Earth Share of Washington

Candlelight vigil offers vision for restoring endangered salmon

On October 17, Earth Ministry, Save Our Wild Salmon, Sierra Club, and the National Wildlife Federation hosted a Vigil for Endangered Salmon at St. John United Lutheran Church in Seattle. Four leaders in the faith and tribal communities led prayers and offered reflections that address the growing common interest of faith-based and conservation communities to be stewards of the earth and to protect sustainability of the planet.

Nearly 150 people attended the Salmon Vigil to honor, celebrate, and pray for the endangered wild salmon of the Pacific Northwest. “The fate of these magnificent fish is in our hands,” said LeeAnne Beres, Executive Director of Earth Ministry and moderator of the event. “Extinction stops with us. We know in our hearts that salmon are the defining creature of the Northwest. Their beauty, strength, miraculous lifecycle, and totemic presence in Pacific Northwest cultures across time, speak to us, and help define who we are as a people.”

Speakers at the event urged a focus on solutions, encouraging people from both the faith and conservation communities to engage in dialogue, discuss solutions, and work together to meet community needs as the Northwest commits to the work required to restore our endangered salmon runs.

Rev. Carol Jensen, Pastor of St. John United Lutheran, reminded those present that there is an underlying moral obligation to prevent salmon from extinction: “As people of faith who find a part of our own identity in the biblical story of creation, the moral imperative to preserve and protect the salmon in this place flows from our shared creatureliness – from our being part of the extraordinarily diverse web of life on this planet.”

Elmer Crow, a Nez Perce Tribal Elder, shared stories of seeing salmon at Celilo Falls in his childhood, now underwater due to The Dalles Dam. He spoke passionately about how salmon have provided inspiration, nourishment, and support to the Nez Perce for centuries, and the immeasurable sense of loss his people have felt as salmon runs have declined precipitously.

Rev. Rich Lang, Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, spoke about consciousness raising and bold actions of justice. “We stand at a crossroads, in a stream, quite literally, alongside struggling salmon,” Lang said, “and restoring health to our rivers and abundance to our salmon will require that we change our behaviors and ways of doing business. Change is hard and will require us to move from a place of conflict and disagreement to one of trust and resolution.”

Following the reflections, those gathered participated in a candle lighting ceremony and a blessing of the waters through which Washington’s threatened salmon migrate, combining water from Redfish Lake, the Snake River, the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers, the Columbia River and Puget Sound. A sister event was held simultaneously in Boise, Idaho, to emphasize that salmon recovery is important to all residents of the Northwest.

Posted in the November 2006 Earth Page

Come Bark in the Park and get wild for wildlife!

Meet hundreds of dogs and thousands of people at Seattle’s Sandpoint Magnuson Park for the 15th Annual PAWSwalk on Saturday, September 9, 2006 presented by 98.9 Smooth Jazz KWJZ and Pacific Ridge Homes. PAWSwalk raises funds for all of PAWS work including that of Earth Share of Washington member PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

Registering online for PAWSwalk is fast, easy, and guaranteed to make your fundraising more fun and successful. When you register, a personal Web page will be created and you’ll be able to send e-mails asking your friends and family for donations at the click of a button.

Gather your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to form a team to raise money for animals in need. And remember you don’t have to have a canine pal to pull you along - you can walk in honor of your favorite wild animal. After the healthy 5K walk, enjoy animal-friendly shopping, refreshments, tips on coexisting with wildlife, canine agility demonstrations, and our expanded Kid’s Zone. Don’t delay, join in the fun and register for PAWSwalk online or by calling 425-787-2500.

Posted in the August 2006 Earth Page

Have Wildlife Questions? PAWS Has Answers!

- By Kevin Mack from ESW organization PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Over the past few weeks you have likely noticed a change in the behavior of the wild animals on your property. Birds are singing and gathering nesting materials. Squirrels are chasing each other and peeling thin strips of bark off of trees. You may have been woken up in the night by snarling raccoons or the pitter-patter of little feet in your attic. The spring breeding season has arrived, and many species of wildlife are making the necessary preparations to bring the next generation into the world.

In the coming days, weeks and months, you may have a direct interaction with breeding wildlife. If there is access available, it’s possible that an animal will take up residence in your attic or crawlspace. A bird may decide to build its nest near, on or in your house. You may come across a young animal and wonder if it is in need of help. The breeding season can be a trying time for both wildlife and their human neighbors alike, but whenever an issue arises help is only a phone call or a mouse click away.

PAWS offers a variety of resources online at www.paws.org. Are you having a conflict with Raccoons? Some other species? Click on the wildlife tab and check out the “Resources and Fact Sheets” section. It contains detailed information on a variety of common species that people encounter. Have you found an injured or orphaned wild animal? Click on the “Injured/Orphaned Wildlife” tab to determine how to proceed.

If you don’t find what you are looking for on the website, don’t hesitate to call the PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center directly at 425-787-2500 ext. 817. Our experienced staff members can offer valuable advice on just about any wildlife issue that may arise. They will be happy to help you find the most effective and humane solution for your particular situation.

Summer hours for the PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, beginning in April, are from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week. If you have a wildlife related issue or question, we would love to help in any way that we are able. Stop by the website or give us a call!

Posted in the May 2006 Earth Page

PAWS Wildlife Center: A Unique Volunteer Experience

- By Rebecca Mandell, Wildlife Volunteer Program Manager

As the days get longer and the temperatures get milder, chances are you are spending more time outside enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, you have probably begun to notice the birds singing more and collecting extra nesting materials. You may have witnessed small mammals acting oddly, such as pairs of squirrels chasing each other around tree trunks. Perhaps you’ve seen birds on the move, as migrating species return home from the south and species that winter in the northwest leave for the journey back to the artic. All of these are signs that spring is near and baby animals are on the way.

With both people and animals on the go at this time of year, PAWS Wildlife Center knows that human-wildlife conflicts are bound to ensue. What does that mean for PAWS? It is time to gear up for thousands of sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals that will inevitably come our way for care. What does that mean for you? There are tons of ways that you can get involved and support the rehabilitation of wild animals at PAWS!

The process of rehabilitating these animals and ultimately releasing them back into the wild requires a great deal of teamwork. PAWS Wildlife Center relies on the dedication and commitment of more than 250 volunteers to carry out our mission. Volunteers contribute in a variety of ways. Some commit to working a set, four to five hour shift each week. Others that have a more limiting schedule may volunteer for just one day to help with a special project. Regardless of how much time they are able to contribute, PAWS Wildlife volunteers know that they are helping give wild animals a second chance at life.

For volunteers who want to develop their skills and learn a great deal about the huge diversity of wild species in Washington, a committed weekly position is the perfect fit and we have several unique options from which to choose. Each of these positions is integral to the successful operations of PAWS Wildlife Center, and requires training, commitment, and hard work. Wildlife Care Assistants help the Wildlife Rehabilitators with cage set-up and cleaning, making food for the animals, and hand-feeding baby mammals. They have the opportunity to learn about animal husbandry, behavior, and basic medical skills — and may ultimately choose to pursue a license in wildlife rehabilitation. Bird Nursery Caretakers are dedicated to feeding, cleaning, and caring for the hundreds of baby, orphaned songbirds that come to PAWS every summer. This is the perfect position for bird lovers, who get to work with a wide variety of native Washington songbirds and watch them go through every stage of development—from hatchling to nestling to fledgling—and ultimately get to see the grown birds fly free in the wild! Facility Caretaker Assistants develop their construction and landscaping skills, helping PAWS staff members maintain and improve caging options in order to provide the best possible care for our wild patients. Transport Team Members serve as our wildlife ambulance network, transporting wild patients from Seattle Animal Control to PAWS Wildlife Center for care.

In return for their hard work, volunteers are given the opportunity to learn new skills in wildlife rehabilitation and attend optional educational programs, like presentations by local wildlife experts and guided field trips. Committed volunteers are also given the opportunity to help with the final step of the rehabilitation process: the release. Imagine the satisfaction in witnessing a once-ailing animal run, fly, or swim back to a wild life.

The rewards of working with wildlife are tremendous, as one volunteer explains: “I don’t feel like my hands are completely tied when I see a dead animal alongside the road anymore, or when I see a habitat being cleared for a new building. At least I’m able to reverse some of the damage we inflict on our wild neighbors by volunteering at PAWS. And beyond the direct work I do on my volunteer shift, the knowledge that I’m always gaining through my work at PAWS equips me to better educate friends and acquaintances in a non-invasive way when the discussion turns toward wildlife…”

If you are looking for an opportunity to give back to the natural world and learn more about Washington wildlife, you can read more about PAWS and see a complete listing of volunteer opportunities at www.paws.org. If you would like a volunteer information packet mailed your way, call the Volunteer Info Line at (425) 787-2500 ×838. Don’t forget to share this unique volunteer opportunity with your friends and family members. And whatever you do… enjoy the spring season!

Posted in the March 2006 Earth Page

Storm Victims Find Help at PAWS

- Submitted by Kevin Mack from ESW organization PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

2006 started off with a bang at the PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center as 57 Western Grebes and one Clark’s Grebe arrived from Ocean Shores. Thin and weak, the grebes had been tossed up on the shore by heavy, wind-driven surf. Grebes’ legs are specialized for swimming, but they do not work well for standing or walking on land. Once the birds are on the beach, they have extreme difficulty getting back into the water. They also become soiled by sand and dirt, which compromises the waterproofing of their feathers. Even if they do make it back into the water, the birds may return to the beach to avoid hypothermia or drowning. Without help, many slowly starve to death.

