Wild Fires Threaten Wild Lives.

With wildfires ravaging Mendocino and Trinity county forests and rural communities and threatening Humboldt county, Humboldt Wildlife Care Center/bird ally x has admitted a few wild animals who were refugees from the flames. Some of these patients have recovered well, but we’ve been made aware of more wild animals that may have been rescued from the fire but are unable to be brought into care at HWCC/bax due to limited resources, road closures, and evacuation orders.

A western grebe recovers in a hospital pool after being rescued from the fire in Ruth Lake area
A Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis), with fire in his own eyes, enjoys the wet soggy dripping water of our seabird pool after spending too many hours in the August Complex Fire, currently surrounding Ruth Lake. This highly aquatic bird was found on the ground near the mountain community of Mad River by Heidi, a local resident. She kept the bird safe for a day and then transported to Hydesville where HWCC/bax staff met her to complete his trip to our facility.

HWCC/bax will accept any and all wildlife impacted by the fires. Our facility and staff are ready. Even wild animals with injuries beyond our capacity to treat locally but which have a good prognosis with the proper care can be stabilized here at HWCC and transported to our colleagues in other parts of the state with more advanced facilities.

Western Grebe, stranded in the fire zone, finds freedom and the safety of the sea in Humboldt Bay.

If necessary, our staff will organize a pickup point near the evacuation areas. If you have a an injured wild animal in your possession or care, we want to help you get that animal the care and treatment they need and deserve. Let us know. We can and we will help. Report fire-impacted wild animals on our hotline 707 822 8839. And please, be as careful and as safe as you can be.

As always, our work is dependent on the support of our community. Without you, our doors would close forever. Please donate if you can. Thank You!!!

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featured fire photo: on scene firefighter Mike McMillan
other photos: Laura Corsiglia/bax

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