My cat got a northern Flicker

[Kathy Schimack]

Hey all- I know I haven't been around for a while- busy busy! Anyway- found a northern flicker in the garage making a ton of noise and trying to get away from my cats. He has only a small wound on his wing and seems fine- albeit traumatized. We have him in on of our cat carriers and I did get some antibiotic ointment on the wound. He has drunk some water, and seems more rested (he was sleeping earlier today). He doesn't seem so scared of us and is alert, but is still laying down on the towel in the carrier. If anyone has any suggestions for us I would appreciate it. I don't want to do anything I shouldn't- but it would be great to see him fly off the deck in a day or so.

Kathy

[Gary Lefko]

I would call a wildlife rehabber--

Colorado, North Central

Colorado, North Central region, Boulder County (Longmont/Boulder/Denver)..... 303-774-8347

Annette Archambeau (wildlife/operations director), Archway Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.
[e-mail]
Wildlife Species: young/baby mammals (small and medium sized), young/baby ducks
and geese
Specialties/Knowledge: Newborns, tracking wildlife, alternative methods of healing
Comments: for a $20.00 donation, we will pick up wildlife in need IN OUR AREA.

Colorado, North Central region (Longmont/Lyons)..... 303-823-8455

Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary
Wildlife Species: Non-preditory birds, songbirds,
small mammals, racoons, foxes, coyotes, etc.


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Colorado, Northeast

Colorado, Northeast region (Aurora)..... 303-340-4911

Jack & Penny Murphy and Sean Kalahar, Urban Wildlife Rescue, Inc.
[e-mail]
Specialty: bat rehabilitation, capture and handling techniques,
humane solutions to wildlife problems, educational programs,
rehabilitation of small mammals (Coyote size on down), humane nuisance control
Colorado, Northeast region (Black Forest)..... 719-510-4779

Eric Ma (volunteer, rescue, transport, rehab), Wild Forever Foundation
Wildlife Species: fawns, porcupines, fox, most birds including raptors
Comments: Foundation Hotline: [phone]
Colorado, Northeast region (Broomfield)..... 303-460-0674

Sigrid Ueblacker, Birds of Prey Foundation
Specialty: Housing and pre-release training of raptors, special care of nightjars,
such as poorwills and night hawks
Colorado, Northeast region, Larimer County (Fort Collins)..... 970-226-3647

Bob Nightwalker (Director), Larimer Humane Society
[e-mail]
Wildlife Species: licensed for small mammals, all birds (except raptors),
reptiles and amphibians
Colorado, Northeast region, Larimer County (Fort Collins)..... 970-484-7756

Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
Wildlife Species: Raptors
[e-mail]
Specialties/Knowledge: West Nile Virus, cage design


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Colorado, South Central

Colorado, South Central region, El Paso County (Colorado Springs)..... 719-540-9768

Amy Henry (President), Wild Forever Foundation
Wildlife Species: all birds and small animals, birds of prey (not eagles)
Limitations: we cannot rehab skunks due to Colorado regulations (rabies vector)


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Colorado, Southeast

Colorado, Southeast region, El Paso County (Ellicott/Colorado Springs)..... 719-683-8152

Donna Ralph (director/rehabber), Ellicott Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
[e-mail]
Wildlife Species: all birds and small mammals, birds of prey including eagles, bats, hog-nosed and spotted skunks.
Specialty: raptors and cottontails
Limitations: no raccoons or skunks
Comments: We are a 501c3 organization that welcomes donations to help with animal food and
medical care. Due to the large volume of calls, please leave a message and we will return your call shortly.
Volunteer/Scout opportunities. Educational programs.
Colorado, Southeast region, Pueblo County (Pueblo)..... 719-543-1946

Nancy Kelly (director/rehabilitator), Second Chance Wildlife Rehab Center
[e-mail]
Limitations: no large game, no snakes


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Colorado, Southwest

Colorado, Southwest region (Durango)..... 970-382-0827

Denise Martin, Nuepe Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Durango
[e-mail]
Wildlife Species: Raptors, deer and elk (but I take everything from
songbirds to porcupines)
Colorado, Southwest region, San Miguel County (Telluride)..... 970-728-4275

Melissa Margetts (executive director), Rocky Mountain Ark Wildlife Center
Wildlife Species: all Colorado native species from cougars to eagles to songbirds
Specialty: North American River otters are our speciality. We have an
endangered species breeding and reintroduction program in place with 18
resident river otters, We are not only a rescue, rehabilitation and release
facility, we also provide permanent refuge for many non-releasable animals who
are ambassadors for their species in our education programs.
Comments:We also provide externships for third and fourth year veterinary students.


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Colorado, Western

Colorado, Western region, Mesa County (Loma)..... 970-858-0337

Cheri Livingston (director), The Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc.
[e-mail]
Wildlife Species: all small mammals including bats

[Kathy Schimack]

Thanks for the info Gary! I will call a couple of these folks in the am.

[Beverly]

I’m sure you feel awful, but unfortunately, that’s what outside cats do; they kill birds, rodents and reptiles, regardless if they’re hungry, regardless if they wear bells. They are not part of nature here and they raise havoc with our environment.

Okay, I'll bite my stop and just suggest you take the bird to a raptor center where at least something will eat it. If it's not hopping around by now, it's likely going to die. Cat bites (tiny puncture wounds) generally cause horrible infection, and are the only species to shed (spread) the parasite toxoplasma gondii in their feces…which can cause an infection that causes severe illness in infants or persons with a weakened immune system.

Please know, I’m not pointing fingers…I used to allow my cats outdoors, too. I just wouldn’t anymore, since I’ve read about the incredible damage outdoor pets and feral cats cause. I know this is an emotional issue.

Here’s some reading you might consider, that even includes ways to re-train a cat to enjoy being an indoor cat.

Audubon, About Cats

American Bird Conservancy; Campaign for Safer Birds and Cats.

Rural Chatter; A public Service Announcement

Julie Zickefoose; National Feral Cat Day ...funny, she used the same photo I did!