At PAWS, the grebes receive very specialized care. Each bird is given a full physical examination and treated for any wounds or injuries. The birds are tube-fed a rehydrating solution and slowly introduced to a richer liquid diet over the course of a few days. They are tube-fed as many as seven times per day during their treatment. PAWS houses the birds in special net-bottomed pens that help prevent them from developing pressure sores when they are out of the water. They are also placed in pools regularly to allow them to preen sand and other debris from their feathers. In the pools, the grebes are offered as much fish as they will eat. Over time, and with a lot of preening, the grebes are able to restore their own waterproofing. If they are having difficulty, the birds are washed to speed up the process.

Once they are entirely waterproof, the grebes stay in water pools around the clock. Their tube feedings may be decreased as they begin to eat more fish on their own. Once they have regained both their health and their strength, they are ready for release. For a species whose population has decreased by as much as 90 percent or more in recent years, every individual that can be returned to the wild is extremely important. It is very possible that the birds that entered PAWS care in January will have been released by the time you read this!

PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is located in Lynnwood, WA (see www.paws.org).

Posted in the February 2006 Earth Page

Stories of a Wildlife Rescue - "Follow the Leader?"

- By Kevin Mack from Earth Share organization PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

On October 18th, five large wooden boxes stood side-by-side in a field. The only sounds that could be heard came from a cacophony of gulls and crows arguing over the rights to spawned-out salmon carcasses on the banks of the Green River nearby. The occupant of one of the wooden boxes was restless, and the box rocked noticeably as the animal shifted its weight. PAWS wildlife interns Tamara Hollinger and Lindsey Edwards climbed on top of two of the boxes; PAWS staff member Marnie Tyson climbed on top of a third. Officials from the King County Parks Department took up positions on top of the two remaining boxes. On my signal, the doors to all five boxes slid upward simultaneously. With looks of anxious anticipation on their faces, everyone waited to see what would happen next.

This story began on May 17th, when a small, spotted Black-tailed Deer fawn arrived at PAWS after being found in the middle of the road. She had apparently been hit by a car and had scrapes on her head, neck and mouth. She was joined eight days later on May 25th by a male fawn that had suffered bite wounds on his head and throat during a predator attack. He had somehow survived, but had become separated from his mother in the process. A third fawn arrived on June 2nd after being found alone and hungry in the middle of the road. A fourth fawn, unintentionally orphaned by well-meaning people who were not aware that mother deer leave their young unattended for long periods of time, was brought in by a state fish and wildlife agent on June 14th. A fifth fawn arrived on June 15th, and was treated for a large laceration on the top of his head that had exposed part of his skull.

All five fawns were placed on a formula feeding schedule and began to gain both strength and weight, and with a little help from the PAWS staff, the three injured fawns quickly healed. The fawns had the run of a large, thickly vegetated outdoor pen, and their growth could be monitored by the ever-rising “browse-line” that they created as they munched away at leafy vegetation within their reach. By late summer they had been weaned, and by mid-October the deer were ready to set out on their own.

At the release site, the deer that had been restless in her carrier was the first to exit. She was somewhat stressed from the ordeal of capture and transport, and she was panting as she trotted out into the field. Next, two of the males emerged. They cautiously walked about eight feet before stopping and turning to look at one another. The two deer locked gazes for several seconds as if each was hoping the other could explain exactly what had just happened, and then they moved further out into the field. As they moved away, the third male’s head slowly emerged from his transport box. Still standing in the doorway, he looked back over his shoulder at the humans sitting on the boxes above him. After staring for a few seconds, he turned and walked away. We waited for the final deer to emerge from her transport box. She finally exited, tail first, and then trotted off to join her small herd.

The five deer gathered closely together in the field, sniffing the air, the ground, and each other. Their ears twitched. They seemed to be trying to make a decision. One of the females started to wander off in the direction of the river. The other deer noticed this and must have thought she was on to something. They followed her in a single-file line. After traveling about 30 yards, the lead female stopped and turned around. The four deer that were following her also stopped. The female looked at her followers, and they looked back at her. After a few seconds of indecision, all five deer walked back to the middle of the field.

Back at their starting point, the deer reassessed their surroundings. This time one of the males broke off from the herd and began to move toward a stand of trees in the opposite direction of the river. As before, the other four deer fell into line behind this perceived leader. They followed him for about 50 yards, at which point he stopped and turned around. The followers looked at the leader, and the leader looked at the followers. Eventually, the entire herd continued on toward the trees. There no longer seemed to be an identifiable leader, rather they were moving as a coordinated unit. Noses to the ground, they faded into the tall grass, now following the lead of a scent trail that was beyond my ability to detect.

Posted in the December 2005 Earth Page

Puget Sound Communities Make Wildlife a Priority

- Submitted by Jeanie Boawn of Earth Share organization National Wildlife Federation

Through National Wildlife Federation�s (NWF) Community Wildlife Habitat (CWH) program, communities throughout Puget Sound are coming together, forming habitat teams, and reaching out to others to promote the creation of wildlife habitats in their yards, schools, businesses, churches and community centers, as well as undertake a variety of restoration projects that benefit their neighborhoods and the wildlife that live in them. The CWH is an extension of NWF�s popular Backyard Wildlife Habitat program, which certifies homes and other private or public spaces which provide wildlife with the basic necessities—food (native plants & feeders), water, shelter, and places to raise young.

Three years ago, Tukwila became the first certified Community Wildlife Habitat in Washington, and only the fourth in the nation. Tukwila�s efforts generated a lot of interest, and the following year, Camano Island and Alki (in W. Seattle) registered their communities in the program. In August of this year, Camano Island was officially certified as a CWH, after certifying over 500 homes, three businesses, one school, and several demonstration sites as wildlife habitats in their community. The group plans to continue its work in hopes of preserving the island�s natural and open spaces.

Most recently, Lake Forest Park and Bellingham have registered in the program, with Bainbridge Island not far behind. There are several more communities who have expressed interest and will soon be forming habitat teams and defining their goals.

Gretchen Muller, NWF�s Regional Education Program Manager says, �The Puget Sound region has really taken to this idea, particularly in areas near shorelines, where sustainable gardening practices help wildlife and our region�s water quality. If the program continues to get people as involved as we�ve seen, Puget Sound will become the first eco-region in the nation.�

Posted in the October 2005 Earth Page

School Reunion

- By Naturalist Kevin Mack, from Earth Share organization PAWS Wildlife

At 7:30 pm on August 26th, I was standing in Monroe looking up. A complex ballet was taking place in the sky above me. Hundreds of small, cigar-shaped birds were circling the tall chimney of the nearby Monroe Elementary School. They would periodically disperse and feed above the surrounding parking lot, playground and neighborhood as if they had collectively decided to catch just a few more mosquitoes before calling it a night. The 1,000 or so Vaux�s Swifts that were circling overhead would soon be retiring to the chimney for the evening, but before they did, they would be welcoming eight new members to their flock.

The swifts I was seeing were congregating in the Monroe area in preparation for their fall migration. Swifts roost and nest inside hollow trees. In the absence of a suitable tree, a chimney is often used as a substitute. A swift nest is a shallow cup of small twigs held together by a sticky mass of saliva. Saliva is also used to attach the nest to a vertical surface, be it the inside of a tree or inner wall of a chimney. Occasionally the nest gives way under the weight of the young, and topples to the bottom of the nest cavity. If this happens inside a hollow tree, the young swifts are able to climb back up the tree to a point at which their parents can continue to feed them; however, when a nest falls inside a chimney the young often tumble down into the fireplace where smooth walls prevent them from gaining any foothold. Such was the case with the swifts raised at the PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center this summer.

Six of the swifts that PAWS received were siblings that had been found in a Seattle fireplace. A seventh nestling swift came from an Olympia fireplace, and an eighth came from Snohomish. After spending a few weeks in a darkened cage that simulated the conditions that would be present at their nest sites, the swifts were moved to an outdoor aviary to begin strengthening their flight muscles for release. In the aviary, they began to fly, and their stamina and skill quickly increased. Since swifts are only able feed themselves while in flight, the young birds continued to require regular hand feedings during their entire stay at PAWS. At 6:30 pm on August 26th, a bird nursery caretaker gave them the last meal they would have to eat in captivity. I then placed them in release carriers and headed to Monroe.

In Monroe, wildlife intern Tamara Hollinger and PAWS wildlife director Jennifer Convy opened the carriers to set the swifts free. One by one, the young birds exited the carriers, and as soon as they were airborne they rapidly circled upward to join the congregation of swifts overhead. Within seconds they were absorbed by the flock, and became indistinguishable from the others. We continued to watch, looking at the flock with a much different feeling now that our former charges were a part of it.

Around 8 pm, as the light really began to fade, the swifts began to make tighter and tighter circles around the school. A swift or two periodically dropped down the chimney and out of sight. Soon a steady stream of birds was funneling downward into the dark opening. The large flock began to shrink in size as more and more of the swifts disappeared into their brick sleeping chamber. As quickly as it had started, it was over. The last of the swifts entered the chimney, and the sky was empty. We stood for a few more minutes, excitedly discussing the spectacle that we had just witnessed, and then we headed home.

Posted in the October 2005 Earth Page

Wetland Restoration

- By Kevin Mack, PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Naturalist

On Tuesday, August 2nd, I stood on top of a crushed, empty cardboard box in about 10 inches of water. My hiking boots were already full of water, so the carrier was more to prevent me from sinking into the mud than it was to keep me dry. I thought about the rubber boots I had accidentally left sitting under my desk back at PAWS. I let the thought go and embraced the feeling of standing ankle-deep in a wetland. It certainly gave me a more intimate familiarity with the preferred home of the beings I was about to release.

