For two nights in a row, the Florida/Alabama gulf coast was under a hard freeze warning, with low temperatures at 20 degrees or below. The extreme weather is a concern for the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, where precautionary measures were taken.
“Well, I am happy to say they did quite well,” said Dorothy Kaufmann on Tuesday. Kaufmann is director of the Wildlife Sanctuary, which works to provide care to injured or orphaned indigenous wildlife.
Volunteers actually started preparing for the animals for the bitter cold on Saturday. Staff used wind blockers and heat lamps to help warm up the animals. Also, extra buckets of water were stored, just in case pipes were frozen. Fortunately, no pipes were broken. However, for the better part of the day all the water bowls outside were frozen, the different baths were frozen and hoses were frozen.
When it comes to the cold weather, one of their biggest concerns is for the seabirds. Kaufmann says currently there are 16 pelicans being cared for in one inside hospital unit at the facility. “Sometimes with illness they lose their waterproofing. And, them being around water, it’s a really difficult time - for the temperatures to drop. So, the lack of waterproofing is a big deal because they can’t stay warm.”
The Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida is open seven days a week and typically takes in animals on a daily basis; up to 4 thousand per year. And, this Tuesday was no different, with some terns, pelicans, and a few songbirds brought in. One of the pelicans was rescued from Pensacola Bay near Plaza de Luna by a local couple that first took notice of its difficulties on Monday. When they went by Tuesday, it was still in the exact same spot. According to Kaufmann, when an animal is in distress, it can’t hunt food. Thus, she says “the longer they go without food, the weaker they become and it’s a snow ball effect.”
Providing extra food is another essential part of preparing the animals for the cold, because their bodies metabolize food a lot quicker when they’re trying to stay warm. That means the wildlife sanctuary is happily accepting food donations, especially fresh or frozen fish. In fact, anything that’s high in protein or fats is recommended. That includes red meat and chicken, and peanut butter.
A wish list for the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida is available on their website atwww.pensacolawildlife.com.