Record year for animal wildlife care
Published 10:44 am Friday, January 2, 2015
ROSEVILLE — Wildlife caregivers say the harsh winter of 2014 brought a record number of animals to the Roseville rehabilitation center.
About 9,200 animals that were injured, orphaned or sick were treated at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Executive Director Phil Jenni said that includes a number of unusual cases.
In February, a red-throated loon was found trying to walk down a snowy driveway in Isanti County. One had never been recorded at the center during a Minnesota winter.
In November, staff cared for a rufous hummingbird. Jenni said there have been only 16 recorded sightings of that species in the last two decades.
The center admitted a record number of trumpeter swans in 2014, up nearly 50 percent from the year before. Center staff said lead poisoning is the main culprit for the swans.