Wildlife

Join us in congratulating Wildlife Technician Jeremy Maneyapanda on passing the GA Department of Natural Resources Rehabilitation exam for raptors and reptiles.

Jeremy Maneyapanda joined the Chattahoochee Nature Center Wildlife Rehabilitation Department less than a year ago and he has been a wonderful addition to the team. He has had a love of animals since he was a kid and he has worked professionally in animal care and husbandry for many years.

Learn more about Jeremy and what led him to CNC!

What sparked your interest to work with animals?

Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to work with animals. I graduated from Cornell University in 1997 with a BS in Biological Sciences in Ecology and Systematics, under the guise of going to Vet school thereafter. However, 4 years of college took its toll, so I opted to get a job at the Buffalo Zoo as an animal keeper. It blossomed from there. Worked at Buffalo Zoo for 4 years, working with every species in the zoo. I moved to Georgia in 2001 and was Facility Manager at Kangaroo Conservation Center until 2012. They were an AZA-accredited zoological facility that operated as an attraction, farm, and exotic animal facility. Aquariums were always a passion of mine, so I moved into the professional aquarium industry in 2012 until my time started here.

Why did you become a volunteer at CNC?

While working in the aquarium industry, I started volunteering at local organizations, such as the Atlanta Humane Society, Children’s Hospital, and Winship Cancer Institute at Emory. However, my schedule changed and these places did not offer volunteer opportunities on weekends. One day while working for the aquarium business, we got a call from Henning and Kathryn regarding servicing a pump on the River system in the Discovery Center. In conducting this service, I was able to chat with Kathryn about what the Center does, its philosophy, and actually how similar this type of job was to my work experience. It only made perfect sense for me to then decide to volunteer here, as weekends were an option for me.

Was there a specific thing that made you want to go from volunteer to wildlife technician on staff?

Bluntly, the aquarium industry was not very personally fulfilling. It involved a lot of sales and certainly did have aspects of husbandry involved, but it took an emotional debt for sure. I had certainly missed working hands-on with exotic animals and their care. In volunteering, Kathryn happened to mention in passing the opening for Wildlife Technician, and I casually responded that if another opening ever occurred, to let me know. About a week later, she sent a text asking me to submit a resume.

Can you share some of the requirements for becoming a licensed raptor and reptile rehabilitator?

First and foremost, any wildlife rehabilitator must get the proper licensing and permits from the Georgia State Department of Natural Resources. This process is a great primer for making sure that someone would understand the nuances of wildlife care and rehabilitation. Furthermore, it is the law to get such permits. There are a lot of very caring, philanthropic people who really want to help wildlife, but in situations like this, there are too many details, requirements, and technicalities that most people cannot accommodate. Luckily, CNC has an outstanding, state-of-the-art facility ideal for rehabilitating and caring for these animals. In addition to the extensive credentials and experience of the staff, the contacts, consulting professionals, and facility capabilities make this rehabilitation best prepared for success in that task. We are always learning and honing our skills to be better at what we do!

What are some of the challenges of being a licensed rehabilitator?

It is certainly a lot of hard, subjective work. I think a lot of people have a misconception that our job is a lot of playing with animals. I often tell people, we usually do not see healthy animals to start. We get in wildlife in need of rehabilitation. From injury, trauma, natural events, or even human involvement. And unfortunately, we don’t speak their language and they don’t speak English! They don’t celebrate holidays or birthdays or weekends, and if a problem arises, we need to act, no matter what time, day, or condition. Wild animals, by nature, hide their injuries and illnesses to not be targeted by predators. So this is where the subjective, analytical, problem solving aspect of our job comes into play. We must figure out what’s wrong, calculate a plan for recovery, enact it, monitor it, adjust as needed, and monitor as we go. Our job is to try to help them recover fully, so that they may released to the wild, and then continue their bloodlines by reproducing. Sadly, this is not always successful. As we see animals in their worst state, some animals require us to humanly release them from their injuries and suffering. Some, we try our best to rehab, but our efforts aren’t enough. It is an, unfortunately, a requirement of our job that we are prepared for any situation, and any outcome.

What do you look forward to when you come to work each day?

I am very lucky to have two great colleagues to learn from and work with, Kathryn and Dawn. I learn from them every single day. I’m pretty sure we bounce thousands of questions and scenarios off each other every day in order to come up with a good consensus on the dilemma at hand. However, probably the greatest thing for me to experience as a rehabilitator is the actual release of animals. I’ve spent the past 25 years caring for animals in captivity. Trying to make their lives as best they can be in captive care. But, it wasn’t until coming here that I discovered the enormous final step in this care; in releasing a healthy animal back to its home. The sense of joy and well-being that comes from this is quite astounding. Animals will always be held in captivity, oftentimes out of necessity. And we will always do them right by providing the best care possible. But, in the event, the animal is rehabilitated, and then released to thrive, breed, and return to nature, I get an immense fulfillment from that.

What would you tell someone that has a love for animals and is interested in rehabilitation?

Certainly, get your foot in the door working with exotics and animals care and their medicine. This may be through formal education, volunteering at a facility or vet clinic, or even just self-involved education like reading. This is the greatest way to actually experience the ups and downs of what this path is like, and whether or not it’s a realistic fit for you.

