The Gail E. Abrams Wildlife Ambassador Fund

Did you know that it costs approximately ten thousand dollars per year to feed our raptor ambassadors?

At Piedmont Wildlife Center, we care for a variety of raptors, including owls, hawks, a kite, and a raven. In the wild, nearly all of these birds would be active hunters. They would seek out and eat mice, rats, insects, and smaller birds. Our great horned owl’s wild relatives have even been known to hunt rabbits, cats, and other mammals of a similar size! We try to mimic the diets of our ambassadors the best we can, so we feed them mice, rats, and chicks. With each meal, we also provide a raptor supplement, which is like a multivitamin for our ambassadors, to keep our feathered friends healthy and strong.

Preparing these specialized meals, cleaning enclosures, and providing regular beak, feather, and talon care is a labor-intensive job. Our ambassadors are important to us, and with the help of our staff and volunteers we can provide the best care possible. But we are now faced with a dilemma.  

In the past, Piedmont Wildlife Center was fortunate enough to have a supplier of free raptor food. Recently, we lost that supplier. That loss has caused a serious financial strain. As we seek options for the future to ensure that our raptors are fed and well cared for, we ask all of you that support Piedmont Wildlife Center to donate toward caring for our ambassadors and to share this need with your friends and family.

Our ambassadors have been and continue to be an integral part of our outreach programs. When children see an owl emerge from their travel crate, they exclaim “WOAH! Look at those eyes!” or “I had no idea we had owls that small in NC!” They are our best tool for teaching children and adults alike about local wildlife and its importance, as well as the steps they can take to help preserve our natural world for generations to come.

Can you help us today by donating to our ambassador fund?

Links:

• Meet our Wildlife Ambassadors

Do you have pets? If so, you know how quickly vet bills can add up! With over 20 wildlife ambassadors, we visit our local exotic veterinarians on a regular basis. Fortunately, we live in an area with a great vet school (shout out to the North Carolina State University Wolfpack!) and not one, but a few exotic vets.

Most recently, Miracle, the beloved silky ringneck dove, was acting odd. With birds and reptiles, they don’t show many symptoms so it’s important to pay attention to the subtle ones. Miracle’s main symptom was that he was more quiet than normal. If you know Miracle, you know he loves to say hello to everyone (see attached video).  

After continuing to be quiet for a couple weeks and occasionally fluffing up (his only other symptom), we decided it was time for a vet visit. The vet performed an exam, fecal checks, and ran bloodwork. It was determined he had some type of infection (not sure what, but his white blood cell count was elevated), and was given medications. For this one vet visit alone, it cost over $400.   

Earlier this year, the domestic rabbit, Parsley urinated outside her litter box for the first time in 6 years. We knew something was up. Rabbits, although they are mammals, are also very good at hiding illness! Thankfully our awesome animal care volunteers and educators pay close attention to our ambassadors and let us know anytime something is awry. After multiple vet visits, urinalyses, radiographs, and bloodwork we couldn’t find anything wrong with Parsley. We’re grateful that she seems to be doing well, despite her new behavior, but it also came with a large vet bill of over $1,000 for 3 different vet visits.

We take pride in the fact that our ambassadors receive great care throughout their time with us, but we couldn’t do it without your support! Can you donate today to help keep our wildlife ambassadors healthy so they can continue teaching all about how to conserve our native wildlife? Every dollar counts!

Links:

• Miracle saying "hello"
• Meet our Wildlife Ambassadors