There was no solid ground on which to set my release carriers, so I held the first one out in front of me and opened it. A Green Heron emerged, and veered off to my right, diving into the cover of a nearby patch of low alders. After getting situated on a branch, he stretched his neck straight up and blended perfectly with his surroundings. Seeing him in his natural environment, it was easy to understand how the work crew that was clearing brush around a Sammamish retention pond on July 5th had overlooked him and his four siblings. Two of his siblings had perished when their nest was destroyed, and the other two now sat in their release carrier waiting to experience the same freedom that their former nest-mate was now enjoying. The three surviving herons had spent the last month at PAWS feasting on smelt, tadpoles, and other heron delicacies. They grew up quickly, and after proving both their flying and foraging skills in a pre-release cage, they were ready to live the wild life they deserve.

I held the second carrier out and opened it. One of the two herons contained within hopped out and perched on the edge of the box. After performing a wobbly balancing act for a second or two, the heron flew off to my left and took cover behind a large Skunk Cabbage. Shortly after she landed, the heron tentatively stretched her neck up to peer at me from behind the thick leaves of the cabbage. Her long neck blended perfectly with the bulrushes and grasses around her. I turned back to the carrier, as there was still one bird that had yet to emerge. He seemed to be having difficulty, so I decided to give him a little help.

The final heron was attempting to fly out of the box, but it was too narrow for him to get any lift. His siblings had both jumped to clear the lip of the carrier, but he seemed less inclined to do so. As I reached in to lift him out, I felt his long toes close around my fingers. In his disorientation, he stayed on my hand for a few seconds after I lifted him out of the box. He peered in the direction of the alder bushes, and after I made an abrupt movement to remind him that he was on an unsafe perch, he flew a path almost identical to that of the first heron that was released. His landing in the alder was not exactly graceful, but he moved effortlessly through the thick brush once he had gained a perch. As he disappeared, his siblings could still be seen standing frozen to my left and right. It was clear that they were nervously awaiting my next move. I�m sure it came as a huge relief to them when I turned, and on squishing shoes walked back out of the wetland the same way I had come in.

At the PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, trained professionals and volunteers rehabilitate sick, injured, and orphaned animals with the goal of returning them to the wild. In addition, PAWS educates the public about peaceful coexistence with wildlife.

Posted in the September 2005 Earth Page

PAWS Enrichment Study

- By Corrie Hines, from ESW organization PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

New this summer at the PAWS Wildlife Center is the creation of the Environmental Enrichment Program. This program is part of a ten-year research project investigating the claims that environmental enrichment speeds recovery time by reducing the stress of captivity.

Wild animals that are kept in captivity experience an enormous amount of stress created by the fear of being attacked by predators and having to live in unnatural surroundings. Unfortunately, stress of this nature weakens the immune system and delays healing. Animals in prolonged captivity often begin exhibiting destructive behaviors, focused either on their cages or on themselves. Concerned about the animals in their care, animal keepers in zoos began creating �toys�, enrichment devices that would stimulate normal wild behaviors. These devices began with items the animals would normally encounter in the wild: natural branches, rotten logs, even scents and sounds that the animals would normally experience in nature. The keepers discovered that if stimulated properly, the animals reverted to natural behaviors and ceased destructive ones. Furthermore, zoo veterinarians began to notice that injured or ill animals that received enrichment seemed to heal more quickly.

The concept of environmental enrichment is fairly new in the world of wildlife rehabilitation. Although rehabilitators across the nation employ environmental enrichment to some degree, no one has ever undertaken a scientifically based project to discover if it is effective as the zoo veterinarians suspected. PAWS has been awarded a grant to fund the first three years of the ten-year enrichment project. The first phase of the project investigates what types of devices crows and raccoons find engaging, and whether age has any bearing upon interest of the animals in various devices. Raccoons and crows were chosen as subjects because of their high level of curiosity about the world around them. Specially trained volunteers offer each cage an enrichment device, retreat behind a visual barrier, and observe the animals� reaction to the device. Every 15 seconds, the volunteer records the actions of the animals in the cage in relation to the enrichment device. After 10 minutes, the observer moves on to the next cage. Approximately an hour later, the volunteer returns to the cages and observes the animals for another 10 minutes to see if the device is still engaging the animals. Even though the project is only 2 months old, �favorites� among the devices are already emerging.

The second phase of the research project will focus on injured adult crows. Adult crows were chosen as the subject species because they seem to engage in destructive behaviors while healing more frequently than other animals. Utilizing the information gathered by volunteers during the first three years of the project, various enrichment methods will be introduced to injured adult crows to see if the devices reduce stress and decrease healing time. This will be measured by analyzing the stress hormones in the crows� fecal material so that stress will not be compounded by observation.

If successful, the enrichment program will be beneficial not only to the animals at the PAWS Wildlife Center, but also to wildlife rehabilitators everywhere. Reduced stress would mean decreased time spent in rehabilitation, and earlier releases of healthy animals back to the wild.

Posted in the August 2005 Earth Page

Spring Tree Cutting May Lead to Orphaned Wildlife

- submitted by Earth Share organization PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

The Puget Sound region is home to a wide array of wildlife species, many of whom make their homes in forests, or in individual trees. Trees and forests provide critical food sources, cover, and nesting sites for many of these wild species. Woodpeckers, cavity nesting owls, squirrels, and bats take advantage of standing dead trees, and a multitude of birds grace the branches of still-living trees with their amazing and varied nests.

As the breeding season is now well underway, the trees in your area are likely teeming with life. Some species began nesting as early as February, and others will be following suit throughout the spring and summer. Please be aware that pruning or cutting down trees during these months can and does displace, harm, or even kill wild animals. PAWS Wildlife Center receives hundreds of baby wild animals each year, many of which have been displaced when their nest tree was cut down or their nest site destroyed.

Before cutting down any tree, whether it is alive or dead, please consider the following information to prevent unnecessary loss of life or habitat:

• Plan tree cutting projects for November through January. This is well outside of the breeding season for most species.
• Inspect the tree for active nests/dens before you begin cutting or pruning.
• If a tree does not present a safety hazard, please consider leaving it alone. Standing dead trees (snags) provide excellent habitat for cavity nesting animals. Please consider letting both live and dead trees on your property remain standing.
• If a tree contains an active nest, you may risk hefty fines if you cut the tree down, or prune the section containing the nest. Many species of birds are federally protected, and laws prohibit the disturbance and/or destruction of their nests.

If a nest-bearing tree absolutely must be cut down, please call PAWS Wildlife at 425-787-2500 ext. 817 to find out how you can minimize the chances that wildlife will be injured in the process. Thank you!

Posted in the April 2005 Earth Page

Agreement Joins Wildlife Watchers and Rural Economies

- submitted by Hilary Hilscher from ESW organization Audubon Washington

By attracting tourist dollars, Washington state�s wildlife may be feathering its own nest for the future under the terms of an historic agreement signed in Olympia this week by four public agencies and a statewide conservation group.

Despite Washington�s abundance of natural assets, the state ranks 46th among the 50 states in spending for tourism promotion. The new memorandum of understanding establishes a cooperative effort to create, enhance and market wildlife watching in Washington state.

�Washington�s legislators are the first in the country to request a plan for Watchable Wildlife,� said Sen. Ken Jacobson. �It�s a visionary approach to rural economic development that also helps achieve wildlife conservation.�

Participating agencies are the departments of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW); Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED); and Transportation (WSDOT), as well as State Parks. Also signing the agreement was Audubon Washington, which together with its local chapters develops and publishes maps of the Great Washington State Birding Trail.

The agreement grew out of the 2003 Washington Legislature�s request for a strategic plan by WDFW, CTED, other state agencies and the private sector to promote Washington�s outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities while helping to maintain wildlife habitat.

�Not only is wildlife watching the fastest-growing form of outdoor recreation in America, it brings in substantial revenues to our state,� said Jeff Koenings, director of WDFW. �Washington has one of the highest percentages of state residents who watch birds and other wildlife.�

Statistics show that 47 percent of Washington�s residents watch wildlife annually, spending more than $979 million and creating 22,000 jobs, primarily in rural counties.

�The primary travelers who watch wildlife are what we call �urban naturalists,�� said CTED Director Juli Wilkerson. �By traveling to all corners of our state, these tourists bring new dollars to our rural economy.�

Audubon Washington�s Great Washington State Birding Trail comprises a series of self-guided driving loops that guide nature tourists to see our 365 species of birds along Scenic Byway routes throughout the state. The birding trail�s first two maps, the Cascade Loop and the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway, were developed jointly by birders and local businesspeople who recognize the growing trend in nature travel.

Five more routes of the birding trail are planned, with two currently under development by Audubon Washington and local chapters in Southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula.

Posted in the March 2005 Earth Page

Volunteering For Wildlife

- by Lauren Glickman, from ESW organization PAWS Wildlife Center

Spring is right around the corner and that means we are gearing up here at the PAWS Wildlife Center. We will soon be receiving hundreds of orphaned and injured wildlife a week. How do we handle this? With a lot of volunteer help.

Volunteering at a wild animal hospital is a unique experience. It’s not for the faint of heart, the weak, or the squeamish. The PAWS Wildlife Center offers a unique opportunity to care for sick, injured or orphaned wild animals with the goal of rehabilitating them and releasing them back to the wild. Why do they do it? They do it to learn about wild animals and to ensure that the injured and orphaned animals that arrive at the facility will be well cared for.

