Hundreds of Egrets Saved by Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center

(July 8, 2024)

In the last two days since Hurricane Beryl hit Houston, the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center has rescued and taken in more than 1,100 native wildlife! Hurricane Beryl has left many animals orphaned and injured, and the Houston SPCA and Wildlife Center are avidly working tirelessly to rescue and care for these affected animals. Aviary species are particularly vulnerable during hurricane season, as they can be knocked out of their nests by the high winds and driving rain, and many drown due to flooding. Most species our staff has received include herons, egrets, Mississippi kites, blue jays, Mourning doves, White-winged doves, and opossums, with more still arriving.

Summertime is baby season for egrets, a species of bird belonging to the heron family. They live in saltwater and freshwater habitats, such as marshes and wetlands, and it is common to find hundreds nesting in areas around Houston. After Hurricane Beryl tore through Houston, our Wildlife Center responded to a rescue involving hundreds of egrets nesting in trees in a northeast Houston neighborhood off Kiowa River Lane. Many juvenile and baby egrets were blown out of their nests and drowned, while hundreds more were found waterlogged and shivering in the grass below their destroyed homes.

Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center responded to the scene the morning of July 8th, rescuing approximately 300 of the ill and orphaned egrets among the hundreds found deceased. All rescued egrets and received wildlife will be triaged at the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center, receiving individualized treatment from staff veterinarians. Most of these egrets arrived at our campus cold and weak, and our staff immediately assessed their general condition, prioritizing warmth and security.

As you clean up debris and downed limbs after Hurricane Beryl, be on the lookout for any injured or orphaned wildlife that may need assistance. Our Wildlife Center of Texas is open for intakes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please visit Wildlife Center of Texas – Houston SPCA to learn how you can help wildlife in their time of need.

Hundreds of Egrets Saved by Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center

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After the Storm: The Power of Community in Wildlife Rescue

Our community’s unwavering support forms the backbone of our organization. After the impact of Hurricane Beryl, the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center has seen a dramatic increase in wildlife intake. Thanks to compassionate community members bringing in injured, displaced, or orphaned wildlife, we can care for even more animals and provide the medical treatment and rehabilitation they desperately need.

When someone brings an injured animal to our campus, they are helping in our mission to rescue and care for orphaned or injured wildlife. By gathering and delivering wildlife to our campus, they ensure these animals receive care as quickly as possible.

Recently, we had the pleasure of meeting two extraordinary women, Donna and Sardine, who shared their stories of rescuing and bringing in wildlife in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Their stories highlight the importance of community involvement in wildlife rescue.

Donna, from Rosenburg, noticed a disoriented and seemingly injured hawk outside her house this morning. She had heard about the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center from her son and swiftly drove to our campus to get the hawk proper medical care. Sardine drove from Pearland today to bring in three baby blue jays she found near her residence in a tree that was about to be cut down by a debris removal crew. Since the birds were evidently orphaned, she carefully placed them in a cardboard box filled with linens and safely transported them to our care.

Native wildlife rescued will continue to receive care from our dedicated wildlife and veterinary staff until they are healthy enough to be released back into their natural habitat. The Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center strives to educate on the co-existence of humans and wildlife and how to promote positive mindsets and informed knowledge on how to interact with wild species. Stories like those of Donna and Sardine remind us that even small acts of kindness can make a huge impact, and being knowledgeable about wildlife can make all the difference during a crisis. For more information on how to help wildlife visit: Wildlife Center of Texas

Join this incredible community in staying vigilant, bringing in any injured animals, or donating to help our cause.