In Memory: Pepper the Virginia Opossum

We’re deeply saddened to report that Pepper the Virginia opossum passed away last Saturday, November 4th. At about 3.5 years old, Pepper lived nearly twice as long as wild opossums, who typically live only 1-2 years. Starting in October, our staff and volunteers noticed Pepper showing decreased interest in food and sleeping more than usual. She declined further at the beginning of November, becoming uncharacteristically lethargic and refusing to eat. When it became apparent that she would not improve, we made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize her to prevent further suffering.

The fact that Pepper retained a high quality of life until the very end is a testament to the hard work of our Conservation Team, especially Kaitlin Saxton (Research & Husbandry Coordinator). Over the last year and a half, Kaitlin made huge improvements to our opossums’ diet, adding more calcium-rich foods like yogurt, broccoli, and kale to prevent metabolic bone disease. She also put together a ‘possum playground outside the cabin so Pepper could enjoy supervised outdoor enrichment - and even built a new, larger indoor opossum enclosure from scratch with help from Camryn Jefferson (Conservation Assistant)! Because of these improvements to her care, Pepper remained active, inquisitive, and healthy until her final days.

Pepper and her sister were found as orphaned babies in early 2020. They were brought to Our Wild Neighbors in Hillsborough, NC, where they were given the care they needed to grow up strong and healthy. Her sister was released after a few months, but Pepper remained so small that she wouldn’t have survived in the wild. She was deemed non-releasable and came to live as an Ambassador Animal at Piedmont Wildlife Center in November 2020.

Over the 3 years she was with us, Pepper went on countless programs where she met hundreds of students, campers, and adults. Her inquisitive and calm personality (not to mention her adorable face!) helped teach them not to fear these beneficial, often-misunderstood animals. Pepper was also popular online, receiving the second-highest number of “adopters” through our Adopt-an-Ambassador program. Most of her adopters were from out of state, including Georgia, Pennsylvania, and even the United Kingdom! Pepper educated so many people during her lifetime, and we are forever grateful for her time with her.

If you feel moved to make a gift in Pepper’s memory, you may do so below. Thank you, Pepper, for working so hard to connect people with the wonders of native NC wildlife. We hope you’re enjoying yummy snacks, interesting smells, and cozy naps over the Rainbow Bridge.

Welcome Juniper and Wink!

Piedmont Wildlife Center recently welcomed two new raptors to our Ambassador Animal family! Both birds came to us from Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter in Brunswick County, NC, where they were treated for their injuries and deemed unreleasable. Give a big PWC welcome to Juniper the great-horned owl and Wink the red-tailed hawk!

Juniper the Great-Horned Owl

Juniper was found with a wing injury when she was still a nestling. The person who found her tried to care for her, but didn't have the proper training or permits to prepare her for life in the wild. She was eventually given to Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter in Oak Island, NC, where she was deemed unreleasable because of her lack of fear around people. Juniper came to PWC this fall and will spend the rest of her life educating people about great-horned owls.

Because Juniper was cared for improperly as a young bird, she became semi-imprinted on humans. She doesn't fully understand that she's an owl - she thinks she's a human! Because of this, you may hear her "talk" to you if you visit her enclosure at Leigh Farm Park. These chirping sounds are similar to the noises a baby owl would use to call to their mother.

Wink the Red-Tailed Hawk

Wink was found as a juvenile with his right eye missing - hence his name! This kind of injury is a big deal for a hawk. Hawks rely on their keen sight to hunt prey, so losing an eye can be deadly. Unfortunately, this kind of injury is common in young, inexperienced hawks who don't yet know how to avoid injuries while hunting.

A hawk who loses an eye can easily die from starvation. Luckily, Wink was found by kind-hearted individuals and brought to Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter on Oak Island, NC, where he was deemed non-releasable. He came to PWC this fall, and will be a great Ambassador for his species.

If you find an injured or orphaned animal, please don't attempt to raise or care for them yourself. Owls and hawks are cute, but they're not pets! Not only is it illegal to keep wildlife without a permit, but this can make it impossible for them to return to the wild - and can even lead to worse injuries or death.

Instead, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who can give them the best chance at a wild life. Piedmont Wildlife Center is NOT involved in rehab and is not equipped to accept, treat, transport, or raise injured/orphaned wildlife. If you’ve found an animal in need of help, we highly recommend Our Wild Neighbors and Turtle Rescue Team in the Triangle area.

Let's all do our part to keep wildlife wild!

In Memory: Otus the Eastern Screech Owl

We are heartbroken to share that Otus the eastern screech owl passed away this month. At 13 years old, Otus was one of Piedmont Wildlife Center's oldest raptor Ambassadors. Otus's expressiveness and big personality proved that amazing things do indeed come in small packages.

Otus was found in 2009 as a juvenile in Wilkes County, unable to fly after colliding with a window. Upon examination at Carolina Raptor Center, he was found to have a fractured left humerus that did not heal properly. His injury left him unable to fly, which meant he couldn't be released into the wild. Instead, he came to PWC in 2010, where he soon became one of our most beloved Ambassador Animals.