It’s COLD outside!

We have all bundled up in our coats these past few days, but what about the wildlife out there?

What do they do?

Thankfully, Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Wildlife Director Kathryn Dudeck, has the answers. CNC has dozens of injured or rehabilitated wildlife – from owls to eagles, opossums to beaver – on its 127-acres to care for.

How do raptors stay warm in cold weather?

“Because the vast majority of our permanent residents would naturally reside in Georgia this time of year, few additional actions are required.

“Raptor feathers weigh more than the entire bird skeleton so you will often see the birds fluffy in cold weather. They can control each feather individually so they raise their feathers to trap the warm body heat, creating an insulated ‘parka’ for themselves. This is why down jackets are so popular with people! We also ensure they have access to fresh water at all times, so this means we regularly break the ice in their water pans or provide fresh water.”

How is CNC caring for its wildlife?

“We are feeding the raptors on the high end of their required food ranges and monitoring their weights regularly to ensure they are at or above each individual’s average winter weight. We have data on many of our birds dating back more than 15 years so we are able to look at their historical weights and corresponding weather that occurred then. Our resident birds typically fast on Sundays, but in exceptionally cold temperatures we provide half-rations that day to ensure they are receiving enough calories.

“The only birds that need a bit more help are our glove-trained Merlin and Broad-winged Hawk. Merlins are a small falcon that winter in South Georgia and Florida, and Broad-winged Hawks winter in Central and South America. We already have radiant heat panels in both of these birds’ enclosures that turn on when the temperature is below 40 degrees, and the Broad-winged Hawk’s enclosure is sheeted every fall to create a windbreak. If temperatures are expected to drop below 25°F, these two birds are brought inside each evening.

That’s the raptors. What about mammals?

“The education opossums have lots of blankets in their outside enclosures, but we bring them inside whenever the low is below is 40°F. When we go out to get them, they are snuggled in their blankets and toasty warm, but we want to make sure they stay that way. Opossums are frequent victims of frostbite on their ears, tails, and feet — the areas of their bodies with no fur.

The beaver is absolutely loving the cold weather and will even go for a swim if there are ice crystals on the surface of the pond. Because she came from Virginia, she is a bit more weathered to the cold, and she has a dense layer of fat. In fact, beavers store fat in their tails to use as a reserve in cold weather. However, CNC’s resident beaver does have a heater in her inside enclosure, and she can move towards it or away from it as she likes.”

What can people do to help wildlife in winter?

Fresh Water – It’s just as important in cold weather as hot weather; purchase a heated birdbath or use an extension cord and submersible aquarium heater; place a shallow pan, like a potted plant saucer on the ground for the rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks

Bird Feeders – Be sure to clean out before every filling and offer a variety of feed

Native Plants & Trees – These provide food and shelter from winter winds, so hold off on pruning unless necessary for safety; However, trim out non-native berries and fruits such as from Nandina (heavenly bamboo) that are toxic and sometimes fatal to our songbirds

Small Brush Piles – Provide hiding places and homes for small animals

Nest Boxes –In winter, they are used for roosting to stay warm

Stay warm and spring will be here before we know it! We invite you to visit CNC and explore the Wildlife Walk and see how the resident birds and beaver are handling the chilly weather! 

By Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife Director

Looking back on the history of the aviaries they have come a long way in location and design! In 2002, our large exhibit raptors were moved from their enclosures by Frog Pond to make way for a redesigned and relocated entrance, parking lot, and Admissions area. New aviaries were built in a more centralized location and that is when the current Wildlife Walk began to take shape. For nearly 20 years these aviaries housed many of our raptors until time and weather took their toll on the structures.

Through a very generous donation from longtime CNC supporters Walter and Judy Hoyt, many of our exhibit raptors and the beaver are getting new homes. CNC contracted with SamT Construction to rebuild the aviaries most in need of replacement. It just so happens that the owner of the company was already quite familiar with CNC because his son attended Camp Kingfisher!     

The Great Horned Owls and Red-tailed Hawks have already moved into their new and improved homes. The Barred Owl, Cooper’s Hawk, and Barn Owl aviaries will be complete by the end of 2021. Next up, the beaver house demolition and reconstruction will begin.

The remaining aviaries in need of replacement are the Red-shouldered Hawk and Black Vulture & Turkey Vulture enclosure. It is not an inexpensive endeavor and we would love your support.  If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation towards the replacement of these two enclosures, please contact Senior Director of Development and Marketing, DeAnn Fordham, at d.fordham@chattnaturecenter.org.

We hope to see you on the Wildlife Walk soon!

December 22, 2020

When you visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center most likely you will take a walk along the wildlife walk and see the Bald Eagles, hawks, owls, and the resident beaver. All resident wildlife along the wildlife walk are injured and/or non-releasable and taken care of permanently by the Wildlife Department at the nature center which includes a specific diet for each animal. 

