Please be advised because Avian Influenza is still in Ohio and the fact that we do not have the space at our facility to quarantine we are not taking birds this year. I was informed earlier today that there is a rumor going around that we are not taking birds because we can not afford…
In most cases these are fledglings exploring and learning how to fly. Momma is close by watching from afar. Unless these birds are obviously injured, LEAVE THEM ALONE! They are still dependent on their parents to teach them survival skills such as danger awareness, foraging for food and migration routes. – Fran Kitchen REMEMBER: Warmth…
This photo was taken back in 2012 when Fran Kitchen released a Saw-Whet owl. Saw-Whet Owls are one of the smallest owl species in North America. 🦉 If you would like to learn more facts about owls visit the Learning Center here.
The following was originally posted back in 2018 but bares repeating during this time of year. Please share and help me educate people on this time of year. – Fran The two ducklings in the photo were brought to me after they were found behind a motel where someone had recently dumped them.  They were…
This week we thought you would enjoy seeing photos (and narration) from a rescue that took place back in August of 2016. It was a day when the temps hit the high 90’s, and Fran donned long pants and a flannel jacket after a home owner called Operation Orphan about a young, Blue Heron that…
These two baby Screech Owls were brought into Operation Orphan this week. They were found on a median strip and had possibly been blown from the nest in high winds during the storms we have had.  Approximately five weeks old, the larger one was not in as good condition as the smaller one. Copyright 2018…
I would like to give a shout out and thank you to Donzell’s Garden Center for all their support throughout the years.  It’s one of our favorite places to put on a display because we get so many people that come out, not only see the animals but to learn about how to co-exist with…
I cannot tell you the number of times I have been called because an animal or bird is in a fireplace or is heard above the damper. The simple truth is that a chimney cap can save your life and prevent unwanted wildlife problems. When people think of a chimney cap they often only think…
We have a new education bird here at Operation Orphan; his name is Bartholomew and he is a Barred Owl. Bartholomew got his name from the women that found him found on the side of the road in Mogadore, Ohio. He had been struck by a vehicle and his shoulder was shattered.   The repair was…
Last year, a call came in that an Osprey nest had come down with three young birds. They were almost old enough to take first flight. We had gotten so much rain that the nest was saturated with water and it broke loose from its resting place in the tree. Osprey nest high in the…
When the forecast calls for snow showers and freezing temperatures, we turn the heat up a little, bundle up before we go outside and pretty much go about our daily business. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the wildlife. Not too many years ago, we had two geese brought in on the same day…
It is with a heavy heart that I report that Godzilla, our educational Great Horned Owl, had to be put down. She was in her 20s and was an amazing education bird. Godzilla had spent ten years at another facility before being transferred to Operation Orphan Wildlife Rehabilitation. She was in our care for eleven…
It was Easter Sunday when the call came in about two baby Great Horned Owls. One baby was injured, but the other seemed all right. The woman who called said she had watched for several hours to see if a mother came in to care for the young and it was clear that no parent…
I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again: 85% of the baby animals picked up ARE NOT ORPHANED and should have been LEFT ALONE. Mom usually is not far away. Below are some of the most common things that people DO WRONG when they find an animal and what’s THE RIGHT thing…
This week’s post is not so much a TBT but more of a look into what goes on here. As I mentioned last week, the facility is full of baby animals as we enter the fall birthing season. Right now I have well over 30 squirrels and chipmunks, a dozen opossum, a goose and one…
I have made so many memories in all of my years of wildlife work. Some of those memories are good and some are not, but they are all a big part of my life and my biggest motivators.  For today’s Throwback Thursday I thought I would ramble a bit on some of those memories. My…
Here at Operation Orphan Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc, we have to carry a large variety of foods to care for the animals, since every species has their own diet. Today’s story illustrates the challenge of keeping these different kinds of foods around for the animals. One unusually hot summer, several years ago, we had several Green…
Back in the early 70’s, I received a call from my sister-in-law, Sandy who was at work in a factory located in Barberton. They found a baby bird and was afraid it wouldn’t make it until the workday ended without any help. I was on the case! I immediately drove to the factory thinking that…
After 53 years of rehabilitation, I have come across a new species of wildlife. I was notified of this new species when a man came to my door with a litter of four bunnies and an egg. The egg was in with the nest of bunnies (looked just like a robin egg, but how much…
Without thinking about it, each of us do little things each day that impact our environment and wildlife in a negative way. For example, who would ever think that something as simple as throwing away the ring that is attached to a bottle cap could cost an animal its life? One year when I was…
For those who know me or have followed me through the years, you know that I am big on education, especially as it pertains to learning how to co-habitate with wildlife. Sometimes the education that I give may seem harsh but needs to be said, as in the case of today’s post. My job is…
This is the time of year when Mama Bird is teaching her fledglings how to fly, and you see them all over the ground. This past week, I received 25 calls about baby birds all in ONE DAY!! People are inquisitive, so I put together these facts to help anyone out who comes in contact…
He may be little, but he is mighty! Earlier this year we received a Screech Owl that had been hit by a car, suffering head trauma and severe damage to his left eye. He spent several days at Dr. Riggs’ Vet Clinic and once he was stable, came back with me for continued care and…
Back in the early 90’s, Ron and I traveled to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to release a rehabilitated baby porcupine. On our journey to the UP, we camped at a state park near Mackinaw. The park ranger saw the Operation Orphan sign on the camper and was curious, so he came over to talk…
Many summers ago, I had baby hummingbirds brought to me for the very first time. We had just had a storm that was so bad that it shut down the power at the Akron/Canton Airport, and it also caused two baby hummingbirds to be orphaned. Shortly after the storm was over, I got the call…