Gopher tortoise, skimmer among patients seen by hospital staff

A gopher tortoise and a young black skimmer were among the 87 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida last week.

Other admissions include an eastern screech owl, a common ground dove, a great blue heron, a striped mud turtle and a black racer.

A woman called the wildlife hospital to confirm that it was illegal to take a gopher tortoise from the wild to keep as a pet. Hospital staff confirmed that she was correct, it is illegal. Originally the woman’s ex-husband had mentioned he got their kids a baby sulcata tortoise. When her kids showed her the tortoise she was immediately concerned because she believed it was a gopher tortoise, not a sulcata. As her kids gave her more information it was revealed that the ex-husband had found the tortoise and had decided to keep it as a pet.

The woman brought the tortoise to the hospital so we could ensure it was healthy and return it to the wild. While her actions upset her son and caused a difficult situation with her ex-husband, the woman absolutely did the right thing by bringing the tortoise to the wildlife hospital. We are incredibly grateful she made the well-being of the tortoise her priority.

Please, never keep a wild animal as a pet. Wild animals have specialized nutritional and husbandry requirements and without proper care and appropriate food they will suffer. The stress put on a wild animal in a captive situation can be incredibly debilitating and is often fatal. Also, only certain species of wildlife can be kept once the proper permits from the state and federal government are obtained; with all other species it is illegal to take them from the wild.

Finally, and most importantly, many wild animals carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. For your own safety and health — let wildlife live free in the wild.  

If you find a wild animal and are concerned for its safety, call the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. We will evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action.

The young black skimmer was found on Tigertail Beach where a colony of skimmers is currently nesting. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff member noticed the young skimmer while monitoring the nesting colony.

The skimmer was active but unable to stand so the bird “walked” with his legs in a bent position. An exam at the wildlife hospital showed the skimmer was thin and had a laceration on his back and both ankles. The bird’s ankle joints were swollen and red which made it impossible for his legs to extend properly. The skimmer was given an anti-inflammatory, an antibiotic, pain medication, and electrolytes and placed in an animal intensive care unit to rest.

A radiograph determined the damage to the skimmer’s ankle joints was too severe to rehabilitate and humane euthanasia was our only treatment option. A second young skimmer was found amongst the same colony on Tigertail Beach two days later but that young skimmer passed away during transport to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. The cause of illness for both of these birds is unknown.

When visiting our local beaches be aware that shorebird nesting season is underway. Several species of beach-nesting birds’ populations are imperiled.

Please watch out for and avoid disturbing birds and their young. Shorebirds build shallow nests out of sand and shells on the beach and their chicks are perfectly camouflaged with their surroundings. Obey all posted signs along the beaches where birds are nesting. Nesting success and species’ survival depends on birds being able to care for their young without being disturbed by people or pets.

Recent Releases

A gopher tortoise, two Virginia opossums, four eastern cottontails, to killdeer, a blue jay, a red-bellied woodpecker, six Northern mockingbirds, a Florida red-bellied turtle, a Florida softshell turtle, a morning dove, a barred owl, a common grackle, an eastern screech owl, and a peninsula cooter were released this past week.

Opportunities to Help

Please visit the Conservancy website at www.conservancy.org to view all of the amazing volunteer opportunities at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Your volunteer time, donations, and memberships are vital in helping us continue our work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.

Joanna Fitzgerald is director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Call 239-262-2273 or see conservancy.org