PHOENIX (AZFamily) – A wildlife rescue center in Phoenix is adapting to our record-breaking summers.
Liberty Wildlife officials said the heat is causing a huge increase in animal losses year after year.
So far this year, the nonprofit organization has treated about 400 animals, more than last year.
Laura Hackett, a wildlife biologist, has worked at Liberty Wildlife for 20 years.
She says the frequent and intense heat is affecting the center’s operations.
“This is something we have to figure out every year, but we will continue to see more and more patients every year,” Hackett said.
She said more patients mean more resources.
“Our feed budget is bigger, but we also have higher electricity and water bills because we have to change the water,” she said. “We also have to shower the animals in the afternoon to keep them cooler, and we now have evaporative coolers running all the time.”
The animal facility functions like a hospital for humans with a triage room, intensive care units and orphan care.
“We rely on the public to be our salvation,” Hackett said. “They are the ones who find the animals in the wild and bring them to us.”
In late August, the nonprofit noted that its facility looks very different than it did just a few weeks ago. “One of our busiest days this year was definitely in June because the temperatures rose so high so quickly and stayed high for so many days in a row.”
This year they have noticed an increase in one animal in particular.
“Copperbacked buzzards were nesting at the time and they are known to jump out of the nest and land on the ground in hot weather. We were seeing this more and more because the nest was so uncomfortable,” Hackett said.
Last July was the busiest month at Liberty Wildlife.
In one day, almost 100 animals requiring treatment were admitted. Almost exactly a year later, there were already 150 animals that needed care.
“These animals live here, so you’d think they’d be used to the heat. But just as we’re trying to get used to this constant heat, they’re not prepared for it either. So their bodies are still having to adapt and try to find a way to survive it,” Hackett said.
Liberty Wildlife used to take in ducks, geese and lovebirds, but stopped taking them in two years ago because of bird flu. Even without these animals, the animal welfare group says the numbers are still higher than when it took them in.
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