February 2008

Greetings from the Nature Center,  

We have been enjoying an exceptional winter season in Jackson Hole.  With near-record snowfall, the skiing, snowshoeing and other winter activities have been fantastic.  This time of year also provides a good opportunity to reflect on how our wildlife populations might experience our winter.  To the long-tailed weasels, mice, voles, or insects, our deep insulating layer of snow provides a safe and warm subnivean space to thrive.  To swans and other waterfowl, this is a time of limited open, ice-free ponds and small creeks.  To the deer, moose and elk, this is a time to closely manage the energy-in and energy-out budget, for every calorie counts and, a good reason not to disturb and cause unnecessary energy loss to these large-hoofed mammals in winter.  To other wild animals, this is a season to avoid altogether by migrating to more southerly environments. While we are surrounded every day by an exciting array of winter survival strategies among our wildlife, not one of us can argue that Jackson Hole in winter has to be one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth.

Earlier this year I had a very intense if not inspirational experience attempting to rehabilitate an injured bald eagle.   In late August, this bird hit a high tension power line and shattered both the radius and ulna bones of one wing.  Within hours after the collision, I was assisting our local veterinarian in a two-hour surgery to fix both bones and begin what we hoped to be a full recovery.  We inserted a steel rod into the larger ulna bone, but the smaller radius bone was fragmented at the fracture site and provided little hope for a clean bone union.  During the surgery, we were also on the phone with raptor veterinarian specialists from the Raptor Center in Minnesota to ensure we were doing everything possible.  Average heart beat per minute during surgery: 225!  Surgery was followed by a few weeks of relative confinement, peace and quiet, lots of food and supplements, routine wound care and bandage replacement, and then we were off to the next stage to remove the pin in the wing. The second surgery went well with progressive healing all around.  The eagle was eating well and gaining weight, an excellent sign in any avian trauma case.  A week or so after this surgery, we began routine physical therapy on the wing, changing the bandaging and continuing to ensure an enhanced diet.  Birds have the ability to produce calcium and bone tissue 4 to 6 times faster than mammals.  One would be amazed to see how fast fractured bird bones can heal. However, we experienced the first of several set-backs after routine X-rays showed the two bones were fused within the bone healing area, or callus.  This meant the long bones of the wing would not rotate properly, resulting in compromised flight or a non-release outcome. To understand the importance of this rotational motion to a bird, consider for a moment if we were unable to rotate our wrist and forearm to carry out even the most basic day-to-day functions. This problem necessitated a third surgery to scrape away the new bone growth in order to separate the bones and then apply a substance in between the bones to prevent further fusing.  And the substance we used?  A few thin strips of the birds’ own body fat, taken from the abdomen and carefully placed in between the bones at the fracture site.  The surgery went well and within a week or so we were back into a routine of physical therapy, feeding, bandaging and so forth.  At almost four months after the injury, three surgeries, countless days of bandaging, wound care and physical therapy, on December 17th I entered the eagles’ chamber to discover that the eagle had re-fractured both wing bones.  X-rays showed a non-union, meaning the bone ends simply were not fusing even though a callous had formed around the injured site.  I knew almost immediately that this bird would not fly again and the toughest decisions lay ahead. After near endless consultation with four other raptor medical facilities in the U.S., I made the decision to put this eagle to sleep.  Weighing on this decision were many issues, including consideration of long-term quality of life for the bird based on one if not more future surgeries to re-set the bones, and how much pain this wing injury might cause in the long-term.  Ultimately, the carcass was transported immediately to our local Game and Fish Department and onto the national eagle repository for distribution to Native Americans.  What can we learn from this experience?  First, I want to reinforce to everyone that 3 Creek Ranch has supported raptor medical rehabilitation in Jackson Hole for over six years.  These important efforts would not be happening without this support.  Second, our local veterinarians need the best raptor surgical equipment possible. Raptor care is certainly a specialty, but the Raptor Fund can facilitate this by sending our veterinarian to one of the major raptor medical clinics in the U.S. to learn the most advanced raptor surgical techniques and purchase the much-needed surgical hardware and equipment specific to raptors.  Third, although this particular outcome was heartbreaking, all involved gained a rare insight into the life of another animal.  Stop by and learn more about how you can help and possibly get involved with these magnificent birds of prey.  I will have a routine block of time each week this coming summer where you can come to specifically learn and get involved at any level.  Rare are the opportunities to engage our lives in a meaningful and hands-on manner with the lives of a wild animal.

I trust all of you are well,

Respectfully,
Roger Smith
Resident Naturalist
3 Creek Ranch