By Connie Mertz
Since 1980, Katherine Uhler has been rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife. In fact, when she became a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, she created The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center near Stroudsburg.
“We treat between 1,000 and 1,100 animals per year which are all native species to Pennsylvania — from hummingbirds to raptors, chipmunks to bears and reptiles as well,” she commented. “We cover all of northeastern Pennsylvania from the New York border in Susquehanna County through the Poconos and Luzerne County down through Northampton and Lehigh counties.”
Spring and summer are usually the prime seasons in which injured wildlife needs a helping hand. “The lives of young animals become endangered due to lawn mowers, cats, dogs, cars and tree-cutting activities,” Uhler stated from her years of experience. “Most of the young animals that come to us are from human disturbance.”
While the majority of the wildlife rehabilitated at the center is released, preferably in the same general area where they were found, there are permanently disabled species that wouldn’t be able to survive on their own. These species are then retained for educational purposes.
For a recent presentation, Uhler brought members of what she called her “education ambassador team.”
“They have come from different backgrounds, but are all native species,” she explained. “Most are hit by cars and have permanent injuries, but occasionally we end up with a bird that is ‘imprinted’ and has no fear of humans.”
One by one, she and her husband, Eric, who also serves as co-director of the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, handled a handful of owls for their audience. A saw-whet owl has no depth perception and couldn’t be released into the wild.
“This is America’s backyard owl and it also nests in wood duck boxes,” she said, holding a screech owl.
A kestrel had a calcium deficiency resulting in a bone disease. .
A one-year-old barn owl was human imprinted. “Barn owls have three-dimensional hearing,” she explained to the inquisitive group.
“This is Maximus,” she said presenting a great horned owl to the group. “We’ve had him for four years. He hit the side of a vehicle and has permanent wing damage.”
As he clutched to her heavy glove, she used this as another educational opportunity. “It’s a trust factor because, if he wanted to, he could exert 300 pounds of pressure on my hand right now.”
A red-tailed hawk was another member of their ambassador team. “He was hit by a vehicle and is blind in his right eye causing no depth perception. These birds have the ability to see a flea from one goal post to another. It’s just amazing.”
The last and perhaps the most impressive species was a large turkey vulture. “He was never in public before,” Eric said as he reached for him. “I have no idea how he’ll react.”
His appearance brought a reaction from the crowd. Katherine quickly grabbed a towel to accompany the bird around the room.
“You know what vultures do,” she said in jest, “but we didn’t feed him before we came.”
“This bird was originally brought to a family by their cat. Its beak is very sharp, but we have found this vulture prefers fresh kills rather than carrion.”
The Uhlers know the importance of educating the public, and they often give programs tailored to the needs of their audiences. “We also tell people what they should and should not do when coming upon a wild animal that appears to need help, and the special adaptations of each species we have,” she added.
One of the Uhlers’ most rewarding and inspirational success stories focuses on a 25-pound bear cub that had run into the wheel of a truck. He was brought unconscious to the wildlife center. Through medication and hydration, and eating foods which included yogurt and fruits, it was obvious when “Boo Boo” was ready to be released back to his family.
It was quite an ordeal to attach metal ear tags to the cub. “WCO Cory Bentzoni and Eric wrestled the now 30-pound furry ball of teeth and claws. You wouldn’t think two grown men would have such a hard time piercing the ears of a little bitty cub, but bears are not to be underestimated, at any size,” she said recounting the experience.
Boo Boo was then able to be released at the exact location where his family has been seen. A pile of pastries was placed on the trail to encourage the family to reunite.
“Eric and I were exhausted from our week of rehabilitating this cub but the satisfaction thrill and exhilaration will never be forgotten,” she concluded.
Caring for wildlife is not an easy task. “This can be difficult, dirty and sometimes unpleasant, mostly volunteer work. But, it is incredibly rewarding, heartwarming, and heart rending. It is not about hugging or petting; instead it requires nutrition, medical care, and physical therapy. Most of all, understanding of the behaviors of and stressors to those species,” she said.
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