Turkey Vulture

[pacificpikachu]

Ryan and I went down to Yuba City to go shopping today. This was rather uneventful, really, although we went to a bunch of stores. Ryan bought a bunch of clothes, and I bought nothing other than a little chicken plush that clucks when you squeeze it and a Steamboy DVD for $3.

On the way back, though, I spotted a turkey vulture hunched over on the side of the road, not moving. I was concerned so I pulled over, grabbed an extra coat, and he allowed me to pick him up so I knew something was definitely wrong. He smelled terrible--like flesh and feces--but I held him the whole way to the raptor center and monitored his breathing. Luckily Mike Furtado had just gotten home and was about to examine him after we dropped him off in the clinic, put him in one of the cages, and filled out an intake form on him. There was another injured turkey vulture in the clinic who looked worse off than him, so that gives me hope that he has a chance. Also, he was still able to stand and remained alert during the car drive. I have my fingers crossed for him! It'll be so fulfilling and wonderful if he makes it. :D



Think good thoughts for him! I know I will be.

Comments

[astralvulpes.livejournal.com]

Aww! What an awesome thing for you to do! I LOVE vultures. <3

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I feel so glad that I bothered to stop. I do, too! They're very common here, but they're awesome birds. They serve such an important biological function, too!

[kirarakim.livejournal.com]

He's really pretty. I will hope for the best.

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

I think so, too! A lot of people don't like them because of the bald head, but I think they're majestic. :)

Thanks for thinking good thoughts for him--I'll let everyone know once I get an update!

[straydogstarbck.livejournal.com]

Aww, he looks so sad! Good on you for rescuing him, and I hope he gets better.

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

He does. ;___; Poor guy would almost certainly be roadkill if I hadn't stopped for him, though, so hopefully he won't look so sad soon. ♥

Thanks! I'll try and get an update on him tomorrow. :3

[toboe-lonewolf.livejournal.com]

What I wanna know is how you keep seeing animals along the road in the first place, hurt or not. :P You must have the eyes of an eagle or something!

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

I have good eyesight/am always on the lookout for road victims and crossers, and I live in a very rural area so we have a LOT of animals around here. That may have more to do with it than my spotting abilities!

[ethersol.livejournal.com]

i appreciate what you're doing for animals. it gives me hope for humanity and its kindness. good stuff <3

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks! ♥

[slashaddict.livejournal.com]

Aww what a beautiful vulture!

How can you tell if an animal on the side of the road is alive or not, other than stopping? I didn't know if you had a secret technique or something like that.

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

I think so, too! :D

And in his case, I could tell because he was standing up but not moving. Obviously a dead animal isn't going to be standing. And I partially was clued off to the fact that something might be wrong because there were a ton of other vultures circling around him--probably waiting for him to die.

Most of the time, if an animal looks dead, it is, and an animal that isn't dead will be moving. (LOL, nice piece of insight there, self. :P) The only actual dead animals worth stopping for are opossums in the spring/summer/early fall--that's because babies can sometimes be alive in their pouch and needing rescue. Obviously if the 'possum is smashed that's not going to do much good, but if you see a non-smashed dead opossum on the side of the road during those times of the year, it's good to check the pouch if you can.

[slashaddict.livejournal.com]

That is EXCELLENT advice about the possum! There are possums everywhere here. Where is the pouch, and how can I handle the babies safely? And what is some good stuff to keep in your car in case of a need for animal rescue?

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

I keep a crummy old towel and a medium box in the back of my car, just in case! Seeing as I've had to stop and pick up injured animals twice now, it's good to be prepared. Having a pair of gloves would be an excellent idea, too, in case one needs to handle something that's likely to bite. If it's something dangerous like a coyote or a bobcat, though, I'd definitely call for help. Also, adult injured deer can not be rehabilitated (unfortunately ;;), so if you come across an injured deer I'd just call animal control to have them put the animal down if it doesn't look like it can recover on its own.

The pouch is on their belly, and the babies can be handled safely as far as I've heard. Just pick them up as you would a rat or something, be gentle, and then place them in a box with a towel. Having a pair of gloves on hand would really help, though, as then you don't have to handle the dead opossum with your bare hands and if the babies try to bite you'll be protected. We get a lot of baby opossums that had roadkill moms, so it really is worth trying. Not during the winter like now, but when baby season comes around.

[scorpio-alice.livejournal.com]

OH no! Not a Sexy man! :P I'll be free tomorrow so I will give you a call.

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

LOL, it is a sexy man! XD I saved him, now maybe he'll show me his true form!

Yes, give me a call! I'm at my dad's, 478-9844. :D

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was! :D At Marshalls, of all strange places, too. O__o;

Thanks--I'm hoping he makes it! I'll try and get an update on him tomorrow. ♥ They are very majestic and beautiful birds, and they really serve an important purpose. It makes me sad when people bash on them--they don't kill anything, and they're just trying to live, too.

[slashaddict.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you, he looks so sweet and bashful <3