Day: April 28, 2023

Spring 2023 Newsletter

Check out all the great things we’ve been up to!

South Florida Wildlife Center E-newsletter

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Happy Freedom Friday! Thankfully, this Anhinga (2

Happy Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week! We

Happy National Reptile Awareness Day 🐢 Florida is $Happy National Reptile Awareness Day 🐢 Florida is a major global hotspot for chelonians with over 27 native species of freshwater, terrestrial, and marine turtles. Take a peek at some of the patients we currently have in care: Florida Softshell Turtle (26-5821) This sub-adult arrived weak and laboriously breathing with a carapace (top of the shell) fracture and several plastron (bottom of the shell) bruises. Staff provided supportive medications and stabilized the turtle for continued care. Thankfully, the shell fracture isn’t displaced and won’t require surgical repair and did not communicate with the spinal column. Based on clinical symptoms and mentation, staff believe the turtle was likely hit by a car. They will continue to closely monitor behavior and provide supportive treatments as there is potential concern for nerve damage in the right front limb. Florida Peninsula Cooter (26-5709) This adult was admitted with a severe shell fracture after being hit by a car. She has been in care for a total of 16 days so far receiving regular doctor checks, wound care, supportive medications, bandage changes, and additional treatments under close monitoring in our Wildlife Ward. Florida Softshell Turtle (26-5957) This adult arrived with a fishing hook through their tongue and chin and extremely swollen from the trauma. Staff sedated the turtle to remove the hook then administered pain medication, antibiotics, and took an x-ray to ensure there were no hidden hooks present internally. After recovering well from the removal, staff noted the wound looked appropriate and the turtle was moved out to our Shorebird Habitat for continued rehabilitation. Snapping Turtle (26-5798) This juvenile was admitted after being kept for an unknown period of time with concerns of illness or injury. Soon our staff discovered through diagnostics and observation that the turtle had gone septic from unaddressed infection. Sepsis is where infection has made its way into the bloodstream. This is a perfect example of why wildlife should be left in the wild, and if you find an injured wild animal to always bring them to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation professional for care. This guy’s p$

Habitat Upgrade! After arriving with several woun

Our Rehabilitation Team couldn’t even finish setti

Feather waterproofing is important for our seabird

This juvenile Brown Booby (26-5505) arrived entang

We asked Maureen Shea, the professional boxer and

If you accidentally catch a bird or turtle, PLEASE

This juvenile Snapping Turtle (26-5798) was admitt

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Office Phone: (954) 524-4302

3200 SW 4th Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Email: info@southfloridawildlifecenter.org

The South Florida Wildlife Center is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to South Florida Wildlife Center are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The SFWC’s tax identification number is 23-7086391. Review our privacy policy using the following link, South Florida Wildlife Center Privacy Policy.