These volunteers work closely with 11 professional staff members to do a wide variety of tasks - some glamorous and some not so glamorous. Laundry and dishes must be done. Infant and young animals are fed throughout daylight hours and solid foods are made for adult and juvenile animals that are eating on their own. Besides caring directly for these wild creatures, volunteers have a unique opportunity to educate community members about coexisting peacefully with wildlife.

There are a variety of positions available. Bird Nursery Caretakers focus on feeding and cleaning the orphaned songbirds we receive while Wildlife Care Assistants do a wide variety of tasks with a wide variety of species. Transport Team Members bring wild animals from Seattle Animal Control to PAWS Wildlife Department. Some volunteers are eligible to participate in the Advanced Skills Workshop after volunteering consistently for six to nine months. This advanced training includes handling large raptors and adult rodents, giving subcutaneous and intramuscular injections to mammals and birds and tube feeding a variety of animals.

The species treated at the PAWS Wildlife Center range from the tiniest hummingbird to the regal bald eagle: from a baby chipmunk to a black bear cub. Many of them are here because they have come into contact with humans. Among other reasons they have been hit by a vehicle, attacked by a cat or dog, been a victim of cruelty or hit a window. It isn’t always pretty. Many of these animals are in pain and this can be a difficult thing to face. It is the strength and compassion of the volunteers who are so willing to get dirty that make this healing work possible. It absolutely couldn’t get done without volunteers.

Does this sound like something that would be a good fit for you? Go to http://www.paws.org/help.vol/ to find out more and fill out a volunteer application. All training is provided and the only requirement is a once-a-week commitment for three or four months depending on the position.

Posted in the March 2005 Earth Page

A Bear of a Winter At PAWS Wildlife Center

- by Naturalist Kevin Mack, from ESW organization PAWS Wildlife

While most bears in Washington State are whiling away the lean months sleeping in a den, three young bear cubs are spending their winter at the PAWS Wildlife Center. Instead of sleeping, they are playing, eating, and honing skills that will be essential to their future survival in the wild.

The first bear, a 60 pound female, arrived at the PAWS Wildlife Center on November 8th. She had been discovered wandering alone near the town of Baring. The second bear, a 21 pound male, was found without his mother in the Cedar Falls Area. He arrived at PAWS on November 29th. The third bear was a 42 pound orphaned female from Monroe. She was observed entering a chicken coop and feeding on the chicken food stored inside. She arrived at PAWS on December 8th. All three bears were brought to PAWS by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Agents.

After an initial quarantine period to ensure that they were disease free, the bears were introduced to one another in a large outdoor enclosure. Housing the bears together will help ensure that they bond with others of their species, and lessen the chance that they will habituate to their human caregivers. In addition, the bears are housed in a limited access area, and see humans only very rarely (usually when they are about to get darted for an exam). The best defense these young bears will have when they return to the wild will be a healthy aversion to humans.

The three cubs will pass the remainder of the winter fattening up for their pending release. If all goes well, and depending on the spring melt, they will be released in May or June with the assistance of the WDFW.

Posted in the February 2005 Earth Page

In Brief: Trumpeter Swams in peril, 1000 Friends becomes Futurewise, Volunteers honor MLK through service

Trumpeter Swans in peril
Over the past 5 winters more than 1,400 Trumpeter Swans have died from lead poisoning after inadvertently swallowing lead shot while feeding in Whatcom County, Washington and the adjacent Sumas Prairie area in British Columbia, Canada. Swan mortalities from lead poisoning have increased in this area in recent years, despite a longstanding ban on the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting in the United States and Canada. Lead shot is still legal for upland birds, target practice and dog training in most areas. Over 400 dead swans were picked up last winter. The mortality has grown to such a magnitude that it is threatening the recovery of the Pacific Coast Population, the continent�s largest population of Trumpeter Swans.

How can you help? ADOPT A SWAN — While the wildlife agencies on both sides of the border are working on the problem, they cannot do it all. Funding is a major problem. The Trumpeter Swan Society is raising funds by asking everyone to sponsor a swan at some level. All of the funds will go toward the project for such things as spotting scopes for volunteers who monitor the swans movements during the winter, to help pay for radio transmitters and data collection, and to fund the effort to necropsy all lead poisoned swans to glean clues from the characteristics of the ingested lead and other digestive tract contents and help pay volunteer mileage expenses. For more information on issue or to Adopt a Swan please contact them at: www.swansociety.org swaninfo@swansociety.org or call 425-787-0258.

1000 Friends of Washington is now Futurewise
On February 1, Earth Share of Washington organization 1000 Friends of Washington changed its name to Futurewise. The name change corresponds with the organization’s 15th anniversary of promoting healthy communities and protecting farmland and forests from the effects of sprawl development. The organization believes that the name Futurewise better evokes its positive vision of the future. And because it is a more unique name (there are over 300 “Friends of” groups in Washington), it will allow the group to build a stronger connection between people and its work over time. Other than the new name, Futurewise remains exactly the same group as it was under 1000 Friends of Washington. The staff, board and organizational mission and bylaws remain unchanged — and work is as important as it ever has been. You can reach Futurewise at its new website at www.futurewise.org.

Volunteers Honor MLK through hands-on environmental service!
On Monday, January 17, 2004, Earth Share organization EarthCorps led 266 youth and adult volunteers in restoring Seattle’s Mount Baker Park, part of Seattle’s nationally renowned Olmsted-designed park and boulevard system. Despite record rain (2.39 inches), this muddy group worked to make Martin Luther King Day a day of action, “A Day On! Not a Day Off.” King County Executive Ron Sims rallied volunteers under a cedar tree during lunch.

Simon, a three-year-old Mount Baker neighborhood resident, observed, “EarthCorps help[s] children, help[s] parks, and help[s] the salmon that swim by Mount Baker Beach.”

MLK Day volunteers contributed 1,000 hours of service that resulted in:

• 30,035 square feet (2/3 of an acre) of ivy removed
• 2,868 square feet of blackberry removed
• 1,265 square feet of cherry laurel removed
• 818 square feet of holly removed
• 9 tree survival rings installed
• 21,773 square feet of woodchips applied

Posted in the February 2005 Earth Page

Bird-friendly Bird Feeding

- submitted by Kevin Mack from ESW organization PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

During the fall and winter months, PAWS Wildlife Center frequently receives phone calls from homeowners who have spotted what appear to be sick songbirds hanging out around their feeders. They describe the bird as looking "puffed up", and generally the animals have been sitting in one place for a long period of time. Often, the callers have seen multiple birds behaving in this way over a period of days or weeks, and they may have even found a number of dead birds in their yard. Although the callers are aware that some disease process is at work in the birds that they are seeing, they are usually unaware of the role their bird feeders may be playing in facilitating the spread of disease.

Bird feeders tend to concentrate many individual birds, and many different species in a small area. Actually, this is part of the appeal of bird feeders -- the ability to see many different species from your living room window. And it's not entirely unnatural that birds should gather in large numbers since most of the birds that visit feeders in large groups are flock feeders to begin with. But there is one crucial difference between a flock of birds foraging together naturally, and a flock that is frequenting a feeder. With natural foraging, feeding in a particular area will diminish as the available food resources are depleted. This means that an area with abundant food may see a high concentration of birds, but only for a limited period of time. Eventually, the food is gone and the birds move elsewhere. With an artificial food source such as a feeder, the food supply is constantly being replenished, so a high concentration of birds is present for an extended period of time. If there are one or two sick birds among the flocks that visit a feeder, they can contaminate the feeder and expose dozens of subsequent visitors to their illness. Illnesses that are commonly associated with poorly maintained bird feeders include Salmonellosis, Trichomoniasis, Aspergillosis, Avian Pox, and others.

Although bird feeders can present health risks to birds, there are several steps you can take to help minimize the possibility that your feeders will become a vector for disease. First and foremost, you need to keep your feeders clean. Feeders should be disinfected at least once or twice a month, but weekly is even better. Discard all uneaten food, scrub the feeder thoroughly, and then disinfect it with a 10% bleach solution. Rinse the feeder and allow it to dry completely before using it again. Plastic and metal feeders are preferable as they can be more thoroughly cleaned than wooden feeders. Also, be sure to wear gloves whenever you are handling your feeders to decrease your own risk of exposure to potential disease.

In addition to cleaning your feeders, be sure to clean up all spilled seed and feces around your feeders. Ground feeding birds and rodents may become infected by contaminated seed on the ground. Your pets may also come into contact with contaminated feed or feces if the area under a feeder is not kept clean. It is also a good idea to move a feeder to a new location every time you clean it to lessen the chance that contamination will build up on the ground below it.

Since the food itself can be a vector for disease, be sure that you are only offering fresh, high quality food. Large capacity feeders may be convenient in that you have to refill them less often, but they increase the chances that the food will become damp and/or contaminated. Discard any food that becomes damp and/or moldy, and disinfect the feeder or container that held it.

If you do spot birds on your property that appear ill, contact PAWS Wildlife at 425-787-2500 ext. 854 for instruction.

Posted in the January 2005 Earth Page

Dalco Passage Oil Spill Wildlife Response

- by Mary Schilder from PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

After receiving word of a large oil spill in Dalco Passage this October, PAWS Wildlife Center immediately prepared its hospital facility to provide emergency care for oiled wildlife. PAWS staff and volunteers monitored a 1-800 line that was put in place by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to receive calls about oiled wildlife. The wildlife center was reconfigured in anticipation of an influx of affected animals. Fortunately, very few animals appeared to have been oiled in the spill, so a large influx never came.

