News for Friends of Wildlife Rehabilitators
Archives

Domino's Farms No Longer Hosting St. Nicholas Light Display

In past years Friends of Wildlife has raised funds by providing volunteers to work a night at the Light Display. The management at Domino's Farms has decided to discontinue the event. Please see the Winter 2002 Friends of Wildlife newsletter for information on this change.

Notice posted December 2002.

Product Warning! Some "Ultra" Bleach Formulas Contain Lye

When purchasing bleach to use for disinfecting cages, check the ingredients carefully. Cloroxª bleach has come out with a newer formulation called Ultra Cloroxª that contains lye. Lye apparently makes the bleach work faster, but it is very caustic and difficult to rinse off surfaces. Do not use Ultra Clorox to clean animal cages, carriers, dishes, or any space where animals will be housed. When shopping, look for simple bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and avoid "ultra" formulas if they contain sodium hydroxide (lye).

Notice posted May 2002.

Disease Alert: Red Squirrel Mite

In recent years, Friends of Wildlife has received partially "naked" juvenile red squirrels in the fall. It appears that this hairloss is due to a mite, not indigenous to this area, which lives in the animal's hair follicle during certain stages of its development. When the mite moves off of the host, it lives off mold and leaves in the nest of the squirrels. Because of the potential environmental impact of releasing red squirrels with this mite, the Board of Directors has passed the following resolution: Any red squirrel suspected of having this mite may be released only back to the immediate area where it was initially received, and then only under the direction of a squirrel placement person. Rehabilitators: If you receive a suspect red squirrel, you should put it in a box and bedding that can be thrown away. Keep it separated from other animals. Do your initial intake procedures, get it warm and hydrated, and contact the squirrel help line immediately at (734) 670-2101. They will instruct you from there.

An article about this mite appeared in the Spring 2001 newsletter.

Disease Alert: Squirrel Pox

During the 2000 rehabilitation season we received more than a half dozen fox squirrels from the Wayne county area with Squirrel Pox. This is a virus common in Michigan and contagious among squirrels. It has not been identified in the squirrels we have rehabilitated from other areas. Please remember that as responsible rehabilitators we should make every effort to release animals back into the area from which they originated so that we do not transport disease any faster than it would normally travel. You can find out more about this virus on the Internet.

This notice appeared in the Spring 2001 newsletter.

Regulation Update: Raccoon Intake and Release

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) held a hearing on December 8, 1999, to hear public comment on proposals for controlling the potential spread of rabies in raccoons. For the present, the NRC is allowing raccoon rehabilitation to continue. Raccoons are to be released only in the same county where they were captured and should not be allowed to have physical contact with animals not originating from the same county.

Friends of Wildlife must follow the NRC guidelines in order to maintain its license to rehabilitate. It is therefore essential that all rehabilitators follow these guidelines. Friends of Wildlife is only accepting raccoons from Washtenaw County. It is preferred that all raccoon intake go through a raccoon placement person.

An article on the NRC decision appeared in the Winter 2000 newsletter. Full text of the regulations on raccoon rehabilitation according to Amendment 1 of 2000 of the Wildlife Conservation Order [Sec. 5.74 (11)] may be found by searching the Michigan DNR Web site.