REHAB STORIES: PATIENT HIGHLIGHTS

GOPHER TORTOISE #23-1839

On April 8th, a Fort Lauderdale resident was surprised to discover a Gopher Tortoise that had been painted by an unidentified person.

An intake exam confirmed the tortoise had no major injuries or wounds, however, the paint would prevent this turtle from absorbing muchneeded Vitamin D. Additionally, the bright colors will make it difficult for them to camouflage in their native habitat. This patient is currently in our outdoor Gopher Tortoise habitat as we wait for the paint to fade before returning the tortoise to the wild.

While Great Blue Herons are not unique patients to SFWC, we rarely see white morphs of this species admitted to our hospital. This heron was discovered in Davie unable to fly.

An initial exam revealed swelling and significant bruising over the left wing. Radiographs confirmed a fracture of the left radius. The fractured limb was thoroughly cleaned and placed in a wrap to allow for proper alignment while healing.

This patient is undergoing treatment in our Wildlife Ward that includes regular bandage changes and physical therapy to maintain range of motion.

Did you know? The largest heron in North America, the Great White is very rare outside central and southern Florida. Though they are regular throughout most of the southern half of the state, Florida Bay holds the majority of known Great White Herons, with about 850 breeding pairs. Very few are known to breed anywhere else in the world. Given their apparently small population, Great Whites exhibit a rather strong tendency to stray. They prefer saltwater, inhabiting mangroves, tidal shallows, or coastal ponds.

Did you know? In Florida, the Gopher Tortoise is designated as a threatened species under the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. Gopher Tortoises share their burrows with more than 350 other species, including the Eastern indigo snake, rodents, gopher frog, and hundreds of invertebrates like beetles and crickets who also depend on the burrows for shelter and predator protection. This makes Gopher tortoises a keystone species — one without which many other species would not survive.

BALD EAGLE 23-2071

Fort Lauderdale residents discovered this juvenile Bald Eagle on the ground, unable to fly. Following transport to our center from a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer, clinic staff conducted a full intake exam. Radiographs confirmed a right coracoid fracture. For the last two months, the eagle has undergone extensive rehabilitation and physical therapy to maintain range of motion in the shoulder. This patient is currently in our large flight cage and has regularly been observed by staff flying back and forth. After further evaluation, he has been cleared by our veterinary team for release! Please follow us on social media for updates.

Help support our Wildlife Education Ambassador Program by symbolically adopting one of our resident animals!

Through the South Florida Wildlife Center’s Wildlife Education Ambassador Program, our resident animals help us provide education and advocacy for wild animals. The program’s nonreleasable animals have unique stories that allow our Outreach and Community Services team to inform the public about the different species, conservation, respect, and appreciation of our South Florida wildlife.

Your adoption of an ambassador animal helps to provide the best possible veterinary care, staffing, training, and husbandry, as well as habitat maintenance for our Wildlife Education Ambassador Animals.