PAWS did receive a few victims, including a Western grebe, that was first stabilized at a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife mobile oil response unit before being sent on to the wildlife center. Shortly after arriving at PAWS, the grebe was washed to remove all traces of oil from his feathers. Watch the video. Following this thorough cleaning, the staff reintroduced whole fish to the grebe and then placed him in an indoor, enclosed pool where he furiously preened his feathers to rebuild the waterproofing crucial to survival in an aquatic environment.

The staff continued to give the grebe proper nutrition to restore his weight, then re-acclimated him to the natural elements in an outdoor pool and monitored him closely to ensure successful waterproofing. At the end of this rehabilitation process, the grebe was given a clean bill of health. It was time for him to go home. On October 25th, the grebe was released back into the chilly Puget Sound waters where he belonged-free as a bird should be.

Posted in the December 2004 Earth Page

In Brief: Safe and Active Routes to School, ShoreWatch Program at Raab's Lagoon

Safe and Active Routes to School - Volunteers Needed
One priority of the Bicycle Alliance, a statewide advocacy organization, is to get more children in Washington State biking and walking to school. Fewer automobiles heading towards and queuing up in school drop off zones would significantly improve the air quality in any neighborhood with a school. Additionally, the more active the mode of transportation taken (think biking and walking), the more health benefits accorded to the children. That said, the Bicycle Alliance has been able to partner with a few state agencies on a project to assist schools in their efforts to encourage parents and others to stop driving children to school.

With support from the Department of Health and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the Bicycle Alliance has begun a Safe and Active Routes to School program at schools around the state. The project will mean more children will be able to choose the healthier - for themselves and the environment - habit of actively getting to and from school.

The Bicycle Alliance is fortunate to have "safe routes" financial partners but it will also need help from people with the time and energy to make this happen. Volunteers are needed! Would you like to help a school near you develop a Safe & Active Routes to School program? Available to interested schools is technical assistance as well as mini-grants. For more information and to sign up to help, contact Dave Janis at davej@bicyclealliance.org or 206.784.7176.

ShoreWatch Program comes to Raab's Lagoon
Maury Island residents gathered in a neighbors living room on a late summer morning, for a passionate conversation about living on Raab's Lagoon. Earth Share of Washington organization People For Puget Sound gathered the neighborhood together to discuss preserving the natural shoreline of Raab's Lagoon, and protecting the wildlife that call it home.

When asked "What is your favorite wildlife sighting on Raab's Lagoon?" residents shared stories demonstrating their love for their home on the water. The conversations included a desire to care for the lagoon's health, including questions about best approaches for saving the lagoon and preventing tidal erosion of the dam at the lagoon's outlet to Quartermaster Harbor.

The neighborhood gathering was held as part of People For Puget Sound's ShoreWatch Program. Based on the successful "Block Watch" program, ShoreWatch involves neighbors working, learning (and playing!) together to address shoreline protection and restoration. If you live on or near shorelines and would like to host stewardship events in your neighborhood please contact Mary Beth Dols or Daoud Miller at 206-382-7007, visit www.pugetsound.org/shorewatch, or email shorewatch@pugetsound.org.

Posted in the December 2004 Earth Page

An Otter Beats the Odds

- submitted by PAWS Wildlife Naturalist, Kevin Mack

On June 26th, 2004, a railroad maintenance worker discovered what appeared to be a dead river otter lying on the train tracks in Edmonds. Upon closer inspection, it was apparent that the otter was still breathing. Although it was only about 9 am, the day was already uncomfortably warm, and the otter was lying in direct sunlight. Fearing that the animal would overheat, the railroad worker parked his maintenance vehicle over the otter to shade him from the sun. He then contacted Edmonds Animal Control, and the responding officer retrieved the otter and brought him to the PAWS Wildlife Center. Upon admission, he was entered into the PAWS database as case #04-2345.

Apparently having been hit by a train, otter 04-2345 was comatose when he arrived at PAWS. He was bleeding from his nose and mouth, and his breathing was labored. A large area of swelling was evident on the back of his head and neck. PAWS Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. John Huckabee placed an IV catheter in the otter's leg, and administered fluids and medications to help stabilize his condition. X-rays that were taken to determine the cause of the head and neck swelling revealed that the otter had suffered a fractured skull and a fractured neck vertebra.

For the six days following his admission to PAWS, otter 04-2345 remained unconscious. He suffered several seizures, but these eventually ceased. He began to exhibit involuntary "swimming" motions with his legs when handled, and he also began to swallow fish that were placed in his mouth; thus allowing PAWS staff a way to deliver food. By July 2nd the otter began to struggle and bite during handling, and on July 5th he showed signs of awareness and coordination. He regained his feet, but he walked in circles, bumping into the walls of the small enclosure in which he was being housed. He was placed in a small pool daily to give him some exercise, and to keep his fur in good condition. He continued to improve, and he graduated to a larger, outdoor cage on July 14th.

By late August, the otter had returned to full function. He was exhibiting normal behavior, and catching live fish that were placed in his pool. At 6:45 am on August 31st, he was successfully released along the Edmonds waterfront, very close to spot in which he was found.

PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is located in Lynnwood. Visit www.paws.org/wildlife to find out more.

Posted in the October 2004 Earth Page

A Red-tailed Hawk Returns Home

- submitted and authored by PAWS Wildlife naturalist Kevin Mack

On July 22nd, 2004, a Red-tailed Hawk sat timidly at the back of a transport carrier and stared out at the world through an open door. Just a few seconds earlier, that door had been closed, and the hawk had been doing his best to force his way through it to the freedom beyond. The appearance of a human in front of the door had made him less certain about exiting, and he was now torn between his desire to break free and his fear of the being that had opened the door to allow him to do so. His fear was well founded; he had been held captive by humans for nearly two months, and he had no understanding of the reason for his temporary imprisonment. But now, with no physical barriers to contain him, only his own mental barrier was keeping him in captivity. I sat patiently and waited for the hawk's desire for freedom to overcome his fear of stepping through the open door.

Like so many of our patients, the story of this hawk's admission to PAWS starts on the shoulder of a road. On May 30th, a man driving through Olympia spotted the hawk lying alongside the highway, and took him to the Tacoma Animal Emergency Clinic. The next day, the hawk was transferred to PAWS Wildlife Center and entered into our database as Red-tailed Hawk 04-1621.

Hawk 04-1621 had suffered a fractured coracoid bone during his collision with the car. Luckily for him, the bone was well-aligned and required only two weeks of cage rest to heal. Once the bone was stable, the hawk was moved to an outdoor flight pen to recondition his muscles for release. He gained strength quickly, and it was only a few weeks later that he was sitting inside the carrier on private land in Olympia trying to muster the courage to take back his life.

Red-tailed Hawk 04-1621 hopped through the doorway and discovered a wide-open blue sky above him. He spread his wings and shed his frightened, captive persona in an instant. He gained altitude and banked off to the left, heading towards a distant stand of trees. He flew beautifully, and the sun shined brightly on his dark back and rust-colored tail. A few nearby crows protested the hawk's appearance, but he appeared to be unfazed by their vocalizations. For the first time since he had been injured, the hawk was able to fulfill his most pressing desire; a desire that was especially pronounced when humans were nearby. For nearly two months this bird had wanted nothing more than to simply spread his wings and fly away. On July 22nd, 2004, he did.

Posted in the September 2004 Earth Page

Birding Trail Brings Birders and Business

- submitted by Hilary Hilscher from ESW organization Audubon Washington

The next route of Audubon's Great Washington State Birding Trail will beckon nature tourists from around the state and country to visit the Olympic Peninsula and Southwest Washington. Local residents have nominated 250 sites from Port Townsend to Neah Bay, from Long Beach to Stevenson, according to Birding Trail Director Christi Norman.

Birding Trails, now found in 20 states, are self-guided driving tours with stops at places to see birds. Bird watching has become the fastest growing outdoor recreation in the U.S., with more than 46 million Americans traveling to watch special birds such as the Olympic Peninsula's Tufted Puffin, Harlequin Duck and Northern Goshawk.

Together with public and private partners, Audubon Washington published the Washington's first route, the Cascade Loop, in 2002 and the second, the Coulee Corridor, in 2003. The new route maps are scheduled for publication in 2005.

Birding Trails are big business in the U.S. They attract visitors to primarily rural areas, which spurs economic development and gives residents increased incentive to safeguard natural areas around their communities and region.

Bird watchers spend upwards of $30 billion annually, including $10 billion on travel. Texas' birding trail, for example, annually attracts more than 1.4 million birders who spend $155 million; on the local level, every 100 new bird watchers generate one full-time job, $2,500 in business income, and $2,000 in tax revenue.

Posted in the September 2004 Earth Page

In Brief: Native Plant Appreciation, Trout Unlimited Events, Toxic Body Burden, & Wildlife Volunteers Needed

Native Plant Appreciation
The results are in from the Native Plant Appreciation Week that we mentioned in the May Edition of The Earth Page. Over 70 activities in 19 counties were organized by Washington Native Plant Society Chapters and others throughout the state. People could participate in cleaning up a native prairie in Port Townsend, visit a Native Plant Stewardship project, learn about beach plants, tour a native plant garden, take a lichen walk, identify native plants in one of our state parks, visit a prairie on a military base, or listen to some great talks on shrub-steppe, ethnobotany and pollination ecology. At least thirty-eight cities and three counties declared May 24-30 Native Plant Appreciation Week, along with Governor Locke and the State of Washington. It may have been mostly symbolic, but it's nice to know that cities and counties throughout the state took the time during a council meeting to proclaim: native plant species are an important part of Washington's heritage ... our state enjoys an amazing diversity of over 3,000 native plant species ... preserving native plant ecosystems is critical to the long-term health and use of our natural resources ... over 360 of our native plant species are listed as rare ... invasive plant species present a threat to sustaining Washington's native ecosystems ... and urge all our citizens to learn more about our native plants, their habitats, and how to protect them.

