WildHelp update

We're really excited to announce that we just finished the resource (wildlife rescue) sign-up form!

This form is how rescue organizations and other wildlife professionals from around the country will add their contact information to the WildHelp database.

This database is what the WildHelp app searches to find the nearest help for someone who's found an animal in trouble.




We also have a new web site. Click HERE to visit wildhelp.org where you can find out about this life-saving tool that will revolutionize the way people find help for wild animals in distress.

If you're a wildlife professional, navigate to the Register page to get instructions on filling out the form.

If you missed out on supporting this valuable project through its Kickstarter pledge drive, it's not too late!

You can support the development of the WildHelp App with a tax-deductible contribution, HERE.

Do you have excellent phone or data entry skills? Consider helping us build the resource database by volunteering your time. Contact Rebecca Dmytryk at rebecca@wildlifeservices.org for information.

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Rescue of a striped skunk

This morning we received a call through the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter about a skunk at a high school. A Watsonville Police officer was on scene.

The skunk was trapped in a narrow cement channel alongside a classroom - it had been there since Monday. 

Skunks are skilled excavators, but they don't climb well, not even short vertical walls. Without food and shelter, a trapped animal won't last long.





This particular skunk had been entrapped since Sunday night, so it'd been without food and water and exposed to the elements for at least one full day. To make matters worse, a few students were seen throwing rocks at it.

One student, though, a 9th grader, had the courage to try and save the poor animal. 

Earlier this morning, Luis and his friend Andrew tried to give the skunk a lift out of the channel, unfortunately though, during the process the skunk sprayed, thwarting their good deed.

WES was called to assist. Check out the video of its rescue below:

The skunk was taken back to WES headquarters, just a few miles away, and provided a warm, dark safe place to rest. It was offered a platter of scrambled egg, sliced apple, a mouse, a dollop of yogurt and some water. 

At dusk, the skunk, looking very bright and alert, was transported home, near where it was found. Luis was invited to participate.

To honor his extraordinary efforts to save the skunk, we allowed Luis to free the skunk. Once the door was open, everyone stood back, quiet and motionless as the crate was tipped. Skunks have very poor eyesight and will walk right by you if you're still.

Once the skunk was out of the crate, it took off, galloping passed Luis, across the parking lot and into a large open field adjacent the school. 

Before leaving, our team took the opportunity to share some information about skunks with Luis, like, that skunks are omnivores, feeding on rodents, invertebrates, fruits and vegetables, and insects. In the Native American practice of "animal medicine" - the awareness a particular animal can bring to one's consciousness, the skunk symbolizes self respect.

From Medicine Cards

Once again, a huge THANK YOU! to Luis for his compassion and courage! 

Thank you for caring enough to try and help an animal in distress. 

You're a real hero!

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2014 Wildlife SAR Training

Jenni Campbell catches RoboDuck at a class in Malibu. Photo by Bret Hartman.

We've got a couple of dates set for our 2014 Wildlife Search and Rescue Training classes - one in Moss Landing, and the other in Berkeley. Go HERE to register now.

Our one-of-a-kind Wildlife SAR class covers human safety, animal capture strategies and equipment, wildlife handling and restraint techniques, basic wildlife first aid, and an introduction to reuniting and wild-fostering of healthy young. 

This course is recommended for animal control officers, park rangers, game wardens, and anyone interested in rescuing wildlife.

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Highway Crossings

By Rebecca Dmytryk

39M, the young male mountain lion that wandered into downtown Santa Cruz earlier this year (link to our original story), is dead. 

He was struck and killed by a car on Highway 17 on October 31st. 

Please read more about 39M - his documented travels over the last 5 months, and about what's being done locally to improve highway crossings, HERE.

Urban development results in fragmentation of wildlands. Wildlife is forced into "island" habitats where natural and necessary migration between populations comes with great risk. 

Highway deaths and other human-caused mortalities have a tremendous impact on the overall health of wild populations. Maybe more than you might imagine.

It's not, simply, the loss of individuals, it's how they are taken out - indiscriminately. This goes against nature - against the natural law and order of things - survival of the fittest. 

Case in point: An adult male mountain lion - a proven survivor - was migrating into new territory, bringing valuable genetic material to the isolated Santa Monica Mountain's population. He was killed October 6th in his attempt to cross Highway 101.