Also along the wildlife walk, between the Bald Eagles and the Red-Shouldered Hawks and behind a magnolia tree, you will find a small dock. People of all ages like to visit the dock on Kingfisher Pond and see the turtles and fish. The aquatic turtles are not shy about visiting! The turtles and fish are considered wildlife (not resident animals to the nature center) and do not have a regulated diet by the Wildlife Department. They get their food from Kingfisher Pond! Find out what they may eat and how you can help protect them. 

Aquatic turtles are opportunistic feeders- they eat just about anything that they can catch and fit in their mouths:

Insects!
Worms!
Minnows!
Vegetation!

Crackers?

While feeding wildlife helps many people feel closer to nature, it can pose a few issues for the animals we love:

• Some species have specialized diets, and with other species, males and females don’t even eat the same foods.
• Turtles lack the digestive enzymes needed to process many types of human food, especially processed food. While they may feel full, they don’t get the vitamins and nutrients they need for proper growth and development. This can cause their shells to become misshaped and malformed, and damage their organs.
• Wildlife becomes reliant on people for food. They will spend less time hunting and foraging for their needed food.
• Handouts from people cause crowding and competition. These unnatural conditions cause more fighting and injury, and spread disease within their population.

We kindly ask visitors to please refrain from feeding the wild turtles that live in Kingfisher Pond. They will live longer, healthier lives if we observe them from a distance!

See you along the wildlife walk and make sure you stop at the dock and visit the aquatic turtles! But don’t bring the crackers!

November 23, 2020
By Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife Director

When we think of winter in Georgia, shorter days, sleet, light snow, cold rain, and a drop in temperature all usually come to mind. But it’s not just the humans who prepare for the upcoming months; many animals change their behaviors, too. You are probably familiar with hibernation, but what about brumation, torpor, or even diapause?

Hibernation is a catch-all term derived from the Latin hibernare, which means “winter quarters.” There are, however, very few species that hibernate in Georgia, with the most common being bats, chipmunks, and groundhogs. Though we often think of hibernating bears, they instead enter a torpor. With true hibernation the animal is so deeply asleep that it rarely wakes up until temperatures warm and days lengthen. Torpor is very similar but is a lighter sleeping state; bears quickly awake if there is potential danger nearby.

Instead of hibernating like warm-blooded animals, Georgia’s cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians brumate, sometimes written as bromate. These ectothermic animals are dependent on the environment to maintain their body temperatures.

Some animals such as snakes and lizards who live in the higher elevations of the mountains enter a hibernaculum. This could be a cave, rock ledge, or similar spot where multiple species gather, sometimes with over a hundred individuals!

Aquatic turtles will often spend the time in a lethargic state at the bottom of a pond or lake, occasionally slowly crawling or drifting. Eastern box turtles will burrow under fallen logs, into compost piles, or loose, soft soil. Despite what the calendar shows, if temperatures reach the 40s during a sunny day, you may seem some of these critters soaking up some rays and finding a snack to eat.

Insects are yet another group that slows down in the winter, but these animals enter diapause. Simply put, it is a state of dormancy and affects all stages of insects, from egg to adult, and the animal will not develop any further until spring. Unlike mammals and reptiles who remain active until the temperatures really begin to drop, insects enter diapause in fall before it becomes too cold for them to function. Another difference is that even if the weather becomes conducive to continuing development, the insect remains in its suspended state until spring. It is common to find insects overwintering under fallen leaves or even in the stems of dead flowers in your yard.

As you’re filling up your bird baths for your feathered visitors, don’t forget to put a saucer of water on the ground for some of the other animals that you don’t expect to see while you’re bundled up. You never know who may show!

By Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife Director
August 24, 2020

The Wildlife Department received a call on July 12th from a Senoia resident who had come across an injured raptor on his property. We agreed to accept it for rehab, and that’s when he said that it was the most unusual hawk he had ever seen. Imagine our surprise when he opened his car door in our parking lot and there, sitting in a cage was an adult female Mississippi Kite!

While both Mississippi Kites and their Swallow-tailed Kite relatives are often seen this time of year in the southern half of Georgia, it isn’t terribly common to see them north of Macon. Of the approximately 2500 raptors we have received for rehab over the last decade, fewer than ten were Mississippi or Swallow-tailed Kites.

This small raptor had an obvious injury to her right wing and x-rays confirmed she had fractures to her ulna and radius. Because of the positioning of the bone pieces, we knew she would need surgery to have any chance of recovery.

We reached out to our orthopedic surgical veterinarian and she was operated on 24 hours later. Pins were placed in the broken bones and an external fixator was installed to keep the pieces aligned as they fused. Four weeks later, new x-rays were taken and because the bones had mended, the hardware was all removed.

She is now in a small indoor enclosure to start stretching and strengthening the wing. We plan to move her to an outside enclosure over the next few weeks for additional exercise.

Because this species is migratory and the main diet is insects caught in midair, it is imperative that she heals 100% for release. Kites are only in the southeastern US during breeding season, flying back to Mexico and Central and South America every fall.

In these photos, the patient has a body wrap to ensure the wing and surgical items stay secure. Now that the pins have been removed, she is no longer wrapped.

Learn more about the Wildlife Department and ways you can support them by visiting their web page now.