Pine Tree Hill Wildlife

Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in Camden, South Carolina

Rescue

Sideshow Freak

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Years ago, we did a lot of wildlife and exotic animal education programs. We loved it. Educating the public about the wildlife in their backyards was our favorite thing to do.  We loved seeing the people in our community and people loved seeing us, but mostly people loved seeing the unusual variety of animals we shared.

After a few years of doing this, especially when we were doing multiple programs each month, we noticed life in the public was not good for our animals. After these events many of our animals would show signs of stress.  It only took a few times of seeing the negative impact that public display had on the animals, and we said no more.

For the record, we never used any of our native wildlife rehab patients for programs. It is our job to protect releasable wildlife from human imprinting, habituation, or desensitization to people.  We usually shared some of our exotics and native non-releasable wildlife, like our King Snake named Pretzel or our giant tortoises.  Folks loved our Tarantulas, Iguanas and Bearded Dragons.  Our farm turkey, Buttercup, was quite the celebrity, too.

We stepped away from programs that required animal exhibition about 4 years ago. It hurt us a lot.  Our youth education programs were free and not a source of any income, but it was a way for the public to have one-on-one encounters with their local rescue. The negative impact for us was we stopped receiving donations since we were not in the public eye as much.  Ouch!

We learned that our main responsibility is the health and welfare of the animals in our care.  Most of the animals that come to us, both wild and exotic, have been through unimaginable abuse and neglect.  They came to us to heal, not to be sideshow freaks at an education program and certainly not to be used as an income resource.

We still enjoy the occasional local outing and will even bring our very social, crowd-loving tortoises to visit.  We have been to schools and career days to talk about what we do, and to community helper day at our local elementary school to educate students about what to do if you find wildlife.  We still have our yearly “Let’s Get Snakey” snake identification class, which we can also present to your business or organization.  But we just cannot be irresponsible stewards of the animals who trust us to provide a secure, stable environment for the rest of their lives.  And we cannot risk the chances for native wildlife in our care to not be able to be released back into the wild when rehabilitation is completed.

All wildlife (even most exotic pets) are high stress animals.  There is no such thing as TRULY domesticating or taming a wild or exotic animal.  Some species become human imprinted or human habituated, but wild and exotic animals NEVER lose their natural instincts.  They just use the ability to trust those instincts enough to use them.

Not all zoos, petting zoos, or animal education facilities are BAD.  There are a lot of great zoos and animal sanctuaries to visit in South Carolina.  When you do visit these places, native wildlife on display should only be non-releasable wildlife.  Releasable wildlife cannot under any circumstances, be human habituated, imprinted, or desensitized to people.  This means non-releasable animals should never cohabitate with releasable wild animals.  We believe in this so strongly at our rescue that once an animal is being weaned and ready for release, we do not even talk around them and a few weeks before release they rarely see us.  We limit the number of different people a wild animal sees while in care.  We need releasable wild animals to NOT associate people with food, security, or companionship.  We need releasable wildlife to have a natural fear of people and pets.

Finally, if you attend events or facilities that have wild, exotic, or even farm animals on display, please know that no matter how docile and friendly these animals appear, a person, place, or even a smell could cause stress.  Ask the animal handler before you try to touch or feed an animal.  Some facilities may already have instructions in place at enclosures detailing what is allowed.  Respect an animal’s personal space.  Social distancing isn’t just for humans.

Bella, one of our dedicated volunteers
and supporters, at a 4-H presentation.

Where Have All The Rescues Gone?

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South Carolina has 46 counties.  Last count, there are only 30 counties with local wildlife rescues. Many rescues accept animals from multiple counties.

Folks tell us all the time that there are not enough wildlife rescues in South Carolina.  We do not disagree.  Ironically there are not enough donors and supporters of wildlife rescues for more of us to survive. 

Wildlife rescues serve a much-needed purpose to communities.  Who do you call when you find orphaned, injured, or displaced wildlife? If you really want to make sure the animal you found receives the absolute best care from people who are educated to care for that species; you will call your most local (reputable) wildlife rescue. *

In South Carolina there are no state or federal agencies that do what we do.  All wildlife rescues are independent organizations that do not receive state or federal funding.  Most of us are nonprofits, but you do not have to be a nonprofit to be a good rescue.  Nonprofit status does not benefit the organization so much as it does the donors to the organization.  Nonprofit status does not legitimize an organization either.

Our rescue is a nonprofit organization.  We are also an all-volunteer organization.  This means no one receives a salary so all donations received go directly to the care of the animals at the rescue.  This also means that we pay out of pocket for any expenses not covered by donations.  And there are plenty of expenses.  Nonprofits do not receive anything for free.  We pay for vet care, feed, supplies, and transportation. Sometimes we might get a discount. Most of the time we do not.

Most of our volunteers also have jobs in their real life.  We have to…this is how we pay for all of those expenses when donations are low. 

We’re not telling those of you who follow us anything you haven’t heard before…Let us get to the point of this blog post, which is about 50% rant and 50% preaching to the choir.

Last week we had two different callers who drove more than 2 hours from opposite sides of the state to bring us orphaned wildlife they found because they did not have a local rescue in their area.  Both callers were mad because to help the wildlife they found they had to drive to us. Both were angry that we could not just hop in our cars and drive to them. They wanted to help the animals they found, but they were also disappointed that wildlife rescues here aren’t like the ones they see on TV shows?!?!?!?!  One caller actually told us we need to do better.

For wildlife rescues to be successful and sustainable we need community support.  Two years ago our rescue had to limit the species we accept.  Not because we do not have the time or volunteers, but because we do not have the funding to keep supplies on hand for multiple species of wildlife.