Please read more about the lions of Southern California and what's being done there to reduce highway casualties, HERE.

Check out these two recommended reads on the subject:

The Spine of the Continent

Safe Passages

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WildHelp App update

By Rebecca Dmytryk

The WildHelp App pledge drive on Kickstarter (HERE) is just a few days from ending.

The good news is, thanks to our backers, we reached our initial goal amount of $10,000.00. 

That means (under Kickstarter rules), that in about 2 weeks we'll receive the funds, which is currently just over $13K.

As many of you know, the cost to build the WildHelp App and have it ready by Spring 2014 is close to $32K. Here's a breakdown:

Programming: $14,000.00

Research and data entry: $11,000.00

Development: $3,000.00

Kickstarter fees (based on 20K): $2,000.00

Rewards and shipping: $1,800.00

So far, we've received about $8,500.00 in donations toward the development of WildHelp, plus our pledged support on Kickstarter, which leaves us, about $9,000.00 shy.

Please, please, please back the project on Kickstarter, HERE, if you haven't already, or mail a tax-deductible donation exclusively for WildHelp to:

Wildlife Emergency Services

Box 65, Moss Landing CA 95039

More good news: We'll be beta testing the iOS version in a few days - that's really exciting! Then our development team will put the final touches on it before submitting it to Apple for review.

A HUGE Thank You! to our supporters!

Together, we're going to make this happen!

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Cougar cub

According to reports by residents of a neighborhood near Alum Rock, an adult mountain lion was observed crossing Mt. Hamilton from Ridgeview Way at about 6:30 in the morning on October 4th. That weekend, residents found a half-eaten deer and the remains of a domestic cat. Allegedly, on October 9th, a cub was a seen in a backyard off Enchanto Vista.

Not far from there, on October 15th, a cub was found huddled at the base of a rock wall in a residential yard. The homeowner reached out to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley (WCSV) for help. Wildlife Emergency Services (WES) was contacted for assistance. 

WCSV and WES collaborate on rescues quite often, with WCSV being the hospital and WES providing assistance with capture and transport, but mountain lions require special authorization by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Mountain lions in California are a “specially protected” species and may not be taken, possessed or transported except under specific circumstances.  New legislation (Senate Bill 132) makes it easier for the Department to collaborate with outside sources, giving it the authority to work with qualified individuals or organizations.

After speaking with the reporting party, WES notified CDFW. 

A warden was on scene quickly, but the cat was gone. 

On October 17th, about a half-mile away, residents reported hearing a loud, frightening growl outside their home one night. 

Two days later, in the morning, the family's dogs started barking at something outside. They checked to see what they were barking at, and found a small, frail-looking lion cub, too weak to escape over a three-foot retaining wall.

Family members used a folding dog pen to confine the cub, then alerted the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley.

Wardens responded to find the cub still in the dog pen. They transferred it to a carrier and transported it to WCSV .

Photo courtesy of WCSV.

The young lion, estimated to be about 3 months old, was given a thorough examination. The cub was found to be severely dehydrated, anemic, and emaciated, weighing only 5 pounds. It was started on supportive care.

By Monday morning, the little lion was looking much better. It was transferred to the CDFW Wildlife Investigations Lab, outside of Sacramento, a few days later.

This recent mountain lion rescue is an excellent example of collaboration between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and local wildlife rescue organizations, resulting in a speedy and proficient response to an orphaned mountain lion cub.

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Another skunk stuck in a fence...

Fattened up for winter, an adult skunk managed to get only its front half through a welded wire fence before getting stuck at the hips. 

On scene, responders found the skunk barely responsive - eyes open "staring into space" - in shock. It had probably struggled through the night.

Wild animals can experience something called exertional or capture myopathy. Its cause and treatment is described very well, HERE.

Responders acted quickly. It took only one snip to free it, but the animal was in serious condition.

Its limp body was pulled from the fence and placed inside a shaded carrier. Using a syringe, rescuers offered the skunk a cold electrolyte solution, but it needed more.

The skunk was delivered to skunk expert, Monique, for further treatment.

Amazingly, that afternoon, the skunk recovered from its ordeal enough to stand and threat-display. After a full day of rest, it could be released.

Check out the video of its rescue:

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