Giving nature a second chance, one life at a time

CONGRATULATIONS FRIENDS AND LOVERS OF LOCAL WILDLIFE. YOU DID IT!

Yes, YOU, helped Second Chance Wildlife Rescue raise nearly $50,000 during El Paso Giving Day that will go towards the goal of restoring health to wildlife for their safe return to the wild. We are so grateful that you chose to donate to our cause. As a volunteer-powered organization, we are able to save our local wildlife because of supporters like you.

The Andrea Dorsey Kirs Legacy Fund and Waterloo Ice House both started us off early with a generous match donation of $5,000 each followed by you and other generous donors. Please know that you are truly making a difference with your donation and Second Chance Wildlife Rescue values your support.

Your donation allows us to continue to do what we love.

Funds raised for Second Chance go towards housing, food, medical supplies, ongoing renovations and upkeep of our property in Vinton. Thank you again!

Before we go, we wanted to tell you the story of a Glossy Beaked Ibis that was brought to us early this morning. It was found in a yard near Moore and Strahan. This area is the site of a safety improvement project because of poor illumination. We suspect it suffered an impact injury and then tried to fly off. He is very debilitated with no use of his legs. Luckily, he does not have any open wounds. We will hydrate him and let him rest for now.

The Glossy Beaked Ibis is way off course according to the map--more than likely migrating. These elegant long-legged, long-billed birds forage in flocks through wetlands and wet agricultural fields, searching for insects, small fish, and seeds. The oldest recorded Glossy Ibis was at least 21 years old and lived in Virginia between 1971 and 1992.

#WildlifeMatters

The American Coot

While we were busy with the glued grackle, yet another bird came in. It can get very busy around Second Chance Wildlife Rescue. Just when we think things are slowing down, we get several more wildlife in need. This American Coot was found in a puddle of water on Lee Trevino. Our guess is he is migrating and saw what looked like a pond. He lands in the "water" hitting the pavement. The rescuer saw him and got him out of the highly trafficked street. He is unable to stand. We haven't found any breaks in legs or wings, but he is very weak. We dipped his beak in a bowl of water and he drank, readily. He does not respond to movement, so we suspect a head injury. We started him on homeopathics for the pain and swelling, and hope for improvement.

Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American Coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step to facilitate walking on dry land.

The American Coot is a migratory bird that occupies most of North America. It lives in the Pacific and southwestern United States and Mexico year-round and occupies more northeastern regions during the summer breeding season.

Coots have to be in water, to be able to fly. They "run" on the water, flapping their wings harder and harder to pick up speed, only then are they able to take flight. They can walk on land, but cannot take flight from land, and they have to land in water.

With all the rain we have had in El Paso, the puddles are looking like ponds. The coot is beginning to regain some vision. We'll continue to monitor him until he is completely well and able to continue his journey.

Fun and true fact: The oldest known coot lived to be 22 years old.

We could not do what we do, without help through donations. Although we accept donations year-round, tomorrow is the last day to donate during the Paso del Norte Community Foundation's El Paso Giving Day. This year the Andrea Dorsey Legacy Fund and Waterloo Ice House each gave us $5,000 to start with matching funds from the public. Please click on the link to donate if you haven't already. We believe that Wildlife Matters!

EL PASO GIVING DAY

Our biggest fundraiser El Paso Giving Day started this week with early giving, Oct. 9 through October 16. This year two sponsors selected Second Chance Wildlife Rescue for matching funds: Andrea Dorsey Kirs Legacy Funds with a $5,000 match, and Waterloo Ice House for another $5,000 match.

We recognize that every wild creature on earth is important to our ecosystem. We have lost 70% of all wildlife in the last 50 years. Let those numbers mean something to you.

A hatching sparrow is as important for biodiversity as any other wild creature. We do everything we can at Second Chance Wildlife Rescue, within our limitations of space, enclosures, and finances, to save those that come to us.

We are the last organization in a huge region, that is still accepting wildlife, in need of human intervention. If you need to reach us regarding an INJURED, ILL, or ORPHANED animal, CALL US AT 915-920-7867. We accept wildlife year-round.

Please help us help our local wildlife by donating at the live link below. We can’t do what we do without your help. Thank you for thinking of us.

Donate at: https://elpasogivingday.org/organizations/second-chance-wildlife-rescue

Yesterday, a young couple brought us a hatchling pigeon and literally, "a basket of eggs!"

The young man was at work cleaning the gutters and rooftop of a Speedway gas station when he came upon the eggs. He showed his manager who told him to throw them away. Yes, you read that right. THROW THEM AWAY! But the young man couldn't do it. Instead, behind his manager's back, he brought them to Second Chance Wildlife Rescue. Our faith in humanity has been restored! What a shame that so many humans do not see the value of life. Since the eggs had been jostled so much during transport, we won't know how many are viable. Before arriving at Second Chance, the young man saw a hatchling being born! Another thing the young man told us was that there were many adult dead pigeons so we are guessing that they were poisoned. Any bird that can get to that roof and consume the poison, will also die. Any raptor that eats the dead pigeons, will consume the poison.

By the way, one of our donors last year specifically asked that a new incubator be purchased with her donation. This incubator maintains the temperature at 100 degrees and rotates the eggs. This is one of the reasons we participate in the annual Giving Day event. This year two sponsors selected Second Chance Wildlife Rescue for matching funds: Andrea Dorsey Kirs Legacy Funds with a $5,000 match, and Waterloo Ice House for another $5,000 match. With your donations we purchase supplies, food, build enclosures for our wildlife, and make improvements to our property. We have another week to go before the giving deadline. Please go to our link and help us help our local wildlife.

At Second Chance Wildlife Rescue we never know what kind of wildlife will come through our doors. Today we received two calls regarding ill owls. A Great Horned Owl (GHO) was transported here from Columbus, N.M., and the other, also a Great Horned Owl, was a juvenile that had been on a tree all night and then fell into someone’s backyard in the upper valley.

One GHO had a shattered shoulder and maggots had already settled inside. Unfortunately, this was an injury that could not be repaired and we had to euthanize it.

The owl that fell out of the tree was picked up by a game warden to be taken to the zoo to test for avian flu. It’s highly unusual for an owl to just fall out of a tree. A necropsy will determine what it died of. These are some of the wildlife that come to us. We are able to save the majority of them, and the few that do not make it, make us even more determined to do whatever we have to, to save future wildlife.

Did you know that we are the largest and only full-time dedicated wildlife rescue in all of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico? We field over 4,000 calls annually providing education to the general public on wildlife needs. Please click on the link below and help us save our local wildlife. Because Wildlife Matters.

Mission

To rescue, rehabilitate, and release native wildlife; providing individualized care for wildlife in need and educating the public on wildlife awareness.

Vision

To rehablitate wildlife and release them back into their native habitat.

How You Can Help!

Volunteer

Are you over 18? We can use your help. Second Chance Wildlife Rescue is always looking for volunteers to help. Please contact us if you're interested.

I want to help! Click here.