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NEWSLETTER
October 2015
Volume 1
SUMMER OF
WOODCHUCKS
On average Wildwoods receives
one or two woodchuck babies
each summer. This summer we
received a total 0f 9 youngsters!
Their favorite activity? Digging
and more digging. They
managed to build a pretty decent
tunnel that also happened to
lead outside the enclosure. They
were rounded up easily and later
transferred to Wild and Free.
Issue 1
BUISNESS AS USUAL
This summer was busier than ever at Wildwoods but as most of the staff
know, thats business as usual here. As of September we helped a total of 900
wild animals. Everything from hummingbirds to black bears came through
our doors thanks to members of the community who decided to help these
animals. The species with the most admits was surprisingly raccoons with a
total of 83. Due to the high density of raccoons in the hillside and the rapid
spread of distemper we received only a handful of healthy orphans. Many of
our orphans are sent to a rehabber that specializes in raccoons, this year
seems lonely compared to the 9 we were raising last summer! The group with
the most admits at 175 included songbirds, woodpeckers and hummingbirds.
Its likely we see more birds due to the commonality of window strikes.
Canine Distemper
UNEXPECTED VISITOR
When we got a call about an injured hawk near downtown, we immediately
thought of the Peregrine falcons that nest there, as hawks are not common in the
downtown area. The bird was placed into a box before we arrived. When we
looked inside we werent sure what to think. Here was a bird that was larger than
the Peregrine, didnt have the distinct facial markings, and had green-blue tinted
legs. In Duluth we have three falcons that are common: Merlin, Kestrel and
Peregrine falcons; this bird resembled none of those. After flipping through a
field guide we identified the bird as a Prairie Falcon but recanted our decision
after looking at the summer range, which didnt even include most of western
Minnesota. Prairie Falcons are rarely recorded in Duluth during the summer
months because they nest in prairies and grasslands found in the western edge of
North Dakota to parts of California. Occasionally they are seen during spring and
fall migration, but not frequently as far east as Duluth. Consulting with some banders we were able to determine it was
indeed a Prairie Falcon, a female! So whats the big deal? Wild animals are rarely found venturing outside their normal
range, especially as far as this bird was from her home. Since theres no logical reason for her to be in Duluth, what
brought her here? We speculate a storm that passed from the west over Duluth
blew her over when she got stuck on the wrong front. She was later transferred to
The Raptor Center in St. Paul.
DID YOU KNOW?