Trout Unlimited Activities Around the State
The Des Moines Salmon Chapter of Trout Unlimited is actively working on stream restoration, including projects intended to improve in-stream habitat and produce high-quality riparian zones along these severely impacted urban salmon streams. To date, nearly a half-acre of invasive plants have been removed and more than 400 native plants have been planted near Sea-Tac Airport.

The Tacoma Chapter of Trout Unlimited has sponsored and assisted eight kids' fishing events this year, along with their fish-ins for disabled veterans at the American Lake Veterans' Hospital. Recently, the Army National Guard joined Trout Unlimited in their effort to restore Murray Creek, joining the battle against invasive plant species. Work continues and, thanks in large part to Trout Unlimited, the creek will continue to be an angling destination.

The Rainshadow Chapter of Trout Unlimited, in cooperation with the Greywolf Fly Fishing Club and Jefferson County Parks & Recreation, sponsored its fourth annual kids' fishing day at Lake Leland in June. Rainbow trout at the derby ranged from frying pan size to more than five pounds. The Rainshadow Chapter also supervised another year of the Salmon in the Classroom program at Grant Street Elementary School in Port Townsend.

Toxic Body Burden
Many U.S. residents carry toxic pesticides in their bodies above government assessed "acceptable" levels, according to a report released today in May by Earth Share of Washington organizations Pesticide Action Network North America (PAN) and Washington Toxics Coalition. Chemical Trespass: Pesticides in Our Bodies and Corporate Accountability, presents a first-time analysis of information on pesticides in the bodies of more than 2,000 people, collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Washington State Department of Ecology has a program to eliminate persistent toxic chemicals, but the 2004 legislature exempted pesticides from the program. The Toxic Free Legacy Coalition, which includes the Washington Toxics Coalition, is using the study results to urge the Department of Ecology to include pesticides in its program to eliminate persistent toxic chemicals.

PAWS Wildlife Seeks Volunteers
Every summer the PAWS Wildlife Center receives hundreds of sick, injured and orphaned baby songbirds. Their goal with each of these animals is to restore them to full health, raise them until they are old enough to fend for themselves, and return them to suitable habitat in the wild. Reaching this goal is extremely challenging and labor intensive. During the months of May, June, and July they may have 100 or more young birds in the center at once. The majority of these birds require hand feeding once every half hour for 12 hours per day. 100 birds X 2 feedings per hour X 12 hours = 2,400 feedings per day! This quickly adds up to hundreds of hours of care given to ensure that these young birds have the best possible chance for survival when they are released. If you would like to receive training and firsthand experience in the field of Wildlife Rehabilitation, volunteering is an excellent way to do so. More information on volunteering with PAWS can be found at this link: www.paws.org/help/vol/

Posted in the August 2004 Earth Page

Washington Birds Face Challenges of Development and Sprawl

- submitted by Hilary Hilscher from ESW member Audubon Washington

One-third of Washington State's birds are at risk, a situation with troubling consequences for our own quality of life, according to the "State of the Birds" report released today by Audubon Washington, a field office of the National Audubon Society.

"Like the canary in the mineshaft, our birds are warning us about the health and trends of the environment that we ourselves depend upon," said Audubon's national president, John Flicker.

Report author Tim Cullinan said natural places critical to many bird species have been disrupted by Washington's growing human population. The number of residents has more than doubled in the past 50 years and is forecast to double again in the next 50 years - the equivalent of adding 29 more cities the size of Tacoma or Spokane. It is not simply the number of people that changes the landscape, but also the way in which sprawl fragments natural areas so that birds and other wildlife have only small "islands" suitable for their needs.

"Immediate and focused conservation measures are needed to reduce human impacts on birds and bird habitat," wrote Cullinan in the report's executive summary. Cullinan, Audubon Washington's director of science and conservation, said our birds are in trouble because of low populations, steep population declines, or habitat loss.

Audubon Washington has produced two versions of the "State of the Birds" report, an executive summary and citizen's action guide; and a longer paper which is being submitted to policy and ornithological journals. The report examined the conservation status of our state's 317 common birds and found 93 species and four subspecies are at risk.

"Washington State is showing the way for bird conservation," said Flicker. "First with the 'State of the Birds' report - what Audubon hopes will become a model for other states - and, second, by passing legislation this year to help protect birds and their habitat."

The 2004 State Legislature unanimously passed a bill recognizing Important Bird Areas (IBAs), scientific identification of critical bird habitat to help guide public and private property owners in managing their land in environmentally sound ways. Washington is only the second state in the country, after New York, to enact IBA legislation. The worldwide IBA effort is run in North America by Audubon.

The summary and citizen's action guide is available on the web at wa.audubon.org. It includes a section on steps people can take individually, locally, nationally and internationally to protect birds. Examples include: planting bird-friendly native vegetation, taking part in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, voting to preserve natural areas and limit sprawl, using the Great Washington State Birding Trail, and buying shade-grown, organic coffee, which helps protect bird habitat.

Posted in the June 2004 Earth Page

Volunteering For Wildlife

- submitted by Lauren Glickman, Volunteer Program Manager, PAWS Wildlife Center

Being a volunteer at a wild animal hospital is not your run of the mill experience, to say the least. It's not for everyone; is it for you? The PAWS Wildlife Center offers a unique opportunity to interact with sick, injured or orphaned wild animals with the goal of releasing them back to the wild. Over two hundred volunteers fill a number of different volunteer positions. Why do they do it? It offers the opportunity to learn about wild animals and to ensure that the injured and orphaned animals that arrive at the facility will be well cared for.

These volunteers work closely with 12 professional staff members to do a wide variety of tasks - some glamorous and some not so glamorous. Laundry and dishes must be cleaned to ensure that patients have clean bedding and clean food and water dishes. Feeding infant animals happens constantly throughout daylight hours along with making food for adult and juvenile animals that are eating on their own. Besides caring directly for these wild creatures, volunteers have a unique opportunity to educate community members about coexisting peacefully with wildlife. Not only do the volunteers educate the public, they also are given a unique opportunity to learn. Their ongoing direct care volunteers, Wildlife Care Assistants, are eligible to participate in the Senior Skills Workshop after volunteering for nine months. This training includes handling large raptors and adult rodents, giving subcutaneous and intramuscular injections to mammals and birds and tube feeding a variety of animals.

The species treated at the PAWS Wildlife Center range from the tiniest hummingbird to the majestic bald eagle, from a baby chipmunk to a black bear cub. Many have been hit by a vehicle, attacked by a cat or dog, been a victim of cruelty or hit a window. It isn't always pretty. It is the strength and compassion of the volunteers who are so willing to get dirty that make this healing work possible. It absolutely couldn't get done without these people.

If this sounds intriguing and you're up for a challenge, go to www.paws.org/help/vol/ and fill out a volunteer application. All training is provided and the only requirement is a once-a-week commitment for three or four months.

Posted in the June 2004 Earth Page

A Forest Voice Restored

- by Kevin Mack, PAWS Wildlife Naturalist

On January 16th, 2004, a medium-sized pet transport carrier sat on the ground on a large piece of private property near Oakville. The door was wide open, but the carrier's occupant was hesitating to exit, and with good reason. The last time he had been on this property he had been thin, weak, and half blind. He had also been under attack by crows, who preferred not to share their territory with a predator. His situation would have been hopeless had Sarah not come to his rescue. Sarah owns the property on which this drama was playing out, and she came out of her house to see a bedraggled Great Horned Owl in need of help. She was already familiar with this owl as she had been enjoying his distinctive "hooting" calls that filled the woods behind her house at night, and she did not hesitate to offer her assistance. After scaring off the crows and placing the owl in a box, Sarah drove the bird to a Tacoma veterinarian who then transferred him on to PAWS. On December 6th, 2003, the Great Horned Owl arrived at PAWS and was given the case number 03-4489.

During his initial physical examination, Great Horned Owl 03-4489 was found to be extremely thin and dehydrated. He also had an obvious vision deficiency in his right eye. The eye injury had likely been the result of collision with a vehicle, and in conjunction with acute head trauma it had probably prevented the owl from successfully hunting for several days. A few days after owl 03-4489 arrived at PAWS, he was examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist, who determined that the eye injury was in the process of healing. A subsequent exam several weeks later confirmed that the eye had improved dramatically. Vision was returning and, thanks to a steady diet of mice and rats, so was the owl's strength. He graduated to a large outdoor flight pen where he was free to stretch his wings and condition his muscles for release. By January 16th, he was ready to return home to Sarah's property.

Great Horned Owl 03-4489 finally mustered the courage to walk through the open carrier door and reenter the world. He paused on the ground in front of the cage for a moment, and assessed the view that was laid out before him. He chose a path and made for the small patch of trees that had been silent at night during his absence. As the owl disappeared into the trees, I could tell by the look on Sarah's face that she was overjoyed to have this feathered being sharing her property once again. I hoped that the owl would repay Sarah's kindness in the best possible way; by filling her woods with the haunting sound of his voice once again.

PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, an Earth Share of Washington member organization, rehabilitates thousands of orphaned and injured animals annually, returning them to the wild.

