on a branch eating a sweet potato.

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 11

Remember this #EasternBoxTurtle? After 396 days in care recovering from a vehicle strike, she's back in the wild!

As an IUCN Vulnerable species (high risk of extinction in the wild), every individual counts greatly. Turtles will soon be on move to find overwintering spots! Please drive cautiously.

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 6

Thank you!! We've got to get on top of adding alt text! Everyone deserves access to wildlife! 🙏❤️

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 6

Worldwide vulture numbers have declined by >90% due to threats like poisoning, illegal killing, electrocutions or collisions with power lines, and more. 💔 Without vultures, pathogens build up in our environment and proliferate dangerous diseases. 😷

Thank your local vultures!

#birds

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 6

Vulture facts:
❤️ One vulture can eat >100lbs of carrion annually!
🖤 Vulture stomach acid destroys viruses, including rabies!
❤️ There are 23 vulture species worldwide.
🖤 Some studies suggest that Turkey Vultures can smell carrion up to 5 miles away!

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 6

It's #InternationalVultureAwarenessDay!

The DC has 2 species-- Turkey Vultures & Black Vultures.

As one of nature's most impressive janitors, #vultures prevent the spread of disease by efficiently consuming carcasses that could otherwise breed pathogens. 🦠

Read on!👇

#birds

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 2

We talk a lot about making windows safer during migration. But this is a threat to birds year-round! You can prevent window strikes:

If you live or work in a building that causes window strikes, SPEAK UP! 🗣️ Reach out to [email protected] if you need advice. 💚

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 2

After a few days of treatment, he bounced back wonderfully. A final flight test confirmed that he was ready to go home! He was released at a nearby waterfront park, perfect hunting grounds for these skilled fishers! 🌊

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 2

On admission, the kingfisher was lethargic and unable to stand or fly. He also had trouble balancing. It was clear he had serious head trauma.

We started him on medications, fluids, and oxygen support. We also assist-fed him fish since he was too weak to eat on his own. 🐟

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Sep 2

Windows aren't just a threat for migrating birds! 🤕

This #BeltedKingfisher was found unable to fly on the sidewalk outside of a medical center with a glass facade in Washington DC. There's little doubt he struck one of its highly reflective surfaces. 💔

#kingfisher #birds

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Aug 31

💫 Know what to do if you find a window strike victim, dead or alive.
💫 Prevent window strikes with the tips on the last slide.

Together we can help ensure that these tiny travelers make it to their overwintering grounds safely. ❤️

#fallmigration #migration #birds #fall #animalrescue #urbanwildlife

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Aug 31

🚨 >1 MILLION migrating birds just passed through DC. 🚨 With them comes a surge in window strikes.

>80% of American birds migrate at night. Artificial light distracts & disorients them, luring them to our hazardous cities. 🌃

Learn how YOU can protect these travelers! 🧵👇

#birds #nature #migration

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City Wildlife @dccitywildlife.bsky.social · Aug 29

A much waited update on this #albinosquirrel from late Dec. She was released in early April! 🙏

The District of Columbia has a uniquely high population of albino & leucistic squirrels. We have high hopes that this feisty girl has continued to spread her gorgeous & rare genes! 🐿️🤍

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