Greenwood Wildlife Treats 20 Waterfowl from Wastewater Treatment Plant, Many More Expected

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2007

Contact:
Courtney Stelzer
Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
303.823.8455
education@greenwoodwildlife.org
www.greenwoodwildlife.org

GREENWOOD WILDLIFE TREATS 20 WATERFOWL FROM WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, MANY MORE EXPECTED.

LONGMONT, CO

In the past 48 hours, Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center has received over 20 ducks from Metro Wastewater Reclamation Treatment plant in north Denver. Hundreds of ducks (mostly Northern Shovelers) have been dying at the plant’s chlorine contact basin (see http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=205554 ).

The ducks, primarily Northern Shovelers and some Gadwalls, will be with Greenwood for quite some time to regain waterproofing. Some ducks require tube-feeding several times a day, but others appear to be stable. Extra shipments of food for the ducks have been ordered (thousands of mealworms, among other food) and we have already done more blood work in the past two days than in the last six months.

At this time of year, Greenwood is usually a quiet place as the Center prepares for the upcoming “baby season.” Last year on this date, Greenwood had taken in 32 animals in January. This year, January’s total is 52 and expected to rise much higher in the next few days.

Greenwood volunteers and staff are working extra hours to care for the ducks. Any community support and donations for medical care and food for the ducks can be dropped off at the Longmont Center (call 303 823-8455) or Boulder Thrift Store (3013 Walnut St. call 303 245-0800).

In-kind donations needed are large bath towels, bed sheets, unflavored electrolyte solutions such as Pedialyte, cracked corn, vanilla Ensure and Ensure Plus, and chlorine bleach for laundry.

Monetary donations toward medical equipment and food can be sent to PO Box 18987 Boulder CO 80308.

Greenwood’s mission is to rehabilitate and release sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife back into the Colorado ecosystem and to educate the public about humane solutions to human-and-wildlife interactions. Roughly 3,000 patients are treated at the Center each year.

END