Posted in the March 2004 Earth Page

Salmon Victory - Pesticides Restricted Near Streams

- submitted by Kristina Logsdon from ESW member Washington Toxics Coalition

On January 22, 2004 Judge John Coughenour issued a ruling that restricts the use of 38 pesticides near salmon streams and requires retailers to post warnings that read "Salmon Hazard" on products containing pesticides deemed harmful to salmon.

The ruling followed Judge Coughenour's 2002 decision that found EPA out of compliance with the Endangered Species Act for failing to protect salmon from harmful pesticides. The judge ordered EPA to consult with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries to establish permanent restrictions needed to protect salmon from 54 pesticides, over a two-and-a-half year timeline. After the 2002 ruling, environmental and fishing groups, including Earth Share of Washington member Washington Toxics Coalition, supported reducing contamination of salmon streams while EPA and NOAA Fisheries developed permanent restrictions.

The ruling puts in place no-spray buffers of 100 yards for aerial applications and 20 yards for ground applications, with exceptions for certain uses that are unlikely to pollute water. The court order also requires this warning for products containing seven pesticides that have polluted urban salmon streams:

SALMON HAZARD This product contains pesticides that may harm salmon or steelhead. Use of this product in urban areas can pollute salmon streams.

The warnings may be purchased in urban home and garden stores throughout Washington, Oregon, and California.

The interim measures imposed in the court's ruling will protect salmon from these pesticides. The judge found "with reasonable scientific certainty, that the requested buffer zones will, unlike the status quo, substantially contribute to the prevention of jeopardy" to salmon. He further found that the evidence "demonstrate[s] that pesticide-application buffer zones are a common, simple, and effective strategy to avoid jeopardy to threatened and endangered salmonids."

The buffer zones will become effective in early 2004 and will apply to salmon streams that support threatened and endangered salmon throughout the three West Coast states.

Posted in the March 2004 Earth Page

Orcas, Oil Spills and Oysters: The State of the Ocean in our Backyard

- submitted by Liz Banse, board member, Washington Foundation for the Environment

Washington State is defined as much by its mountains and fertile farmland as it is by the ocean that laps up against its western border. While millions of locals and visitors alike explore the treasures of our land-based wilderness areas each year, few people have access to the "wilderness" below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

Knowing what lies below the surface is more important than ever now that researchers are uncovering very real and imminent threats to the biodiversity of our salt water ecosystem. America's marine systems - oceans, coasts, and the web of life they support - are on the verge of collapse, according to authors of "America's Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change." The 2003 study, a three-year long research project of the independent Pew Oceans Commission, concluded that marine management has slipped through the cracks of the dozens of agencies charged with caring for the sea's health. The result is that overfishing, harmful coastal development, pollution, and other wasteful practices are threatening fish and fisherman alike.

This is critical information for Washingtonians to digest, both from an environmental and an economic standpoint. In 2001, commercial fishing in Washington yielded more than 163 million pounds of fish, valued at more than $138 million. Recreational anglers pulled in nearly 600,000 fish from Washington's coastal waters in the same year. Coastal health is also at stake. In 1999, Washington's beaches drew more than 2 million visits, including 850,000 visits from birdwatchers and 1.2 million by photographers and outdoor enthusiasts.

What can we do to ensure that Washington's own ocean wilderness is brought back to health? Conservation groups advocate for three important steps:

• Establishing a system of fully protected marine reserves to help restore important ecosystems and fisheries by giving fish and wildlife safe places to feed, breed, and rest;
• Protecting coastal habitat that supports the marine food chain, from orcas to the salmon they depend on, by better controlling development and its impacts including water quality problems; and,
• Revising, strengthening and expanding pollution laws that protect shellfish beds, fish and wildlife, and people from harmful pollution.

Restoring our oceans to productive health is possible if we commit to it. Not only will the orcas, salmon and shorebirds thank us, but so will all the fishermen and beachcombers we know.

Thanks to Earth Share of Washington members People for Puget Sound and the Surfrider Foundation for information included in this article.The Washington Foundation for the Environment supports environmental education and innovative projects focused on environmental awareness. (www.wffe.org)

Posted in the February 2004 Earth Page

Volunteers Are Lifeblood of Wildlife Center

-submitted by Kip Parker, Wildlife Director, PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

Earth Share of Washington member PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center utilizes a large team of highly trained wildlife volunteers to help provide direct care for distressed wildlife at its Lynnwood center. Every year, additional project volunteers are also active assisting staff on a variety of special projects at the center. This year is no exception with several projects underway or nearing completion.

These projects use specific skills - plumbing, electrical, construction, carpentry, concreting, architectural, and veterinary specialty volunteers have all participated in 2003 work.

Most of the current projects are construction and infrastructure projects, replacing old cages and enclosures and extending services, all for our wildlife patients. So far this year volunteers have drawn up architectural building plans, driven backhoes, dug 400 feet of trenches, cleaned brush, laid sewer, water, electrical and computer lines, built a 10' x 12' building, moved fencing and construction materials, and painted and wired a building.

Another ongoing project uses veterinarians with specialized skills to assist the center's two wildlife veterinarians with unusual cases. Veterinarians have volunteered their services to perform bone plating on a bear cub's broken legs, used ophthalmological instruments to look at owls' eyes and endoscopes to remove fish hooks and obstructions from the throats of fish-eating birds such as great blue herons.

Other volunteers allow their private land to be used for the safe release of rehabilitated wildlife as part of our Habitat Conservation Program. One hundred and eighty volunteer landowners with 3700 acres of land now participate in this project. This summer, dozens of rehabilitated wildlife have been released in safety onto these private lands. Just this week, eight raccoons and three barn owls found freedom again on separate properties.

All these cooperative ventures - using land, labor, skills and volunteer time - help Washington wildlife return to the wild. About 4,500 wild animals of 170 different species are treated at the center each year.

For more information, go to http://www.paws.org/help/vol/ and fill out a volunteer application or check back frequently at our volunteer page.

Posted in the October 2003 Earth Page

Audubon Protecting Species of the Shrub-Steppe

YAKIMA, WA - The U.S. Army may be the Greater Sage-Grouse's best friend.

In recognition of the vast Yakima Training Center's abundance of native shrub-steppe landscape and the birds like the Greater Sage-Grouse that depend on that habitat, the center was dedicated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) on August 1st.

"The Yakima Training Center contains one of the largest remaining expanses - 360,000 acres - of shrub-steppe landscape in the Pacific Northwest, which is home to 40 percent of the statewide population of these spectacular creatures," said local naturalist Andrew Stepniewski, who noted that the Greater Sage-Grouse exists only in one other place in Washington.

The abundance of sage-grouse and 157 other native species - 68 of which breed here - are the reasons that Audubon Washington designated the Yakima Training Center as an Important Bird Area, or IBA, a critical place that supports significant numbers and species of birds.

According to Leslie Wahl, president of the Yakima Valley Audubon Society, the IBA program is a voluntary worldwide effort that identifies key places with significant bird populations in an effort to help private and public landowners provide sound stewardship for bird conservation and their property. This non-regulatory program, headed in the U.S. by Audubon and worldwide by BirdLife International, provides sound scientific information to help build conservation partnerships and public awareness.

Once found everywhere across the west's arid plains, Greater Sage-Grouse and many other native bird species now survive in isolated populations only in specific landscapes like the Army's training center. Other birds closely associated with native sagebrush and bunchgrass ecosystem that rely on the center land include Ferruginous Hawk, Short-eared Owl, Loggerhead Shrike, Sage Thrasher; and Brewer's, Vesper, and Sage Sparrows.

"The Yakima Training Center IBA is the only site in the region to support widespread and abundant numbers of all the shrub-steppe-dependent migratory species," said Wahl.

Posted in the September 2003 Earth Page

Three Bandits Go Free

- submitted by Kevin Mack from ESW member PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Raccoons are known for getting their sticky little fingers into everything. They can't be blamed, really. Much of the information they gather about the world around them is taken in through the sensitive tactile receptors in their paws. They rely heavily on their sense of touch to find food in dark crevices, and in murky water where their other senses afford them little help. When raccoons forage in water, the motion of their paws as they assess each item they discover gives the appearance that they are washing their food. There is even a popular myth stating that raccoons have no salivary glands and must moisten their food before eating it. In reality, raccoons have well developed salivary glands and seem equally willing to eat food that is dry, moist, clean, or dirty.

On April 4th, 2003, three raccoons were released after an extended stay at the PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood. Their stay wasn't extended due to health reasons, but rather due to the timing of their birth. In general, orphaned raccoons arrive at the PAWS Wildlife Center in late spring or early summer. They grow quickly throughout the summer months and are normally ready to be released by mid to late September when blackberries, huckleberries, and a number of other wild fruits are abundant. A readily available food source helps to ease the raccoons' transition back to the wild. Orphans arriving very late in the summer are often not ready for release until well into the fall. By this time the berries are nearly gone and the weather is less than ideal. To increase their chances for post release survival, late babies may be over-wintered at the wildlife center and released the following spring as were the three raccoons released on April 4th.

The raccoons, a male and two females, were unrelated. One female had been found near a road, sitting by the body of her dead mother. The other female had been removed from beneath a deck by a homeowner. The male, thin and hungry, had followed a man onto his porch. All three passed the winter together and behaved as sibling raccoons do, playing, eating and sleeping as a group. During the winter months the raccoons were constantly provided with enrichment materials to stimulate their curiosity and encourage natural behaviors. They in turn provided PAWS staff and volunteers with constant entertainment via closed-circuit television. They tore apart melons stuffed with grapes and smelt, pulled hidden treats out of holes in logs and, keeping with their image, did their best to get their sticky little fingers into everything.

