SPCA, CONTINUING TO SERVEÂ
May 19, 2020 — This comes to us from SPCA Serving Erie County Animal Cruelty Investigator / Animal Rescue Officer Tyler Robertson:
“On May 18, SPCA Officers Paul LeShay and Jennifer Maleskis rescued this injured red-tailed hawk from 3500 River Rd. in Tonawanda. The hawk was transported back to our Wildlife Department and radiographs were done to reveal a fractured humerus. Unfortunately the injury was inoperable.”
While our Wildlife staff were forced to make the difficult decision to euthanize the hawk, this humane passing saved 
the hawk from what most likely would have been a longer, slower, painful, and perhaps much more vicious death.
The SPCA Serving Erie County is continuing to provide animal rescue, rehabilitation, and other important services during its COVID-19 response period. For details on services offered by the SPCA as the organization continues to serve the animals and people of our community, please visit https://YourSPCA.org/COVIDResponse .
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Serving Erie County Chief Communications Officer
“Even wild animals need to see the dentist! This Virginia Opossum caught a lucky break when he was spotted by a passer-by in East Aurora. Upon completing his exam, we concluded that his sad state of emaciation could be caused by an infected, painful canine tooth. Due to his guarded condition, we did not expect him to survive through the night, but he proved us wrong! Upon arriving at the wildlife hospital the following morning, May 14, we found him to be bright, alert, and 
growling. When he’s strong enough, we can then address the offending tooth. This strong-willed boy is receiving medications for pain and inflammation, an antibiotic, fluids, and will be hand-fed until he can eat on his own. At this rate, his anticipated release will be in 2-3 weeks!”
May 5, 2020 — Yesterday morning, the SPCA’s Wildlife Department received a call about a nesting mallard who had been struck and killed by a car the night prior. The homeowner knew where the nest was, and [the homeowner called because] the babies were starting to hatch!
their eggs had become very hypothermic and were struggling to escape their egg-ey confines!
May 5, 2020 — While many businesses are required to pause their work during our health crisis, animal shelters are on the list of essential businesses in New York State. This means that, while limiting what we can offer Erie County, we can still do everything possible to serve the people and animals of our community, and that includes wild animals.
To the delight of area birdwatchers, warblers have begun arriving in the past few days. In the spring, these tiny colorful songbirds migrate huge distances from their wintering grounds in the tropics to their nesting grounds in the north. The first to arrive in late April are pine warblers and palm warblers, followed soon after by yellow warblers and yellow-rumped warblers. The first two weeks of May are when we really see the full range of warblers passing through, from the understated black-and-white warblers to the beautiful and elusive cerulean, blackburnian, and prothonatary warblers.
volunteers coming in to care for them starting next week! We also received two goslings who are now being fostered by a nice family of Canada geese at Tifft Nature Preserve!