Lets talk about lead! This is the third swan in as many days that has come into our hospital with lead poisoning. His blood-lead levels are so high that they actually exceed the testing capacity of our analyzer. In severe cases like this we expect that there has been a primary exposure to a lead object, and most often the source can be found in GI tract. This case was no exception, our team quickly discovered that he had swallowed a fishing tackle setup that included a lead sinker, a leader, and a large hook (pictured on xray). A gastric lavage procedure was performed to remove the lead particles. After the procedure, chelation therapy could be started to remove the lead that had already been absorbed. We hope to see an improvement in this patient very soon! For the full story and to learn more about signs of lead poisoning in wildlife head over to our Facebook page! #leadpoisoning #waterfowl #muteswan #wildlifemedicine #newenglandwildlife #responsiblefishing #trashyourtackle #veterinarymedicine 
This Eastern screech owl got hit hard. She was struck by a car yesterday while crossing a roadway and suffered significant head and eye trauma. She is currently receiving emergency treatment for her injuries which will help stabilize her and keep her comfortable while she is healing. When she is more stable and the swelling and bleeding in the eyes resolve we will be able to perform a more thorough eye exam to fully assess the damage. We will be sure to keep you updated on her recovery! This time of year we see an increase in the number of owls that are hit by cars. This is because it gets darker earlier and now their prime hunting time overlaps with peak commuting hours. They frequently hunt along roadways where the rodent population is high and get struck by vehicles as they fly down to swoop up some prey. Owls are very active this time of year and extend their hunting hours to make up for the extra calories needed to keep warm during these colder months. All of this can spell trouble for our winged friends, but you can help! The best way to help is to refrain from throwing any food items out the widow while you are driving. While it may seem like a good deed, rodents will be drawn to your leftovers and thus attract birds of prey and other animals to high traffic areas. By holding on to that apple core until you get home, you are keeping the doctor away for both you and the owls! #🦉 #makewayforowls #owlsofinstagram #dontlitter #wildlife #wildlifeofinstagram #capecodwildlife #nature #newenglandwildlife #naturelovers #animalslover 
This masked beauty is a cedar waxwing. Cedar waxwings can be found here all year round and their favorite food to eat this time of year are berries! He was brought to our hospital almost a month ago after he was found unable to fly and missing all his tail feathers. These are telltale signs of a possible predator attack. Besides the feather loss he also sustained some soft tissue trauma to his wing. His course of pain meds and antibiotics are now finished and he passed his flight test! He will spend the next week or so strengthening his flight muscles in our outdoor aviary before release. For extra shelter some of our staff have donated their Christmas trees.💚🌲 #cedarwaxwing #birdsofinstagram #passerine #maskedbirds #newenglandwildlife #wildliferehabilitation 
This poor squirrel has been through it! He was brought in on Saturday with his leg caught in an industrial snap trap that was located inside a bait station. He was hanging halfway out of the box and had no way to free his arm. Our team was able to quickly cut away the box and gently free the trapped appendage. An exam revealed that he had broken the bones in his arm and he had one of his toes traumatically amputated by the mechanism. The arm has been splinted and we have given antibiotics, fluids, and pain medication to keep him comfortable. He will receive another vet check this afternoon to determine if surgery is needed to help repair the arm. Send good thoughts his way, and we will keep you posted on his progress. #squirrel #watchoutforwildlife #getwellsoon #willdiferehab #wildlifeofinstagram #newenglandwildlife 
As if 2021 wasn't off to a strange enough start already....we just admitted an entire flock of birds! This Friday we took in 23 Starlings who had all been electrocuted after a transformer they were huddled next to blew in Dartmouth, MA. The birds came in with varying degrees of burns, charred feathers, and orthopedic traumas. Our team got to work methodically triaging each bird, tending to wounds and performing the necessary diagnostics. Sadly a few of the most severely injured had to be humanely euthanized, but we still have 18 in our care. We are happy to report they are all stable and have begun to eat on their own. It will likely be a long recovery for many of them as they will need to regrow their flight feathers in order to survive in the wild. We will continue to provide daily treatments in our clinic until they are healthy enough to move outside to a larger aviary for extended care. Never a dull moment around here! *camera was in the cage for observation to make sure they were all getting along and and that everyone had access to food. Other than being extremely messy, they look great!* #wowthatsalotofbirds #calmdown2021 #wierdstart #electrocuted #recovery #wildlifemedicine #wildliferescue #starling #wildlifeofinstagram #nature #birdsofafeather 
