Gold Country Wildlife Rescue

💭 Thoughtful Thursday Tip: Preventing Bird Window Strikes

We regularly admit birds (including all four you see here) that have collided with windows, and unfortunately, many do not survive their injuries.

Birds often see reflections of trees, sky, and habitat in glass and mistake windows for open space. The good news is that there are simple ways to make your home or business safer for birds:

🐦 Apply decals, stickers, or sun catchers to the outside of windows
🐦 Use tempera paint, soap, or specialized products to create visible patterns on glass
🐦 Install bird-safe window film
🐦 Add screens or netting to the outside of windows

If a bird strikes a window, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for guidance - even if the bird appears alert or flies away. Window strikes can cause internal injuries and concussions that aren't immediately visible. Birds may later become unable to fly, fall victim to predators, or succumb to their injuries.

A few simple changes to your windows can save lives.

Have you made your windows bird-friendly? We'd love to hear what has worked for you!

For more information, including an extensive list of ways to reduce window collisions, please visit: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/why-birds-hit-windows-and-how-you-can-help-prevent-it/

Sometimes our patients arrive in some pretty creative accommodations.

When this young coyote pup was found alone on a road in Truckee, a caring passerby had to improvise a safe way to transport him to our center. The result? A milk crate, a sheet of acrylic, and a healthy amount of duct tape.

While the pup was clearly not impressed with his custom-built travel suite, the setup kept both him and his rescuer safe during the trip.

After sharing his thoughts on the arrangement during his initial exam, he settled down, let our team get to work assessing him, and we're glad to share he's doing well. 🐾

📢 ATTENTION, WILDLIFE SUPPORT CREW!

The Mission Possible Summer Supply Drive is officially underway.

Our Wildlife Mess Hall quartermasters have completed their latest inventory check, and the news is clear: with more than 2,450 wild patients already admitted this year and an average of 30 new arrivals coming in daily, supplies are moving out almost as quickly as they come in.

From June 15–July 15, we're asking our community to help stock the shelves with food, formula, cleaning supplies, and other essentials needed to support the care of the over 950 orphaned and injured wild animals in our care RIGHT NOW.

View the full field report including supply lists, links, and, and drop-off information here:
🔗 https://pulse.ly/4y30hxeunp

🦉 The owl is checking the inventory.
🐻 The bear is supervising the stockroom.
📦 We need your help filling the crates, refrigerators, drawers, and shelves.

Ready to join the mission?

Mission Possible runs June 15–July 15. Let's keep the shelves stocked and wildlife care continuing without a hitch. 💚

🐾 ☀️ In this heat, our local wildlife needs your help! 🥵

1. Keep an eye out for animals that need help. If you can walk up to wildlife during these hot temperatures and they appear injured or do not try to get away from you, they probably need assistance.

2. Remember - concrete and asphalt get SUPER hot during these high temperatures and can lead to burns and even be fatal to animals who cannot move off of it.

3. Remember, do not feed or water an orphaned or injured wildlife. Keep them dark, cool, quiet, and get them to us as quickly as possible during our open hours (8am - 5pm 7 days a week). Once they are cooled off, babies can actually be kept warm (but not hot).

4. Cooling off an animal using water, if injured or sick, may actually make them worse. Call us if you need guidance or have questions.

5. If you have any questions about an orphaned or injured wildlife, call our emergency phone system, leave a message, and you’ll get a call back - 530-885-0862. You can also visit our website for more information www.goldcountrywildliferescue.org.

Remember, while we are in the midst of hot summer temperatures, animals struggle as much, if not more, than humans do. While we are all inside trying to stay out of the heat, there are animals being forced out of their nests and dens to try to escape the heat. Additionally, if without access to water, dehydration and heat stroke can also be serious issues for wildlife and humans alike.

See that syringe? There’s a reason it’s in there! Hummingbirds in our care start out in smaller enclosures where syringe feeders are their primary food source. When they move into this large outdoor space - complete with plenty of flowers and hummingbird feeders - we keep the syringes around too. Familiar, easy to keep clean, and clearly a hit. 🐦✨