Read below to learn about our current ambassador animals and what they have been up to this summer.
River- Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- 13 year old, Female
- Came to WMC in 2015 due to a right-wing fracture. Due to the severity of the break, her wing had to be amputated. Because of this, she is no longer able to fly and would not be able to survive in the wild.
- Likes: Taking baths and eating fish, especially local species like catfish and bass.
- Dislikes: Invasions of personal space and any weather that requires her to be inside.
- Most recent case update: River’s been choosing to stay indoors lately with the heat and humidity of the summer. We have seen her pop outside first thing in the mornings, and sometimes in late afternoon to take a refreshing bath. Currently we are training with River to have her station to a specific mat. This training should help to reduce stress during her regular health checks and help her become more familiar with some of our volunteers.
Odin- Red Tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
- Male red-tailed hawk
- Estimated to be at least 27 years of age.
- Came to WMC in 1997, as a juvenile, because he was severely dehydrated and emaciated. During the course of his treatment, he developed an infection in his bone, which has left him with arthritis and some reduced function of his right wing.
- Likes: Feeling the rain on his face and letting the wind run under his wings.
- Dislikes: Late dinners and house finches that get a little too comfortable flying near his home.
- Most recent case update: Odin has had a quiet summer and is doing well. His annual molt is in full swing, and he occasionally ventures out of the ambassador building on a trainer’s glove to take a walk outside the wildlife clinic. During his walks, he likes to keep an eye on the dairy farm cows.
Vara- Barred Owl, Strix varia
- Female barred owl, estimated to be at least 10 years old.
- Came to WMC in 2017 due to a chronic shoulder fracture. Unfortunately, her injury could not be corrected surgically so Vara does not have full range of motion in that wing and is therefore unable to fly.
- Likes: Quiet time inside and Rats.
- Dislikes: Strangers and renovations to her enclosure (We found it’s best to change one perch at a time and not do a major overhaul of her perching all at once).
- Most recent case update: Vara’s been keeping to herself this summer. She has mainly been hanging out in her indoor enclosure but from time to time we spot her in her outdoor enclosure as the sun begins to go down and sometimes on rainy days.
Ruby- Red Tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
- Female red-tailed hawk, at least 9 years old.
- Came to WMC in 2018 due to habituation. This means Ruby is way too friendly around people and doesn’t act like a wild hawk should. She would most likely have a hard time finding food on her own and could pose a safety threat to people and herself due to her friendly nature.
- Likes: Flying, food puzzles and rain showers.
- Dislikes: Wild Red Tails hanging out near her enclosure and our other ambassadors eating their food where she can see. Some of our other ambassadors like to savor their food and Ruby does not.
- Most recent case update: Ruby has been working closely with a falconer this summer, as well as our program coordinator Sydney Oliveira to learn how to fly on a creance line – basically a long lead that allows her to fly long distances similar to how she would in the wild. She’s a fast and eager learner, and we look forward to showcasing her new skill later this year!
Clover- American Kestrel, Falco sparverius
- Female American Kestrel, just over one year old.
- Clover arrived in the summer of 2023 and showed behaviors that indicated that she was somehow imprinted onto humans. Similar to Ruby, she is far too friendly around people, and even identifies some humans as potential mates! This makes it dangerous for her to live in the wild, as she would have difficulty finding food and understanding who potential predators are.
- Likes: Hoarding rocks and spending time with her trainers.
- Dislikes: Heavy rain and people touching her feet.
- Most recent case update: Clover has been training to stay on the glove for longer periods and is also still getting used to the equipment she wears while on the glove. Once she has a better comfort level with this, she will join our on and off site Ambassador programs. It’s a long process, but she is a fast learner and very motivated by treats, so we are hopeful that she will join our programs soon.
Caduceus- Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Epicrates cenchria
- Female Brazilian Rainbow Boa
- Came to WMC in 2023 after she’d been cared for by Non-Traditional Species club at the College of Veterinary Medicine for the past 11 years.
- Likes: Outside time where she can show off her iridescent scales in the sunlight and fitting into tight spaces.
- Dislikes: Dry weather and being misted.
- Most recent case update: Caduceus was recently moved into a new enclosure! This one is much taller than her previous home, which gives her the opportunity to climb up branches just like she would in the wild!
Maize- Corn Snake, Pantherophis guttatus
- Female Corn Snake, 2 years old.
- Came to WMC in 2024 from a reptile rescue, after she’d been surrendered by her previous family.
- Likes: Rocks and climbing into pockets.
- Dislikes: Loud noises and hot days.
- Most recent case update: Maize has completed her quarantine! She is cleared to join us on programs, which is very exciting. Her enclosure was also recently moved into the reptile room, so she can be with all our other cold-blooded ambassadors.
Hazel- Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina
- Eastern box turtle, estimated to be at least 10 years of age.
- Came to WMC in 2017 due to a bacterial infection and severe nutritional deficiencies.
- Likes: 100m dash and long walks outside.
- Dislikes: Tight spaces and being redirected while on her walks (She knows where she wants to go).
- Most recent case update: Hazel loves summer! There’s so much more time for her to wander around, and this past year she upgraded to a new enclosure within the Ambassador building. We have also added some new cage furniture and made her substrate deeper. She seems to enjoy the deeper substrate and has been burrowing down into more, especially on warmer days. Box turtles will do this sometimes to help themselves cool off, as the soil protects them from direct sunlight.
Onslo- Northern Blue Tongued Skink, Tiliqua
- Male Northern Blue-tongued skink that is estimated to be 33 years old.
- Came to WMC in 2015 after his owner, who’d been a part of the ambassador program for over 15 years, passed away.
- Likes: Soaking up the sun and chasing after earthworms.
- Dislikes: Having his beauty sleep interrupted.
- Most recent case update: Onslo is doing well in his new enclosure, but age has begun to catch up with him and he’s developed cataracts in both eyes. His vision is somewhat impacted but he is still able to see well enough to navigate his enclosure and eat. Otherwise, he is a healthy older skink.
Petunia- Virginia Opossum, Didelphis virginiana
- Female Virginia opossum, 2 years old.
- Came to WMC in 2022 after her mother was hit by a car, while she was still in her pouch. Virginia Opossums are the only marsupials or pouched mammals found in North America.
- Likes: Food puzzle toys and hammock time.
- Dislikes: Green beans and early mornings.
- Most recent case update: This summer, Petunia developed allergies! We haven’t quite narrowed down what she is allergic too but we’ve started her on some allergy medication and it seems to be helping.
Written by Lydia, Wildlife Ambassador Care Coordinator and current vet student- Class of 2027.