When their transport carrier was opened on April 4th, the three raccoons were facing a shallow stream on private property in Carnation. Juvenile raccoons are usually reluctant to leave the safety of their carrier when they are released, but a nearby stream is just too tempting for them to pass up. After a short wait, the stream cast its spell and fuzzy little bodies began to emerge from the carrier. They first examined the carrier, walking all the way around it and standing on their hind legs to examine the top. They eventually gave in to temptation and entered the stream. They immediately began to feel their way around the stream as they searched for items of interest below the water�s surface. Their area of exploration grew, and two of the raccoons started checking out the underbrush near the stream. The third continued to feel her way along the bottom of the stream, pausing for a moment to take a sip of water. Watching the three of them was kind of like watching kids in a candy store; they were compelled to touch everything within reach, but they seemed a little unsure of the consequences. After about 20 minutes they regrouped and moved upstream and out of sight together.

On average, 50 of the 4,500 animals that the PAWS Wildlife Department treats annually are orphaned raccoons.

Posted in the May 2003 Earth Page

Impatient Return

- submitted by Kevin Mack from ESW member PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

As Dr. John Huckabee approached the water, the Common Murre in his hands became visibly excited. The water was only about 20 feet away, and Dr. Huckabee was walking reasonably fast, but the bird seemed to take issue with the pace of his transport. His small webbed feet paddled frantically in the air as he stretched his neck towards the beckoning freedom of the Pacific.

Sixteen days prior, this murre and three others had encountered a small oil slick. The slick was likely not the result of an oil spill, but rather an intentional dumping of oily water from the bilge of a ship far offshore. Although these events are not headline grabbers of the Exxon Valdez variety, they are no less destructive to the unfortunate animals that encounter them. Certainly all four of these birds would have died without intervention.

On January 9th the murres were admitted to the PAWS Wildlife Center, an Earth Share of Washington member. Each was given a thorough physical examination after which they were tube fed a substance containing activated charcoal to absorb any remaining petroleum in their systems. This came too late for one of the birds and his condition deteriorated until he died a few short days after being admitted. Intestinal hemorrhaging due to oil ingestion was given as the probable cause of death.

The surviving murres were washed thoroughly and all traces of oil removed from their feathers. They were then placed in a pool to find that their feathers once again repelled water. But a pool is no substitute for open ocean, and the murres continually protested their captivity both vocally and physically during the remainder of their stay. During the following 2 weeks they required additional care including tube feeding, and by the time release day arrived on January 25th the murres were more ready to separate themselves from their human caregivers.

So the murre's impatience with the speed at which Dr. Huckabee was approaching the water was not without cause. In addition to all of the frightening experiences he and his companions had suffered in the preceding weeks, the birds had also just endured a 3.5 hour drive to arrive at their release site. By the time Dr. Huckabee reached the water and bent down to release the murre, the bird could not leave his hands fast enough. The remaining two birds were released and all three eventually flew off together.

Small oil spills and intentional dumping of oil are common occurrences in Washington waters. PAWS receives a handful of wild animals every year that have been impacted by these events. For every bird that makes it to the PAWS Wildlife Center, there are likely many others that are oiled but never found. To learn how you can help wildlife in need visit www.paws.org.

Posted in the March 2003 Earth Page

Help Nominate Important Bird Areas in Your Community

Audubon Washington is working to conserve a network of places that will provide essential habitat for birds in our state. Their Important Bird Areas (IBA) program is part of a global effort to identify areas that are the most important for maintaining bird populations, and to focus conservation efforts at protecting these sites.

Important Bird Areas are sites that provide a vital environment for birds. With the assistance of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Audubon Washington began identifying IBAs in Washington in 1998. In June 2001, they published Important Bird Areas of Washington, a 170-page directory describing the first 53 IBAs in our state.

This month, Audubon Washington is beginning a second round of ascertaining IBAs. Currently, Audubon staff, chapter members, and other dedicated volunteers are working to gather the relevant information. They welcome the participation of volunteers! Even if you're not an experienced birder or have never participated in field research before, they can use your help!

Anyone may nominate a site as an IBA. This involves filling out a standard form that describes an area and its bird life, habitat characteristics, land uses, and potential conservation threats. Nominations are evaluated by a team of expert ornithologists. Sites that meet the minimum criteria will be featured in a second edition of Important Bird Areas of Washington.

To get involved, please contact Tim Cullinan at Audubon Washington, 360-683-6257 or tcullinan@audubon.org; or visit their web site and look for IBAs under �Birds and Science� to learn more about the project and download nomination forms. The new nomination period runs until May 31, 2003.

Posted in the February 2003 Earth Page

Audubon Washington Unveils First Birding Trail in State

Audubon Washington Unveils First Birding Trail in State
- submitted by ESW member group National Audubon Society, Washington State Office

Washington State and the National Audubon Society are proud to announce the first of six planned birding trails for Washington State. Birding Trails are actually driving trips with stops at special places where birds are most likely to be seen. Each stop describes the habitat, the birds you are likely to see in a particular season, where to look, and how to get from a main road to the location.

With 71 million people in America describing themselves as interested in bird watching, Birding Trails in other states have become big business. The Trails and their birds attract visitors to primarily rural locations, which spurs economic development and gives local residents increased incentive to safeguard the natural areas around their communities and region.

The first map of the Great Washington Birding Trail, the Cascade Loop, has just rolled off the presses. The full-color, fold-out map features original art work of birds and descriptions of 68 sites from Edmonds to the Skagit, across the mountains to Lake Chelan and back through Leavenworth. The first of six planned routes, the Cascades Loop features 225 of Washington's 365 bird species.

To order a copy of the Great Washington Birding Trail map, call 1-866-WA-BIRDS.

Posted in the December 2002 Earth Page

A Tale of Two Foxes

- submitted by naturalist Kevin Mack from ESW member group PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

On November 11th a male red fox cautiously crept from a transport carrier in a wooded area near Gig Harbor. He was understandably wary as this was the first time he had experienced this much freedom of movement. The last time he was outside the confines of a cage, he was far too young to be away from a den. His former cage mate, a female red fox, was even more cautious as she watched his exploration from the relative safety of her own transport carrier.

Both of these foxes had arrived at PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in the late spring. The male had been left on the doorstep of an Olympia veterinary clinic, and the female had been found on the beach about 200 yards from the clearing in which she now sat. They were both extremely young kits when they arrived at the PAWS Wildlife Center, and bore little resemblance to the striking animals they were on release day. During their stay at PAWS, the kits had transformed from two-pound fuzz balls with rounded faces and skinny tails into 15 pound animals exhibiting the familiar pointed snout and bushy tail of adult red foxes. The male was clearly the bolder of the two and the female was still hiding in her carrier as he disappeared from view.

After we repositioned her carrier a little closer to cover, the female fox exited and quickly entered the brush. She was deterred at first by a solid wall of blackberry bushes, but she made her way to a break in the bushes and followed a path out of sight. Although neither fox could be seen at that point, their progress could still be followed by the sound of Douglas squirrels and small birds that were protesting the two new additions to their neighborhood.

These foxes represent only two of the 4,400 animals that the PAWS Wildlife Department has received so far this year. Their release represents the best possible outcome for a wild animal undergoing rehabilitation. For PAWS, this is the end of the process. For the animal, this is a whole new beginning.

Learn more about PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at http://www.paws.org/wildlife/

Posted in the December 2002 Earth Page

The Survivor

- submitted by naturalist Kevin Mack from ESW member group PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center - http://www.paws.org/wildlife

On September 28th, 2002 the door to a large animal carrier was opened near the Carbon River just west of Mt. Rainier National Park. The eagle that was contained within took two quick hops and launched himself into the air. He quickly gained both speed and altitude, putting distance between himself and the 5 human spectators that watched in breathless silence. There is good reason for any wild animal to want to distance itself from humans, but this bird in particular had a strong motivating factor for his haste. Although the majority of the wild animals that PAWS receives are harmed directly or indirectly by human activity, the injuries they suffer are generally not the result of malicious intent. The eagle that flew free on September 28th, however, had survived an encounter with a member (or members) of our species that had made a deliberate attempt to end his life.

Bald eagle 02-2587 was admitted to the PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on July 6th, 2002. He had been found in a pasture near Wilkeson, WA and was disoriented and unable to fly. Radiographs showed that the eagle had been shot multiple times and had suffered a fractured humerus, tibiotarsus (leg bone), and several fractured ribs as a result. These injuries, however, were several months old and had healed. The humeral fracture had healed out of alignment, but it was assumed that the bird was still capable of flight since he arrived at the center in excellent body condition. The old injuries did not account for the bird's disoriented, weakened condition. Blood samples were taken and they were found to contain toxic levels of lead. Apparently, the fragments that were left behind by the bullets that had passed through the eagle's body were leaching lead into his bloodstream.

The eagle was treated for lead poisoning and gradually regained his strength. The assumption that he was still capable of flight proved to be correct as the bird flew beautifully once he was placed in a large flight pen. He spent several weeks in a flight pen rebuilding his stamina before returning to the wild on September 28th.

How this bird managed to survive in the wild long enough for his gunshot wounds and fractured bones to heal is a mystery. Had the lead not leached into his bloodstream he would not have needed any additional assistance. As it turned out, PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center was there to provide him with the extra help he needed to return to his wild, free life.

Posted in the November 2002 Earth Page