After catching a movie in Town Center, you head back to your car, chatting with friends and family about the film you just watched. Conversation comes to a halt, however, when the shrill scream of a wild animal cuts through the night air in EDH. You look up to see a magnificent creature dive off the top of the theater, its massive wingspan radiating with the moonlight. This is one of your neighbors, one of two mating barn owls who have taken on the duty of keeping the pests of Town Center at bay.
This past spring, this pair blessed our community with a clutch of three babies. Unfortunately, as is common for birds that nest in residential areas, all three fell out of the nest prior to fledging. Thanks to the team at Sierra Wildlife Rescue (SWR) and the citizens who rescued them, all three of these young owls have returned to their home in the wild, with the ability to stop by and visit Mom and Dad whenever they choose.
Sierra Wildlife Rescue is a regional wildlife rehabilitation group serving El Dorado County as the main contact for its wildlife rescues. Located in Diamond Springs, this organization, established in 1992 and permitted by federal and state fish and wildlife departments, helps our community through education, as well as the rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned native species.
Sierra Wildlife Rescue president Debbie Buckles says the organization keeps an animal’s best interest in mind, first and foremost. For example, while release is always the primary goal, if it’s not possible due to an animal’s inability to thrive in the wild, ambassadorship is another route that can be taken. This provides a rescued creature an excellent life teaching people about habitat protection and native species. Currently, six ambassadors lead the education team, including Raspberry the Ringtail and Whisper the California Spotted Owl.
While the majority of the intakes to the center are birds, many other species come through the doors as well. Raccoons, opossum, foxes, bobcats, and the elusive ringtails are admitted and treated by the specialized teams of SWR. Currently, the only species not accepted are bears, adult deer, bald eagles, and mountain lions, due to permit requirements. These animals can still be cared for through the help of sister organizations; the team at SWR can provide contacts and connections.
If you are looking for a way to show your love of local wildlife, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved with Sierra Wildlife Rescue. Help is always needed, whether it be by making a donation, feeding baby birds, building habitats or flight cages, becoming part of a rescue team, or providing a portion of your property for rehab and release. Currently, there is a need for a new place for fawns in the southwest portion of the county, which includes EDH. Head to the website (sierrawildliferescue.org) or Facebook page to get information on becoming a volunteer. New volunteer orientation takes place in early February, with educational classes beginning shortly thereafter.
What to do when you think an animal needs help:
Observe
Not every baby animal found on the ground is abandoned or injured. Some animals spend a lot of their time on the ground, and their mother may be nearby. Wait and watch the animal at a comfortable distance for 15 minutes to see if the mother returns before disturbing. Exceptions to this would be if there are obvious injuries, their eyes have yet to open up, or they are in immediate danger such as being on a road.
Contact
Call SWR to speak to a technician. A team of trained professionals will ask you questions regarding the species, injuries, and any other details that will help them guide you through what to do. Make sure to keep in mind any details about the location, as releases are coordinated to try and get each individual back where they came from.
Capture
A sick or injured baby animal will normally be quite docile and easy to corral, while adults can be a lot more difficult. If instructions have been given by the technician, follow those, but for general practice a cardboard box and a blanket work very well as a capture and transport method.
Transport
Never try to take care of an animal on your own as there are many medicine-requiring ailments that can be spotted and treated by the team. If you do have to keep them overnight, make sure that they are in a warm, dark, and quiet space. Do not give any food or water to the animal, unless specifically instructed by a technician. When you can transport the animal safely to SWR, continue to keep it warm by turning on your seat warmer or keeping air-conditioning to a minimum.
Love your furry and feathered neighbors, and get involved today!
President: Debbie Buckles
sierrawildliferescue.org/volunteer
facebook.com/SierraWildlifeRescue
Baby Bird Nursery: 777 Pleasant Valley Rd, Diamond Springs, CA 95619
24/7 Wildlife Helpline: 530-621-4661
SWR Center / Baby Bird Nursery (May through early August) 530-621-2020
Contact us with any questions regarding local wildlife, or if you want to get involved as a member of Sierra Wildlife Rescue!
Preserving the wildlife of El Dorado County through public education & the rescue, rehabilitation & release of injured & orphaned wild animals.