The temporary phone number is 850-363-2351.
Home
Meet the Animals
Animal Emergency/Rescue
Our Goal - Release
Location/Directions
FAQ
Partnerships
Project Plans
 
Thank-You To:
Business Support
Members/Volunteers
Kids
Become a Member/Donate
 
You Can Help Animals By:
Animal Sponsorship
Volunteer
Flight Pen Project
Wish List
Project Funding
Gift Shop
 
Upcoming Events
Expansion Vision
Contact Us

 

OUR GOAL - RELEASE

The goal of FWMA is to rehabilitate each animal and release it back to the natural habitat. Over 65% of the animals that come to FWMA are returned to the wild. The releases, such as the ones depicted below, are very heart-warming and rewarding. Next to avoiding the injury in the first place, the release is the FWMA goal for each animal brought to FWMA.

The following photos depict some of the releases. The first two show a pelican in the arms of a volunteer, and the pelican after his return to the Gulf. The second two show a dove preparing to leave the carrier, and the dove getting his first birds-eye view of the territory.

 

In December 2007, Judy Cooke, one of the volunteers, visited FWMA and made the following observations and took associated photos of a rescue process. The rescue ends with a lesson for all of us:

I was at the rehab center today when a Great Horned Owl was brought in. It was an adult male, and was unable to fly. He had been taken to FWMA in hopes that Chris would be able to help him. First he was taken to the med room for a thorough exam. At first, he resisted, but soon he held still and let her examine his wing. He snapped his beak together several times to let her know that, yes, that wing definitely hurts!

 

Continuing the exam, Chris found something very unusual at the tip of his wing. The feathers were all stuck together – making a matted mess.

 

Since he had been unable to fly, we had no idea of how long it had been since he had eaten. Chris decided to try to feed him before examining any further. He wasn’t sure about the food at first, but after a little taste, he decided that it was yummy!

 

After the snack, Chris decided to soak the matted knot on the wing to try and find out what the problem was. She placed the feathers in a cup of warm water – he didn’t seem to mind too much. It didn’t take her long to find the problem – fishing line!

 

This poor guy had probably flown into some fishing line and got hung up. In his fight to get free, he twisted and twisted the line around the feathers. Chris thinks that he probably hung from the line until he broke free, which would explain the way the wing was hanging down. After the feathers were finally freed, it was good to see that there were no broken bones. He stayed in a quiet cage for a couple of days to give the wing a chance to rest, was re-evaluated, and then he went home – yeah!!!

 

This rescue reminds us again that leaving fishing line and other items that birds can get tangled up in like six-pack plastic holders around can cause severe harm, and frequently death. Spread the word!!