autumnautumn 20132013 livelive wellwell with wildlife imprinted, habituated or tame? before wildcare prickly hitchhikers getting ready to go thinking outside the desk fox squirrels wildcare news I Volume 17, Number 2 I Dear Friends, Autumn 2013 I hope you are having a wonderful summer! Administration and Education There are many exciting things happening at 415-453-1000 fax: 415-456-0594 WildCare right now. As usual, summer is our busiest Wildlife Hotline and Hospital season. Not only is the hospital extra full of patients 415-456-SAVE (7283) with many more arriving daily, camps are in progress, Website http://www.wildcarebayarea.org and we are enjoying the children who attend each week- long session. Usually on Fridays (last day of camp), the Email [email protected] kids put on a play about what they’ve learned for their Address 76 Albert Park Lane, San Rafael, CA 94901 parents. It is really a highlight for those of us who can Office Hours 9am–5pm M-F attend. Exhibit Hall, Courtyard and Clinic Hours All this summer activity underscores our critical 9am–5pm seven days a week need for a new facility, and I am happy to report on our progress. As you know, we have secured the site for our future home at Silveira Ranch, and we have board of directors two parallel efforts in progress – getting permits and raising funds. President Susanne Lyons Vice President Julie Allecta Speaking of fundraising, our Capital Campaign Committee, led by Board President Susanne Lyons, launched its work during a kick-off meeting in May. Treasurer Aaron Canale Linda Cheng The committee has three essential duties: contribute to the project, connect us Ed Dong with other prospective donors to the project, and convince their prospects that Alexandra Morehouse WildCare and its capital campaign are worthy of their support! We are now Susan Rusche in the “quiet” phase of our campaign, which focuses on major donations. We Kate Van Gytenbeek hope to secure approximately half of our estimated budget of $8 million prior to going public. We encourage you to be part of this process. If you would like executive director to participate in this all-important endeavor (or have suggestions for people or Karen Wilson organizations that might) please let me know. wildcare staff We are currently in the process of conducting and compiling myriad Jan Armstrong Marco Berger studies – biological, archeological, traffic, Phase One Environmental – just to Mecca Billings Nelson Lucy Burlingham name a few. By the time you receive this newsletter, we will have submitted Cindy Dicke Marian Eschen our full application (complete with studies) to the County of Marin Planning Deborah Goldstein Jessica Grace-Gallagher Department. We will also host meetings in September for our future neighbors Alison Hermance Katharine Jessup and others interested in learning more about our plans. Once we receive Juliana Joe Eileen Jones approval from the Planning Department (the process takes months) we Kelle Kacmarcik Winnie Kelly Kate Lynch Diana Manis will submit our more detailed building permits. Of course we will be busy Charlotte Patterson Melanie Piazza fundraising during this entire time. Mary Pounder Barbara Pritchard You may also know of our exciting event on October 15 when we will Kim Sandholdt Françoise Samuelson present Dr. Jane Goodall with our first-ever WildCare Environmental Award! Janet Sinnicks Andy Smith Initially the Terwilliger Environment Award, we decided to change the name to Nat Smith, RVT Paulette Smith-Ruiz honor Dr. Goodall, since that award is traditionally bestowed on outstanding Juan-Carlos Solis JoLynn Taylor Bay Area educators, and we plan to continue that proud tradition as well. Victor Ullrich I hope you enjoy reading about all of the exciting things going on at WildCare in this newsletter. As always, I am extremely thankful to our in memory of wonderful donors, volunteers and staff. We simply could not do the work we Elizabeth C. Terwilliger do without you! Julie Malet I am so excited that we are in this period of transformation. Each day I see the vision for our new facility coming closer and closer to fruition! WildCare advocates for wildlife Sincerely, for a sustainable world. Cover Photograph: Alison Hermance Editor: JoLynn Taylor Karen Wilson Website Design: Alison Hermance Executive Director WildCare’s newsletter is published three times a year (April, August, November). Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents Follow WildCare on of this publication are accurate. We regret that we cannot be respon- sible for human error, printing mistakes, or variations in individual Catch the Facebook and Twitter! Visit workmanship. Printed in USA on Orion Satin Recycled our Living with Wildlife blog paper by Schumann Printers, Inc., Fall River, Wisconsin. Wild Action! POSTMASTER send changes of address to WildCare, at marinij.com 76 Albert Park Lane, San Rafael, CA 94901. Sign up for WildCare’s FREE weekly eNews updates at www.wildcarebayarea.org. 22 wildcarewildcare 415.453.1000415.453.1000 autumn 2013 I news & notes I I local heroes I eyes, pupils fixed and dilated, and constant pacing with back weakness. At the direction of Dr. Pesavento, we took samples from one while the raccoon was under anesthesia before euthanizing her. Melanie Piazza took video of the raccoon’s behavior that led medical staff to suspect the presence of the tumors. She will use the video and accompanying descriptions to share with other wildlife centers. Photo by JoLynn Taylor Photo by JoLynn Dr. Pesavento wrote, “Thank you california kingsnake so much, Melanie. The serum is like Meet our newest Wildlife gold on this one, and my oncologist When WildCare volunteers Ambassador! This baby was found was standing by when we arrived, so encouraged us to recycle more in an aquarium at the side of a road we may have a tumor cell line. Wow.” things during our annual clean- in Martinez, and taken to Lindsay up day in January, 1-800-GOT- Museum, a wildlife hospital for which JUNK? was our first choice. 75% WildCare staff member Nat Smith of everything they pick up is either fosters reptiles. recycled, donated or salvaged. The aquarium gave Nat a clue that There are seven 1-800-GOT- the snake had been kept as a pet for JUNK? franchises operating in the some period of time, a circumstance San Francisco Bay Area, with more that makes reptiles non-releasable. Captive reptiles may carry diseases to than thirty trucks, all operated by which wild ones have no resistance. local owners and workers. From We had no way of knowing whether he residential to small and large office had had contact with other reptiles or clean-outs, they can take away their enclosures. We also had no idea Taylor Photo by JoLynn almost anything that can be lifted by where this little guy came from, and remembering gaia two adults. since kingsnakes have a high degree We sadly say goodbye to Wildlife 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is a of site fidelity, he would have tried to California E-Waste collector, so all return to his home range, no matter Ambassador Gaia, who entertained so where he was released. many courtyard visitors over the last computer monitors, TVs and CPUs eight years. Gaia was blind, but had are recycled according to California Nat kept the snake over the winter, no problem finding her way around law. They sort, donate and drop off and knowing that our kingsnake Rex her familiar habitat. She died in July many needed items to local charities was retiring, admitted the young snake of an age-related illness. to WildCare on December 19, 2012 as and Good Will. patient #1830. Plan to come visit him nickels for nonprofits Thank you, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and watch him grow up! United Markets encourages its for giving WildCare the friends and family discounts! walk with wildcare customer to reuse their grocery bags when shopping. Two years ago, they The next in our continuing series news and notes of walks with WildCare naturalists continues on page 11 will take place on Saturday, October 5 at Corte Madera Creek, from 10am to noon. We’ll explore this urban creek Living with Wildlife Photography Contest and its surrounding habitat, and then enjoy boxed lunches. Visit our website Enter your best California wildlife photo for more information and to purchase to win our tickets. $500 Best in Show Prize raccoon glioblastoma Diagnoses of two more cases of the Entry deadline September 13, 2012 raccoon tumors that were identified last year by Dr. Patricia Pasavento of UC Davis were confirmed this spring. Sadly, our medical staff is becoming Visit wildcarebayarea.org/photocontest or call 415-453-1000 x 24 adept at diagnosing the nasal brain for rules and entry forms tumors. Symptoms include bulging Photo by Ashley Rowson autumn 2013 2013 www.wildcarebayarea.org wildcare 3 imprinted, habituated or tamed? In rehabilitating wild animals – preparing them to survive a life in the as an adult vulture, Vladimir would wild – foster caregivers walk a thin line. While we have to care for baby animals have nothing to do with him. Vladimir in a way that doesn’t terrify them every time they see a human approach them seemed terrified, the young vulture with food, we are also very concerned about making them too comfortable around seemed confused and stressed, and the people when they are released later. attempt was abandoned. Many of us use the word “imprinted” to talk about this danger, but actual habituation imprinting is very rare. Habituation is much more common, and taming is actually rather difficult. What’s the difference? Habituation – in which an animal becomes accustomed to people or imprinting situations – is actually our greatest Imprinting is a term used in both and is probably one of the reasons that danger in keeping wild animals in psychology and ethology (the study wildlife rehabilitators in California are captivity while they heal or grow.