A Note from our Founder:
Dear Friend of Red Creek Wildlife Center,
As we are deep in the heart of wildlife rehabilitation BABY SEASON, I’m reminded of the incredible impact your dedication has on our mission. Your steadfast support allows us to extend a helping hand to Pennsylvania’s diverse wildlife every single day of the year.
As many of you know, Spring and Summer mark the peak of our center’s activity. While some facilities must close their doors to new intakes due to capacity constraints, Red Creek stands as a beacon of hope, equipped and eager to embrace every animal in need.
Construction of the new building was completed earlier this year, and with the expansion of these facilities, we’re thrilled to announce a significant increase in our capacity. By mid-July, we received almost 3,000 animals for rehabilitation. That is a 25% increase from the same period last year. As I write this, over 660 babies are currently in our care. From baby hawks, falcons, owls, and vultures in the raptor area to the fawns romping and playing in their pre-release enclosure, many species of animals are getting a second chance.
But the work isn’t over. Now that the interior treatment areas are complete, we are working to expand the outdoor enclosures to provide the best care possible. As we continue to refine and expand Red Creek Wildlife Center, we’re filled with gratitude for the progress we’ve made and the challenges we’ve overcome.
As we embark on this journey together, I extend my heartfelt wishes for you to have a safe and fulfilling summer ahead. Thank you for being a huge part of that journey. ~~Peggy
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Taking a look inside – Literally
I’ve often wished for two things when an animal arrives: for it to be able to tell me what happened and to take a look inside for problems not evident in a physical exam. No, I still can’t talk to animals, but because of a generous donation from the Muller family and the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad, we can now take that look inside immediately after an animal comes to us. This spring, Red Creek was gifted with a new veterinary x-ray machine, allowing us to x-ray any animal, from the tiniest songbirds to fawns and coyotes.
We’ve had the benefit of X-rays in the past through our veterinarians at Radnor Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Len Donato, the practice’s owner, is a wildlife enthusiast who donates his time and services to any wild patient who needs care. However, each visit involves over a three-hour round trip to his hospital, which is time-consuming for our staff and very stressful for the animal. Sometimes, animals had to wait for an open appointment and for us to be able to make the trip, and many animals needed multiple appointments to monitor their progress.
That has changed with the arrival of our own X-ray equipment. We no longer need to rely solely on an external physical exam. We can now examine the animal inside at any time and as often as needed.
Our first patient to benefit from the new equipment was a snapping turtle. It arrived with a string of heavy fishing line exiting its mouth. We didn’t know how far down the hook was or if multiple hooks and tackle were involved. An X-ray revealed a single hook inside its mouth that was easily removed. It recovered completely and was released soon after.
A baby bald eagle was admitted after its nest blew down in a storm. It had weakness in the legs and couldn’t stand. The eaglet was extremely stressed after the accident and the two-hour car ride to reach us. Another car ride for the evaluation would have only added to the bird’s stress. After a brief calm-down period, the bird was x-rayed, and the pictures were emailed to Dr. Donato. No fractures were seen in the spine, pelvis, or legs. The bird was placed on pain and anti-inflammatory medication, given fluids, and started on nutritional supplements. A few days later, it was standing and getting stronger. After a few more days, the bird fully recovered and was returned to the nesting site, where the parents immediately began caring for it again.
One of Dr. Donato’s specialties is avian orthopedics. He developed a pin and external fixator system that speeds the healing of leg and wing fractures. Following surgery, the bird should be x-rayed at least once a week to monitor healing. This resulted in multiple trips now avoided by monitoring directly from our center.
Many thanks to Andy Muller and Family and the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad for this valuable gift. As Red Creek steps into the future, we continue to grow in offering the very best care for the animals that need us. Maybe one day, I can still learn to talk with the animals so they can tell me their story. But in the meantime, we have the diagnostic tools needed to discover that story inside and out.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Requires Creative Thinking
Staff had to be a little creative to repair the cracked shell right behind this snapping turtle’s head without getting bitten! Now, with the fracture secured, he will be able to rest and recover comfortably.
