SNN (ScrollingNetworkNews) ✿ ✿ Our Mel and Sydney returned to their nesting box with plenty of bonding occurring..but after 2.5 months of Sydney in the box from Dec 2013 to mid Feb 2014, the lack of prey gifts from Mel ( perhaps due to the severe and historic drought underway in California)and they have forgone the nesting process this year as many other raptors ✿ Compared to other owls of similar size, the Barn Owl has a much higher metabolic rate, requiring relatively more food. Pound for pound, Barn Owls consume more rodents – often regarded as pests by humans – than possibly any other creature. ✿ We remind viewers that sometimes owlets may not survive - the parents will dispose of things in "The Owl Way" -viewer discretion is advised, this is nature and the "Owl way". ✿ ~ ✿ “Animals, like us, are living souls. They are not things. They are not objects. Neither are they human. Yet they mourn. They love. They dance. They suffer. They know the peaks and chasms of being.” ― Gary Kowalski, The Souls of Animals ✿ Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius." ~ E.O. Wilson

Friday, November 16, 2012

Red Fox

At the end of Oct the "Wildlife in Need Center" received a Red Fox with Mange. They had been trying to catch him for over a week to treat him and finally with the help of volunteers they were able to.

You can see from this picture taken there is a lot of dead skin piled up on his face from the mange mites, making it hard for him to even see.
He was able to eat on his own and was scheduled for his first bath to begin to remove all the dead skin.

Here is a picture post-bath. He was still waking up from sedation and was very sleepy but you can see the piles of dead skin are off his face. Also his eyes are much clearer and actually able to open!
The Red Fox got what will hopefully be his last bath on Nov 7th, to remove the last of all the built up dead skin on his body. This will help promote healthy fur growth. Aside from a couple bald patches of fur he is doing good, much more alert and an excellent eater!



He will continue to be at the center for a while since he needs to have a full coat before being released.
They were thrilled he is doing so well!