This summer, two incidents with Osprey really demonstrated the need. Early this spring T. received a call about an Osprey that had been attacked by an eagle in the Lisabeula area. She reports that, “Sadly the people had kept it for two days, and in a crate with no bottom of astro turf so she had injured her feet with her own claws. This bird was very thin and dehydrated.” Although Wolftown folks gave her triage and delivered her to Sandy Fletcher at Island Wildlife, a licensed facility on Bainbridge Island, she died. From her plumage and brood patch, T. identified her as a breeding adult. It’s likely her loss jeopardized the survival of nestlings as well.

There aren’t very many Osprey on Vashon, so it was surprising when early in August an Audubon member received a call from Ron Krieger, golf course superintendent, about another Osprey, this one caught in the netting at the driving range of Vashon Island Golf and Country Club on Maury Island. T. drove over with Chloe, her intern from France. With Ron’s assistance, they cut the bird out of the mesh, and then took her home. It was an immature female, dehydrated but not too thin. One leg was severely sprained with possible hairline fractures of the joint. During three days of treating the Osprey, T. says she “learned to swear in French as Chloe helped me. After two days this bird started eating from my hand (whole cut up herring) and let me tell you, for an osprey THAT is very unusual. They are very shy birds!” T. and Chloe were able to stabilize the bird and send it on to Sandy at Island Wildlife where an X-ray showed the leg was only sprained. Despite warnings by experts that Osprey are extremely sensitive and rarely survive such traumas, this bird regained its health and has been returned and released on Vashon.

Wolftown Owl Rescues
Wolftown has been involved in quite a few owl rescue efforts. T. tells the following story about a rescue in the winter of 2001:
“I got a call for an injured Barred Owl from a lady who works at WA Mutual bank, and drove out to Maury Island in my pajamas at 11:00 at night. The owl had been hit by a car and flown down a muddy bank by Dockton. I fell down this same bank, spreading considerable mud all over myself. When I reappeared on the road covered with mud holding a big owl, LATE NIGHT TRAFFIC SLOWED CONSIDERABLY. We did triage on the owl and sent him to Sarvey’s Wildlife Center. Master Falconer Henry Thomas in conjunction with Sarvey Wildlife released two Barred Owls and a Screech Owl back on Vashon in November of 2001.”

In 2002, Wolftown received a call about an injured Great Horned Owl. In T.’s words, “This was an adult male who was caught in netting around a chicken coop. He had been hanging for several hours and was thin and dehydrated. Also one leg was sprained badly. This was the owl that Helen of WARN looked at with me. She doesn’t like working much with birds of prey. This owl latched onto her hand and practically put his back talon through her wrist. She stood up and twirled around for a moment, causing my niece who was helping me to laugh until I gave her a T. Look. Helen recovered nicely, and the owl went to Sarvey.”

T warns that handling birds of prey requires care and training. Helen has had a lot of experience, but still ran into trouble, so this type of incident could happen to anyone. T.’s advice: “If you get grabbed by a bird of prey, cover it with your coat or towel and try to stay calm. Usually the bird will just let go. If not, keep the bird’s head covered and slowly pull out back talon first, then the front talons. SLOWLY! Do NOT get grabbed by an eagle! Balds are spooky: they can press 1500 pounds per square inch!”

T. got a call about a Saw-whet Owl from a lady on the West Side in 2004. “This owl appeared sick from poison, such as rat bait. He went to Sarvey after we did triage. He was thin and lethargic and pretty ill. But he did start eating after three days. He was very fierce for such a small owl! He bit me whenever he could! This amused my niece. Wolftown humor?”
Other Species

In March 2002, T. “got a call on two eagles with their claws stuck together. By the time we got there with our kit and gear they were flying off looking disgruntled. That summer we got a call on an injured Peregrine Falcon down on the beach on Maury. It turned out to be an immature Sharpie, VERY thin and weak. We gave him support therapy but he died within hours. Many immature do not make it through their first season. Accipiters are hard to rehab as they are very sensitive. We got a call yesterday about a sick adult Pileated Woodpecker. Turns out to be a brancher that was just fine and needed to be returned to his parents, near Wolftown.”

T. points out that all too often well-meaning people disturb young wildlife who are going through normal stages of adjustment. Young birds who are fledging may spend a few hours or a few days on the ground if they leave the nest prematurely. If you cannot find the nest and put them back, watch to see if the parents are feeding them before concluding they are helpless. Maybe they can simply be lifted onto a safe branch. Leave seal pups alone when you spot them on the beach. Ignore fawns who are trying to blend into the foliage.
Wolftown Receives Expert Help

Wolftown relies on support from professionals. T works with the Wolftown veterinarian, Dr. Thorne, and consults with Dr. Tom Ray, a nationwide leading authority on raptor medicine who lives in Washington. Sandy Fletcher of Island Wildlife gives assistance, and sometimes T contacts the Ojai Raptor Center in California. T has been going through the official procedures to obtain a license for Wolftown to become a certified rehab facility, so that injured raptors can receive treatment without leaving Vashon. All her paperwork has gone to the state authorities, and she is now completing the examinations.

Operated by volunteers, Wolftown has sent its roots far into the Vashon community, taking on education, rescue, and rehab that strengthen the bond between people and the rest of our biological family. Wolftown needs our help. It needs drivers for injured wildlife headed over to Bainbridge. It needs towels and pillowcases for wrapping injured birds. It needs donations of money to pay for medical supplies and the materials for building additional shelter. It needs members. Send donations to: Wolftown / P.O. Box 13115 / Burton, WA 98013.