'They're just frozen to things': Extreme cold threatens wildlife, including birds
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- With sub-zero temperatures blanketing southeastern Wisconsin Friday, extreme cold endangered wildlife. The threat applied to creatures that typically have gone south by now, but even animals built for northern winters also struggled.
The Wildlife in Need Clinic in Oconomowoc stayed busy, particularly with birds injured by prolonged exposure to the blustery conditions. Lisa Fosco, the director of animal care, said people were bringing in birds suffering from frostbite, as well as broken legs or wings that happened when bird fought to free itself from being frozen to an icy surface.
Friday, she treated a great blue heron suffering from frostbite on the bottom of its feet. She applied an ointment and staff could only wait to see if its damaged tissue heals. If the tissue dies, the heron likely will, too, since an inability to stand will doom the bird.
"This is something that, unfortunately, can be dealbreaker for him if he loses tissue," Fosco said.
Fosco said this sight has become more frequent over the past month. She said climate change has disrupted migration pattens for birds like herons and wood ducks.
Instead of moving to a warmer climate, more of those migratory birds aren't getting their cue to fly south.
"We just see a lot more exposure right now for things that probably should not be this far north," she said. "But they're just not moving the way they used to."
Even creatures accustomed of Wisconsin's harsh winters needed a break, however. Fosco said birds that typically would be allowed to heal outside, like pigeons and sparrows, were moved into a refrigerated room that was cool enough to prevent an extreme temperature jolt.
In other cases, the cold combined with other injuries to complicate an animal's treatment. Fosco and others at the center worked on a red-tailed hawk that she suspected was hit by a car.
"He fractured his spine," Fosco said. "Then laid in the snow so long that we actually had just as many problems because of exposure to the cold."
More traditional animal rescues were quieter Friday. Natalie Hoskins from the Elmbrook Humane Society said there hadn't been an uptick in calls.
Hoskins said for stray animals commonly owned as pets, such as cats, people will report or turn them in before winter settles in. At the shelter, the main adjustment was dogs not going outside for playtime, but rather, only for short potty breaks.
The Wisconsin Humane Society offered a series of tips, including wiping off dogs' legs, paw and bellies after walks to ensure they don't ingest any antifreeze or salt when licking themselves. It also advised people to honk their horns or tap on their hoods before starting a car, just in case an outdoor cat climbed in the engine compartment seeking warmth.
The Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) was closed for adoption viewing today as a way to keep more people at home. Spokeswoman Jennifer Smieja said staff and volunteers were still on staff to take calls for animal emergencies.
"HAWS is always available to provide emergency shelter as needed, as well as suppliers to pet owners - things like food, care supplies, crates, etc," Smieja wrote in an email. "Our team will be at HAWS in person till 6pm, and our on-call team is available 24/7."
Fosco said people can help wildlife survive dangerously cold temperatures from their homes. She suggested people keep their bird feeders full and, if they have a heated bird bath, set them out and activate them.
Under these circumstances, she even said it's OK to feed the wildlife. She said people could scatter bird feed or sunflower seeds in their yards.
"It's not normally what we condone," she said. "But at this time of year, with this weather, that's usually the difference of them making it to another day."