The majority of turtles we receive are due to vehicle accidents. If you see a turtle crossing the road, safely help it across in the direction it is headed. If you notice it is injured in any way, contact your local rehabilitator as soon as possible! And if you are driving, try to slow down and keep a watchful eye out for turtles this summer.
A Remarkable Rehabilitation Story of a Horned Lark
At Red Creek Wildlife Center, we’ve seen countless species pass through our doors, each with their unique stories and challenges. This year, we had the extraordinary experience of rehabilitating a horned lark, a species we had not received in over a decade. This male horned lark arrived on February 17, 2024, marking only the second time in 33 years that we’ve had one in our care.
The horned lark came to us with a head injury and a broken left clavicle (shoulder blade), likely due to a window strike or an encounter with a vehicle. The initial examination revealed something fascinating: their distinctive long hallux (a long, straight claw on its hind toe), known as a larkspur. This was a new fact for many of our staff members, sparking curiosity and further research into the species.
From the start, it was clear that this bird was special. His head injury diminished his fear response, making him unusually docile and highly food-motivated. To minimize stress and handling, we developed a routine that catered to his preferences. Each day, we placed his food outside the enclosure, allowing him to hop out, eat, and then return to his freshly cleaned and disinfected home.
This routine continued for several days. The lark’s daily ritual of hopping out to eat and then returning to his enclosure played a crucial role in his recovery. Handling him as little as possible proved beneficial, providing him with the environment needed to heal both physically and mentally.
Within two weeks, we noticed a change in his behavior. He became spunkier and restless, and was less willing to eat in front of us, a positive indication of his recovery. We initiated flight training to build his strength and endurance, carefully monitoring his progress.
By March 1, 2024, the horned lark demonstrated no signs of muscle fatigue and exhibited strong, consistent flight. Confident in his recovery, we released him back into the wild, where he flew off with vigor and vitality.
Each animal we rehabilitate teaches us something new, and this horned lark reminded us of the importance of patience, specialized care, and continuous learning.
We also acknowledge the rarity of this experience. With the last horned lark received in 2011, this case was a unique opportunity for our team. It has enriched our understanding of the species and underscored our mission to provide the best possible care for all wildlife in need.
New Outdoor Bat Flight Enclosure Completed!
Thanks to your generous donations, we are thrilled to announce the completion of our new outdoor flight enclosure designed specifically for bats. This spacious enclosure provides ample room for our bat residents to exercise and hunt insects, helping them prepare for a successful return to the wild. Our first resident of this new bat flight was a female bat who arrived in January, bringing us a delightful surprise.
On a snowy day in January, we received a call about a bat in an office building in Cressona. The bat that had come out of hibernation early and found herself stuck on a lamp inside. Lylee, Red Creek’s program director, extracted the bat and brought it to us.
The adult female bat was slightly dehydrated but otherwise in fair condition. We started her on rehydration therapy and, during her quarantine period, ensured she received vaccinations and deworming treatments. She required hand feeding but soon began to thrive and ate on her own.
By February, she was ready to join four other healthy and vaccinated female bats in our larger indoor flight mesh enclosure, where she could socialize and thrive in a communal environment. The bats formed a tight-knit group, and everything seemed to be going well until April when we noticed she was roosting separately from the other females.
Surprise!
Her change in behavior was completely natural for Big Brown bats because she had given birth to a rigorous male pup! Big Brown Bats typically form maternity roosts away from other bats, and mama bats are very particular about their offspring. It was a rare and exciting event to witness her roosting with her newborn. Despite her initial discomfort, we ensured both mom and baby were healthy through daily health checks.
They were housed in an indoor flight until the completion of our new bat enclosure at the end of June. They became the first inhabitants of this enclosure, where Mama is now teaching her pup how to hunt and forage for insects.
We anticipate a turn around of 15-20 bats this season in the enclosure pre release, from pups to adults
We couldn’t have achieved this without your support. Thank you for helping us provide a safe and enriching environment for these incredible creatures.