THUNDER BAY – The Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue is asking for donations to help care for the many birds of prey that come through its doors every year.
“I rehabilitate wild birds of prey, and there’s a lot of them that need help, they’re probably one of the most notable birds that people recognize, so when they’re found and injured, I’m happy to be able to be a resource to be able to get them help,” said owner Jenn Salo.
“If they can’t be helped, I’ve been in a position many times where the only thing that I could do is offer release through euthanization, putting them down, and I’m happy to be able to do that, because otherwise when these birds, these eagles are gravely injured, they can hang on for weeks in that condition.”
Currently, Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue has four raptors in care, an eagle with suspected broken metacarpals, a bald eagle with a broken wing, a peregrine with a broken right metacarpal and compromised wrist and a broad-winged hawk with a broken shoulder.
“It’s been very busy, we’re at the beginning of migration season and it’s also hunting season, so we’re seeing lots of birds that get exposed to lead from gut piles and from partridge that have been shot but got away, that kind of thing, they’re slower and they get taken by these raptors on migration,” Salo said.
The Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue is also looking to take over certain areas of Chippewa Park, in order to increase the amount of care that they can offer.
“There’s a lot of space there that can be utilized with what I do, I desperately need the flight pens that are there, and so, we’ve been in talks with city admin about a potential lease for specific spaces within the old wildlife exhibit and I’m very hopeful that we can be in there at some point this fall/winter 2021,” Salo said.
“I get so many calls and there are so many birds coming in, and the more well-known I become and my work becomes, the more calls I’m getting, the more eagles need help, and I have limited space for the larger birds as it is, so, having that space will help me be able to answer more calls.”
Anyone who wishes to donate cash can send money to thunderbirdwildlife@gmail.com, funds received go to cover transport costs, X-ray and vet bill costs.
Food donations that would be greatly appreciated:
- Fish (fresh or frozen) eagles like pike the best!
- Geese and/or moose scraps
- Lead free, large game scraps
- Wild game: bunnies, squirrels, partridge, etc... that people are willing to part with
The shelter is also looking for blankets, sheets and soaker pads.
For more information on how to donate or help out, visit their Facebook page