**caution surgical images** What the Mass?! THis Virginia Opossum was admitted to our hospital a few days ago with some minor wounds to her feet. However, during her physical exam our veterinary team found a large mass protruding under her skin near her pouch. Once stabilized she was anesthetized for an exploratory surgery to remove the mass. Fortunately the mass, though large and weighing 155g, was mostly contained in the subcutaneous layer of tissue and did not incorporate any internal organs. Our Vet was able to remove it completely. It is suspected to be a lipoma (fatty lump), however just to be sure we are sending a lab sample out to be evaluated. While under anesthesia we also we performed a quick dental cleaning and removed a couple decayed teeth. A weight has definitely been lifted and she is feeling and eating much better! #virginiaopossum #opossumsofinstagram #wildlifemedicine #newenglandwildlife #surgery #vetmed #science #massremoval 
Our first patients of 2021 have arrived! Both are diamondback terrapins with quite a size difference! Terrapin #1 weighed in at only 3.9 grams, which is about the size of a paper clip, while terrapin #2 was grapefruit sized at 331 grams. Both terrapins were found and brought to us by @massaudubonwellfleetbay They are suffering from cold shock, which is a common reason we see this species this time of year. Diamondback terrapins should be brumating or hibernating however fluctuations in weather temperatures and tide levels force them out of hibernation too soon. Physiologically their bodies are in “sleep mode” which involves slowing metabolism and other bodily functions to reduce energy requirements. When temperatures drop back down to freezing, which these days could happen in a matter of hours, they are stranded out in the open and become hypothermic and lethargic. Our treatment protocol for cold shocked turtles is to warm them up slowly, rehydrate, and provide nutritional support. We also draw some blood from the tail vein (pictured below) to check on the number of red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) in their body. Most terrapins admitted in the winter are anemic, they have very low numbers of RBCs. Turtles actually reduce their RBC production on purpose in the winter so their blood doesn’t clot. This is only a problem for them if they are woken up too quickly. Supportive care is provided while their body begins to increase cell production. Immune function can also be compromised in turtles that are cold shocked and if they have a high number of WBCs that can indicate they have an infection and antibiotics are then added to their treatment. Both terrapins already are showing signs of improvement so we are hopefully they will continue to respond to treatment and be ready for release in the spring! #diamondbackterrapin #threatenedspecies #capecodwildlife #brumation #rescued #turtlesofinstagram #turtlebiology #science 
Flying into the the New Year like..... Wishing everyone a healthy and safe New Years! Thanks to all who helped us make it through 2020. Stay positive, We know there are good things on the horizon! #happynewyear #onwardandupward #2021 #thankyou #grateful #wildlife #mallards #ducksofinstagram #wildlifeaddicts #wildliferehab #newenglandwildlife 
It was a Fowl day in our hospital.....waterfowl that is. We started the morning by releasing two Canada Geese, who were quickly accepted into a small contingent who were overwintering nearby. After a brief introduction they all headed out on the water for a quick meal and to get to know each other better. We hope that they will stay with their new found flockmates throughout the remainder of the season. w the release video in our story! Afterwards we had to wash some ducks who were covered in a mysterious oily substance. The male and female were transferred to our hospital this morning for a dawn-bath and high pressure wash. This careful process helps strip the oils and realigns the hooks and barbuales on the feathers to improve waterproofing and thermoregulation. They will be with us for several more days as they recover and work to redistribute their own natural oil while preening. The process went well and thankfully they only required a single wash with detergent to get the feathers clean. Our initial feather tests were positive and we will move them to the big pool later for an assessment. With a little luck and a lot of preening they should be ready to head back to the wild in no time. #fowl #waterfowl #bathtime #waterproof #feelinggood #🦆 #wildliferescue #oiledbird #mystery #animalsofinstagram #cuteanimals #naturelovers #animalrescue #newenglandwildlife #wildlifeofinstagram #wildliferehab #wildlifevet