Shelter Cove – Bird Ally X

In mid-November, Humboldt Wildlife Care Center took a call about a fox found lying in the middle of the road near the Shelter Cove Fire Department. The fox couldn’t walk, could barely move.

Shelter Cove is a considerable distance from HWCC – getting help for the fox meant coordinating with the firefighter in Shelter Cove and the staff of Garberville Redway Veterinary Group who generously agreed to take the fox for the night and provide stabilization treatment while we arranged transportation for the following morning.

After driving to Garberville the next day, we had the Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in care.
Although he could not use his legs, he did have sensation in his back feet, and tried to move them as he was being handled. A good sign.

Wary and agile, Gray Fox tries to evade capture for routine exam.

Within a few days the fox was able to stand and take a few weak steps. After six days, he could walk and stand easily. We moved him to outdoor housing to test his ambulation. Immediately he ran to the far side of our mammal housing. He did stumble a bit when he reached the other side, about 30 feet away, which was important to note as an observation. Nevertheless his run was a very remarkable display.

Over the next couple of weeks his coordination continued to improve, until we could not perceive that he’d ever had a problem. He was in fine form. At his release examination, he answered all the questions correctly, including his four hundred gram weight gain in three weeks – having come in at 3500 grams, he was going home at 3900! He liked his thawed rats from Layne Labs

Goin’ home. Next time this door opens, wild freedom is on its other side.

At the first break in weather after the recent storms, BAX boardmember, release photographer, wild family reunion specialist, administrative miracle worker, and fine artist Laura Corsiglia and one of our wonderfully giving HWCC volunteers, Christine, took the Gray Fox back to Shelter Cove. Ordinarily Laura gets incredible shots of patients at release, as can be seen on this very site! But not this time. When Christine opened the door, the quick gray fox jumped through the hated door and was gone. Laura did get this video.

Thanks to your support over the last 44 years, HWCC has been here for wild animals in need, doing the best we could do with what we had. This fox had a place to heal because you provide the resources that are needed. Now as we go through the stress and excitement, the fear and the promise, of moving our facility, we and our patients need you. Please help keep our doors open, so we can keep opening doors for our wild neighbors who need a second chance. Thank you!!!!

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photos/video: BAX/ Laura Corsiglia

Day 11 in our August fundraising Drive: So far we’ve raised $580 of our goal of $5000 by the end of the month. Your help is needed. Every donation helps. Thank you for being a part of this wildlife saving work!

Three years ago, August 2011, Bird Ally X began responding to fish-oil contaminated Brown Pelicans in Cresent City and Shelter Cove. Besides the 50 birds rescued, we noted that the infrastructure at both locations were the cause for the contamination. In November of that year we presented this information to the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District. It seemed that the situation would be rectified. A positive aspect of this event was our partnership with Humboldt Wildlife Care Center, which eventually led to the unification of the two organizations.

Unfortunately, in 2012, it became obvious that the problems hadn’t been fixed. We ended up mounting a large response, treating over 250 Brown Pelicans out of our very small facility in Bayside. Trying to get the discharge pipe that was spewing fish waste into the water of Shelter Cove stopped was very frustrating. While some modifications were made, the outflow continued. It wasn’t until Brown Pelicans left the area and headed north that the contaminations stopped. (read about our 2012 efforts)

The discharge pipe at Shelter Cove – July 2012 (photo Daniel Corona/Bird Ally X)

Dead contaminated Brown Pelican – July 2012 (photo: Drew Hyland/Bird Ally X)

Brown Pelican released at Shelter Cove, September 2011 (photo: Laura Corsiglia/BAX)

Now, two years later, we are happy to see that the Harbor District is taking its responsibility for the fish cleaning station at Shelter Cove seriously and moving forward to stop the discharge pipe. What follows is a news story from the Redwood Times that ran this Spring… We’re glad we were able play our part, with your support, in bringing these needed changes. Thank you for helping us meet our mission!

Harbor District meets with RID and the public in Shelter Cove

Sandy Feretto, Redwood Times

Posted: 03/18/2014 04:21:00 PM PDT

On Thursday, March 6 the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District met with the Shelter Cover Resort Improvement District and about 100 members of the public in Shelter Cove.

Jack Crider, chief executive officer of the Harbor District told the Redwood Times that the meeting addressed a variety of issues.

The Harbor District has a goal of eliminating the discharge pipe from the fish-cleaning table into the bay that has caused problems for the pelicans.

The first step is to eliminate the carcasses, Crider explained, and the next step would be to process the water from the fish-cleaning table and dispose of it in the resort district’s sewer system.

The solids separated from the water and carcasses can be frozen and sold as bait.

Crider said that over the last year the Department of Fish and Wildlife has finally acknowledged the district’s right to remove and sell the fish carcasses from the fish-cleaning table.

Since the harbor district first discussed the idea, Patrick O’Shea, of Shelter Cove, has entered into a lease agreement with David Mollett, the owner of Mario’s Marina that included the commercial boat-launching contract.

O’Shea intends to upgrade “the green building” that is in the middle of the parking lot at Mario’s. He plans to sell the frozen fish carcasses for bait and fresh, locally caught fish from the building. He has been in the process of obtaining permission from the Coastal Commission, Crider said.

Crider went on to say that the Harbor District’s easement covers the public access road down to the beach for recreation purposes, the breakwater, and technically the Harbor District owns the fish cleaning equipment. There have been some improvements made to the breakwater, but Crider said they are having some problems with sand that will require maintenance.

The Harbor District also has safety concerns with the public parking at the bottom of the beach access road. The district will post signs at the bottom to remind people not to park there.

He said that the Regional Water Quality Control Board has asked the district to test the beach sand and water in order to determine the impact of allowing cars to drive all over the beach. It will cost the district about $10,000 a year and take two or three years to yield results.

Tag: Shelter Cove

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