News From The Mews

When I enter Otto's mew, I instinctually try to be as silent as possible. I don't want to spook the Great Horned Owl, after all. But then my mentor reminded me that predators slink along quietly. She suggested that I talk to him to make it clear that I'm not a predator trying to sneak up on him. I understood the assignment, but found it difficult. I'm a naturally quiet and concise person and have a hard time chattering away without a structured conversation. Otto keeps his eye on me when he has food enrichment in his talons. When my daughter was born, I got the same recommendation. You must talk to your baby to strengthen brain development and language skills. I was surprised how easy it became to narrate my day to a little human. Luckily my newly acquired parenting skill transferred into Otto's mew. Now I find a stream of words coming out of my mouth during training sessions as I describe where I'm moving, what the glove is doing, and what type of treats are in...

Providing a spa experience for a snake is pretty simple. A plastic box with damp moss is all Emory needs for a cool, humid sauna. The rat snake got this treatment when her eyes turned milky white. This is a sign that her skin, including the scales over her eyes, is getting ready to shed. The high humidity box will help the old skin peel off easily when she's ready.

I noticed Carson the Red-tailed Hawk busying herself in her nest corner a few weeks ago. The beginning of breeding season certainly made sense to me when the temperatures were in the 40's and 50's. But surely she wouldn't worry about her nest now that it was covered in snow, right? Carson's strong nesting instinct proved me wrong, however, when I saw footprints in the snow alongside snow-covered sticks. When nesting season has begun, not even a snowstorm can stop it!

Last week, Aldo, Carson, and I hopped into the van and headed to the Twin Cities for their annual vet appointments. I was excited to unload at The Raptor Center and take the elevator down to the clinic. I knew our birds would be in the very best hands.  During Carson the Red-tailed Hawk's exam, I got to feel squishy fat pads behind her legs. While interesting, it was a sign that she was overweight. I'd have to adjust her diet when we got home.  Aldo the American Kestrel Then it was Aldo's turn. I was perhaps most anxious about his eye exam since cataracts were spotted in the kestrel's eyes two years ago. Luckily, Dr. Annette found the cataracts were the same size and were likely not impeding his vision.  Afterwards, we made our way back up the elevator and I loaded two healthy birds back in the van. And I breathed a sigh of relief at another smooth vet visit.

  Can you find Digger the hognose snake? My morning animal checks have become more difficult now that Digger prefers to rest deep under her bedding. After much searching, this little window might be all I see of the hognose snake. I pause to see the rise and fall of her breath, then leave her to rest undisturbed. I have a feeling this reclusiveness is just a seasonal slowing down and she will be back to her activities when spring arrives.

Normally it takes me a few moments to find our gray tree frog. His dark, mottled color camouflages impressively with the bark and branches in his habitat. But this morning, I watched him scramble up a piece of bark. He clung awkwardly between the bark and a plant, his legs stretched out so I could spy bright yellow on his foot. He soon found his footing and settled into a more comfortable position. His legs folded tight against his body, hiding the yellow patch, and he practically disappeared from view.