Otus went on countless school programs and outreach events during his time at PWC, including visits to the NC State Fair. Most people who have any connection with PWC met Otus at some point. He was absolutely a staff and volunteer favorite, and was the closest thing PWC has ever had to an "unofficial mascot"!

In the wild, eastern screech owls live to be about 8 or 10 years old, and many only live to be 2-5 years of age. In human care, that lifespan can be expanded to about 11 to 13 years. Otus lived exceptionally longer than he would have in the wild with his injuries - a testament to our Conservation Team and raptor volunteers' dedication to giving him (and all our Ambassador Animals) a healthy, enriched life.

Thank you to everyone who provided care for, sponsored, taught programs with, or just stopped to say hi to Otus over the last 13 years. We want to extend a special thank you to Dr. Emma Bogerd at Willow Creek Animal Hospital for providing care to Otus in his last moments. Dr. Bogerd had worked with Otus as one of our conservation interns in summer 2016. It brought our team great comfort to know that our little buddy had a friend with him at the end.

Whether you were here when he arrived in 2010, or just met him at a program this year, we would love to hear your favorite Otus memories in the comments below. If you feel moved to make a one-time or recurring donation in Otus's memory, you may do so at https://www.piedmontwildlifecenter.org/donate.

Here's to Otus's legacy of wildlife education and conservation. Otie, we hope you're flying high in the sky and catching all the mice on the other side.

Introducing Pancake the Gray Squirrel!

You might say our newest Ambassador Animal is a little... squirrelly. Give a warm Piedmont welcome to Pancake the eastern gray squirrel!

Pancake arrived at PWC after being seized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission from someone who kept her as a pet illegally. Because she's spent her entire life with humans, she never learned how to be a wild squirrel and can't be safely released into the wild.

The eastern gray squirrel is the state mammal of North Carolina. They’re also the most commonly observed of our 5 tree squirrel species. These bold and clever rodents are equipped with teeth (incisors) that grow continuously their entire lives. They keep them in shape by chewing on hard objects such as tree branches. Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores who famously love tree nuts, and will cache them in preparation for winter. Many of these nuts are never recovered, resulting in successfully planted trees! This makes squirrels important seed dispersers in the wild.

Not only is it illegal to keep squirrels (and other native wildlife) without a permit - they don't make good pets! Even a relatively tame squirrel like Pancake can do serious damage to fingers, furniture, and anything else they decide to bite. Squirrels also have complex dietary, space, enrichment, and health needs that are very difficult to meet in a household setting.

Please, if you find an abandoned baby squirrel, reach out to a licensed rehabber who can give them the care they need to successfully return to the wild. While some animals can't be released due to injuries or other issues, we believe every healthy wild creature deserves a chance at a full, rich life in their natural habitat.

Remember: Piedmont Wildlife Center is an environmental education and conservation nonprofit. We are NOT equipped to accept, treat, offer advice on, transport, or raise injured or orphaned wildlife. If you are in the Durham-Raleigh-Chapel Hill area and find a wild animal who needs help, please contact Our Wild Neighbors (919-428-0896) or one of these specialized organizations: Carolina Raptor Center, Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, or NC State Turtle Rescue Team. You can find additional resources at Animal Help Now and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. It is illegal under North Carolina law to keep or attempt to raise wildlife without a permit.

In Memory: Bellatrix the Great-Horned Owl

Sad news always seems to come in threes. We're heartbroken to share that Bella the great-horned owl passed away earlier this month on May 10th, 2023.

Bellatrix (Bella) was found in January 2014 in New Ellenton, SC, by the side of a road with a broken wing, likely from colliding with a car. Her injuries were treated at Carolina Raptor Center, but because she never fully regained her ability to fly, she could not be released. Bella arrived at Piedmont Wildlife Center in September 2014. Over the next 8 years, she helped teach thousands of students and adults about the great-horned owl's importance in North Carolina, and inspired awe in everyone who looked into those big yellow eyes.

In 2019, we noticed a suspicious plaque growing on the roof of Bella’s mouth. She was examined by multiple avian and exotic vets over the next several years, and underwent a variety of treatments to try to resolve the problem. Unfortunately, these treatments failed and we were never able to get a concrete diagnosis. By Spring 2023, her plaque had begun to spread and required twice-weekly removal by our staff to help her breathe and eat properly. Rather than put Bella through this stress indefinitely, we decided it was in her best interest to euthanize her before her quality of life declined further.

Most of our Ambassador Animals, including Bella, came to us from wildlife rehabilitators and other rescues. (Note: Piedmont Wildlife Center focuses on education and conservation, and does NOT rehabilitate injured or orphaned wildlife.) Their life histories before receiving treatment are usually unknown, and some have long-term health issues. It's our responsibility to give these beings the highest quality of life possible, from the minute they enter our care to their very last day with us.

We're able to provide this level of care because of YOUR support. Whether you worked with Bella as a volunteer, donated to our Wildlife Ambassador fund, or met her at a program, thank you for helping us tell her story, care for her, and keep her life interesting to the very end. If you would like to make a gift in Bella's memory, you may do so at the link below or at https://www.piedmontwildlifecenter.org/donate