Farewell 2019, Welcome 2020
We are very grateful to all who have supported BMW in 2019 with your time, talents and donations, both financial and in kind, during a year filled with challenges and accomplishments. We look forward to a continued partnership in 2020.
The Week in Review
The past week provides a fairly typical snapshot of 2019 and a glimpse of what lies ahead in 2020. There were five new admissions: a Rough-legged Hawk who was shot; a Red-tailed Hawk who suffered blunt trauma to a shoulder from a collision, perhaps with a vehicle; a Western Screech Owl with a head and eye injury likely the result of being hit by a car; a Golden Eagle who was hit by a car and also has lead poisoning; and a Merlin who collided with a fence wire or power line, breaking both of its legs. The vast majority of wildlife brought to rehabilitation centers for care are not the victim of survival of the fittest, but rather an encounter (often unintentional) with humans. BMW’s mission is to mitigate some of the effects we humans have on our world and provide some insight into ways we can live in harmony with the natural world.
Rough-legged Hawk 19-581
After successfully migrating from the arctic tundra to the mountains of eastern Oregon, this beautiful Rough-legged Hawk was shot. His shattered wrist was not repairable and he was euthanized.
Golden Eagle 20-001
The first admission of 2020 came on New Year’s Day. It was an adult, female Golden Eagle who was struck by a vehicle near Dixie, WA. She was also the first eagle capture of volunteers Bill and Tiffany, and Bill’s first call since having knee replacement surgery. BMW volunteers are amazing!
The collision fractured the eagle’s right tibiotarsus and fibula. Blood work showed she also has a lead lead level of 54.4 micrograms/deciliter, a highly toxic amount of lead. Chelation to lower the lead level was started immediately.
On Saturday, Dr. Katie Yackley surgically repaired the tibiotarsus fracture at Pendleton Veterinary Clinic. In the first photo below the eagle’s leg is in traction. The dark area on the leg is bruising. In the second photo Dr. Yackley is exposing the fracture. Bob is holding the eagle in photo number three prior to treatment Sunday morning.
The eagle’s surgery went well. We are hopeful she will regain full use of her leg and foot. The recovery from lead poisoning is more uncertain. We can remove lead from the eagle’s blood with chelation, but chelation cannot remove lead that has been deposited in other tissues. The damage caused by lead is irreversible. It effects learning, coordination, the ability to make red blood cells and the functioning of other organs. It is just as toxic to people, especially young children, as it is to wildlife. For information on hunting with non-lead ammunition visit huntingwithnonlead.org
Save the Date: Saturday, January 18, 2020, 1:00 pm
Please join BMW’s Board of Directors for our Annual Membership Meeting at the First Christian Church, 215 N Main Street, Pendleton, OR. We will review 2019 and look ahead to 2020. Refreshments will be provided.
