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Animal Ambassadors
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; In addition to treating and releasing injured and orphaned wildlife, The Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute is home to many permanent residents - our non-releasable education animals. Each education animal here at The Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute has a story behind it. All but three started out functioning in the wild, but something happened (usually human induced) that caused injuries severe enough that it could no longer survive in the wild. Our goal is to make their lives here as comfortable as possible, physically and mentally. This means they have proper caging, nutritional food and vitamins, a companion of their own kind when possible, and periodic checkups by a veterinarian. Meet Our Animal Ammbassadors! Ladybird
Ladybird is a Red-tailed Hawk and she has the saddest story of them all. She suffered a gunshot wound to her wing, and her metacarpals were shattered. Although it is now a felony, shooting hawks has historically been part of the culture in rural mountains. Years ago, it was believed by farmers, that Hawks were responsible for taking many of their chickens, back then their livestock put food on the table and was vital to their survival. Due to this story hawks have been given a bad rap in the rural mountains and have been nicknamed "chicken hawks." For generations people have taught their children that "The only good Hawk is a dead Hawk." People are generally good and well intentioned, but it is because of this teaching and tradition that Hawks are still being hunt down today, often by people who do not even have chickens! It is critically important to educate children and adults about the important role these magnificent birds of prey play in controlling rodent populations.
Cloudfeather Cloudfeather is a partial Albino Red-tailed Hawk, he was hit by a car and suffered a wing fracture and eye damage.
Sasquatch Sasquatch is a Great Horned Owl, he was found as a very young nestling on the ground underneath a tree. His wing had been torn off. We do not know how this happened. Photo by: Kim Costner
Mrs. Oda Ms. Oda is a Barred Owl, she has been with us since she was a young bird. She was found tangled in a barbed wire fence, which ripped her wing, causing irreversible damage. Photo by: Kim Costner
Buster Buster is also a Barred Owl, he was hit by a car, he suffered a wing fracture and cannot fly well enough for release. Photo by: Kim Costner This is a common injury for birds of prey, because often they hunt for rodents along roadways. Rodents are attracted to roads when people throw apple cores and other food related litter out their car windows.
Tinkerbell and Tigerlily are Saw-whet Owls, both were hit by cars and suffered irreversible injuries to the eye and wing. Photos by: Kim Costner Saw-whet Owls are the tiniest of North Carolina's owls. This subspecies of owl exist and breed only in fragile high elevations and are considered a threatened species in North Carolina.
Fiona is a Red-phase Eastern Screech Owl, she was hit by a car and suffered a severe head trama. Upon impact one of her eyes was blown and had to be surgically removed, she has very limited vision in her other eye and is almost completely blind. She also had a major injury to one of her legs that had to have constant care and took a long time to heal. Pirate is a Grey-phase Eastern Screech Owl, he was hit by a car and had a severe wing injury and has very limited flight, therefore he can not be released.
Woody Woody is a Pileated Woodpecker, he was found on the ground and had a severe shoulder injury that has never healed, he also had a fractured Coracoid which is attached to the sternum just above the keel, this is the major bone required for flight, it too has never healed leaving Woody unflighted. Woody goes through logs at a fast pace and had to have a special cage built for him due to his ability to pound through our wooden cages in no time! Woody is an insectivore and often we hide wax worms in his logs for him to find.
Leona Leona is an Eastern Blue Bird, she was raised with her three siblings at The Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute. When it became time for her to fledge, she had a genetic problem with the feather growth in her wings making flight very difficult.
Zorro Zorro is a Cedar Waxwing, he was attacked as a nestling and is missing several toes. He is unable to grip and cling to branches while reaching his fruit. Cedar Waxwings are flock birds.
Xena Xena is a Cedar Waxwing, she was attacked by a cat and has impaired vision and limited flight rendering her as non-releasable.
Quincy Quincy is a Red-eyed Vireo, when he came in he had a fractured beak and a severe shoulder injury. His beak finally healed, but his shoulder has not, he has very limited flight. Quincy is an insectivore and is addicted to wax worms! Anytime he sees someone he begins flittering his wings and whistling, begging for wax worms. We think he needs to go to "Wax Worms Anonymous" for his addiction!
Gnatsby Gnatsby is a Gnat-catcher, he is blind in one eye and only flies in circles towards the right! He talks all of the time and wants everyone to know he is there!
Tundra Tundra is a partial Albino Grey Squirrel, she came from a strain of white squirrels in Brevard, NC. She was hit by a car as a youngster, suffered an irreversible spinal injury, and is unable to run and climb like a normal squirrel should.
Luna Luna is a Flying Squirrel, she was attacked by a dog and suffered a severe spinal injury, after a lot of physical therapy she is now able to get around in her cage. Luna has very limited use of her left leg.
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