While it may be hard, releasing a wild animal back to their home or a new home in the wild is the best feeling in the world. You can’t help but love the wild babies after weeks or months of rehabilitation, but watching them go back home to their parents or foster parents makes the sadness of letting them go worth it. If you find a wild animal you think needs help, call Tammy Yarger at 309-540-9126 for assistance.
A couple of days ago, Sarah Geiger released two of the baby Great Horned Owls in the Princeton area to Great Horned Owl adults who had lost one of their babies. The mom and dad owl came out to greet the babies and called out to them. These moments are what you hope for in wildlife rescue. Watch the video here by Sarah Geiger. Back on April 24th, Tammy posted a video of two owl babies branching and climbing, watch the video here. They learned how to get to the branch with “Uncle Stuffy” by the next day, and they will go home to their parents very soon. There are eight baby owls after the two went to foster parents at Hog Capitol Rescue and Rehab right now, and they eat a lot of mice. If you would like to help, you can donate at PayPay, Venmo, mail to Tamara Yarger, 824 N Burr Blvd, Kewanee, IL 61443, and/or donate to the Kewanee Vet Clinic for Hog Capitol Account: 206 Townsedge Road, Kewanee, IL 61443, or call 309-852-2252.
Chelation therapy for lead poisoning is also a great expense for Jim and Tammy Yarger, which is $300 per week. Miss Liberty survived lead poisoning, but she also suffered neurological defects. She can’t be released to the wild because she is unable to eat on her own and must be hand-fed. She can only fly short distances, so she walks around most of the time. She has made a great education bird to teach local school kids about wildlife rescue. This weekend, Lucy, a goose, was released back home after she was found unable to use her legs.
We have sad news about Miss BG, who flew into a truck because of the effects of lead poisoning. Miss BG remained lead-free, but the neurological damage was too extensive. She suffered numerous seizures most days. She was transported to the University of Illinois for testing, but the damage was too severe, and they euthanized her. She couldn’t have a quality of life with debilitating seizures. From the Hog Capitol Wildlife Rescue and Rehab Facebook page: “Many times, we are left to make hard decisions. This one was quite hard for me. I took Ms BG down to the University of Illinois Wildlife Clinic for a better diagnosis of her neurological condition. I knew going in that she had more than one issue going on. Lead poisoning and traumatic brain injury from flying into a vehicle. We were able to rid her blood of the lead, but her brain injury left permanent damage. Plus she had a detached retina in her eye. So, with a very heavy heart, I had to make the decision to end her suffering. I hate this more than anything. But doing the right thing is still the right thing no matter how much it hurts. Fly high Miss BG. I will miss you. 
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***Do NOT try this at home. ***
