Recently in Wild animals Category

Although this blog is mainly about domesticated pets I occasionally write about wildlife issues. Today a friend and I encountered something that we never experienced before. As we were walking across the street we came across a sick/injured crow. Normally such birds will fly away but something was not at all right with this bird. It just sat there, spanned its wings in and out and had what seemed like a seizure to me. So we decided that we should try and call a local wildlife rescue.

In my research I came across a local organization called Valley Wildlife Care. When thinking of wildlife refuges I think of extremely remote places but this group is in the Valley and serves the Valley and beyond. Volunteers at this non-profit organization rescue wild birds, cats, coyotes, deer, rabbits...every wild thing you could imagine. And they're very efficient too. Someone called me back within minutes and gave me information on a specific person who deals with crows. Unfortunately it was too late in my case. By the time I came back to the crow with a box it was dead. But at least I tried. I don't think it would have survived though. Something was really wrong with it.

But now I know what to do and who to contact if another event like this arises. To contact the organization call Brenda Varvarigos at: (818) 346-8247 or email her at valleywildlife@aim.com. She or another volunteer can answer any questions you might have. And of course you should visit their website (yeah I know the website is posted twice but I really want you to get the information...even if that means having two chances to click the same website).

I also came across a plethora of information on how to handle injured/sick wild animals. First of all NEVER try to take care of them yourselves. Regular people tend to think that they can help rehabilitate wild animals themselves when they don't have the proper knowledge or resources. The best thing to do would be to put them in a box (if you can without getting scratched or bitten), make them as comfortable as you can and get them to a wildlife center or a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Click Here for more animal emergency information. You may also call the California Wildlife Center's emergency hotline at 310-458-WILD(9453). And you can call their animal hospital during the day at (818) 591-9453. For full contact information click here!

I look at wild animals as something that we all should treasure. And being able to see them in their own habitat is really something to behold...especially when they come up so close to you that you can actually get a great picture. Man am I glad that I bought a new camera on the trip. When the hubby and I went to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, we came across something that you rarely see...deer up close and personal. Deer usually run away when they see me coming with the camera but not this young buck. Actually there were three bucks but only one would cooperate with the photos. I also came across some beautiful birds and wild rabbits. So...on to the wild ones of Colorado!!

Buck grazing at Garden of the Gods. It's antlers are still growing because they still have the velvet on them. Once the velvet sluffs off the antlers become hard.

Deer crossing the road in Colorado Springs. There were actually three (including a baby Bambi). They were scared of us but of course we immediately slowed down. Thank god it wasn't a very busy road. I zoomed in on this doe crossing the street.

Bambi!!! This little guy/girl was hanging out with it's momma and another doe. He kept jumping across the street too, which caused us to be very cautious. It looked like he separated from his mom but I'm sure they caught up to each other. His mom was very close by.

More Colorado wild ones can be seen here.

There's more photos where that came from on the hubby's camera. You'll be inundated with more Colorado wild ones as soon as those are up.

And there's more to come of Zeus the BIG BLACK GREAT DANE including hilarious video! Zeus may not be a Valley dog but since he is basically part of my family we can just call him an honorary Valley dog...just like Buck the German Shorthair (the hubby's sister's dog) and a few others of which you will eventually see photos and videos.

For now I'm just going to crash. Vacations are wonderful but it's also wonderful to come home and be with my cats!