Lantana Living Magazine March 2021

Roadrunner

F

RESCUE

by Caylie Howard | photo courtesy of Luz Mortl

ebruary brought record-breaking temperatures, along with devastation and loss.

People were going without electricity and hot water. People had unfathomable damage due to pipes freezing and busting. But humans weren’t the only ones that suffered in the below-freezing temperatures.

known wildlife rehabilitation specialist based out of Denton. Diane was able to give advice to Mortl on how to understand the bird and how to care for her.

Animals that couldn’t find shelter during

On the evening of February 15th, Luz

Lantana community, a roadrunner was one

Facebook page. Lantana resident Brian

For several days, Mortl cared for Bolt to the best of her abilities given that the supplies in the area available to care for the bird were very limited. On February 20th, Mortl made the attempt to release the bird back into the wild. However, the attempt was unsuccessful. Mortl reached out to Leggett, who asked Mortl to bring Bolt directly to her. Upon arrival, Leggett noticed that Bolt was underweight and offered to keep Bolt and feed her for a few days to get her back to health.

the winter storms were freezing. In a local

of these animals. But thanks to the people of the local community, this majestic bird had a brighter outcome.

Mortl saw a post on the Lantana Wildlife Freeman’s dogs had spotted a roadrunner sitting along a fence, and it wasn’t moving. Brian’s kindness,

compassion, and courage led him to pick it up and

ANIMALS THAT

until someone else

COULDN’T FIND

take it home to warm up could care for it.

After seeing the post, Mortl

SHELTER DURING

offered to pick up the bird

THE WINTER STORMS

arrived, she said, “the bird

WERE FREEZING.

and care for it. When she was sitting in a laundry basket, enveloped by

towels, and it had a toasty heater warming

it up.” When she bent down to pick it up to put it into her pet carrier, the bird took off

flying around Freeman’s house. Within two

minutes, they had caught the lightning-fast

bird, and she had received her name, “Bolt.”

After Mortl had brought Bolt home, Ariana Tashakkori, a Lantana animal expert, told

her to reach out to Diane Leggett, a wellwww.LiveLocalMagazines.com

After only two days under Leggett’s highly experienced care, Bolt was ready to be released back into the wild for the final time. Because of the bravery and compassion of this local community, the life of this majestic bird was saved.

If you would like to learn more about Diane Leggett’s wildlife rescue, you can visit her nonprofit Facebook page, WildRescue, Inc./Rabbit Rescue.

MARCH 2021 | LANTANA LIVING | 11