Wildlife rescues face a lot of hardships with our biggest one being that we do not have a revenue generating resource.  Our main goal is to keep wildlife wild and be sure it’s capable of survival when rehabilitation is complete.  We cannot have adoption events or charge admission to visitors. Heck, we can’t even have visitors.  We cannot take the wild animals we are rehabbing to events and show them off.  We cannot allow the WILD animals in our care to be human imprinted or habituated. Sadly when the public does not get to have a first hand experience with the animals they tend to NOT donate to us and instead donate to the shelters, sanctuaries, and petting zoos they can visit.

Our second biggest hardship is that folks believe we receive funding from state agencies to do the work we do so people believe there is no need to donate.  Or that their tax money pays us.  We wish!

We help the humans who reach out to us just as much as we help the wildlife brought to us. Our purpose is not only to rehabilitate and keep wildlife wild.  Our purpose is also to help the people who FIND the animals know what to do when they encounter wildlife. 

The moral of the story here is that wildlife rescues are becoming a rarity and the biggest culprit is (as always) funding.  If you have a wildlife rescue in your community, please support them. If you take an animal to a rescue, leave a donation.  Tell other people about how your local wildlife rescue helped you.  Share social media posts, newsletters, websites, and blogs from your local wildlife rescue.  Do something because before long rescues like ours will only be able to do nothing.

*Some species and some situations fall outside of what a wildlife rescue can lawfully handle and require a response from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) or the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC).

How Do You Know?

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Rescue, Shelter, or Sanctuary


How do you know if a rescue is like the crazy ones you see featured in documentaries? How do you know the money you donate is going for the care of the animals?  How do you know if the rescue you are supporting is one of those drama filled organizations with lions, tigers, and bears in their backyards.

The words rescue, shelter, and sanctuary are often used interchangeably, and this can be confusing to the public. Sometimes the misuse of these words is intentional.  There are no legal definitions of these three words in our state so there is no way to gage if an organization is legit by what it calls itself.  Many people are leery of donating to animal-based organizations because they do not want to unintentionally support an organization that is not what they appear to be.

For the sake of simplicity we will use our rescue as the main example here. 
We are a rescue.  We take in animals, wildlife specifically, and rehabilitate them and release them back into the wild as soon as they are ready.  That is our mission.  We keep wildlife wild. We are not a shelter nor a sanctuary.  We do not provide long-term placement for wild species. We do not foster nor adopt wildlife.  Native wildlife that NEEDS long-term care is placed with other permitted facilities who can provide the specific care that species needs.  We cannot allow visitors because wildlife cannot be released if it is human habituated or imprinted.  Most wildlife rescues are home-based to keep the animals from being exposed to multiple people. We rely on other agencies to let you – the public – know we are legit, and our animals receive proper care.

Shelters are usually for domesticated pets or exotic species.  Shelters are a very important part of every community. Shelters are typically a place where people can safely surrender their pets. Shelters may also rescue an animal and provide care until the animal finds a permanent home.

I know.  It’s already a little confusing.  Be patient with me.

Sanctuaries are the places getting the bad publicity at the moment and rightfully so in many cases.  When most of us think of a sanctuary we picture a peaceful, serene place where non-releasable animals -both wild and exotic- can live their lives in habitats that mimic each species natural environment. You may even picture hundreds of acres of land with more than enough room to roam.  Because there is NO LEGAL definition of what a sanctuary is, in most states a sanctuary can be a place that just keeps animals in cages forever.  No minimum amount of land required. They can get nonprofit status.  They can solicit donations. And other than providing adequate shelter, food, and water there are no standards that must be followed.  The key word here is adequate. The word sanctuary gives a false sense of comfort that everything is legit.

How can you tell if a rescue/shelter/sanctuary is legit?  Here are some simple questions to ask.  There are exceptions to rules sometimes but use your judgement and ask more questions if needed.

-Check the nonprofit / 501 C3 status of the organization with the Internal Revenue Service.  In SC nonprofits should also be listed with the Secretary of State as a charitable organization if they are soliciting donations.  You can view the transparency of the organizations by visiting the website for the IRS and SC Secretary of State.  The SOS will even list how much of the organization’s funds are used for the organizations mission.  Keep in mind that it can take up to a year for misuse to be reflected on these sites.

-What does the organization do? Are most of the animals purchased or traded for other species to have on display?  Some rescues and sanctuaries are actually petting zoos in disguise.
Animals on display DOES NOT equal bad intentions.  Some sanctuaries will actually (legally) solicit donations for the animals they keep on display.  The big question is: Were the display animals TRUE rescues or were they purchased from breeders with the intent of being displayed.  If it’s the latter, you should question why these places bring in animals to have on display and then ask YOU for donations to pay for them.

-Is breeding allowed?  Unless the organization has designated conservation status and is permitted to work with threatened and endangered species, the answer should always be NO.  FYI – there are no wildlife rescues in South Carolina that qualify for conservation status.  Sure, we all work towards conservation, but none have conservation status.

-Do they allow public contact with WILD animals that are intended to be released back into the wild?  This should be a no-brainer.  Wild animals being rehabilitated for release should never be part of a petting zoo or display.  Ever.

-Is the organization involved in the community? This is very important.  If an organization needs your support to operate, they should also contribute to the community that supports them in some way.

Not all shelters and sanctuaries allow visitors due to ordinances or safety rules, but if they do you can see for yourself if they are clean, organized, and if the animals are healthy.  I know of a few sanctuaries in our county that are amazing! The bottom line is KNOW what you want to support.  If you want to support a wildlife rescue whose mission is to keep wildlife wild and release rehabilitated wildlife back into its natural habitat (wink, wink) then be sure that is the mission of the organization you choose to support.  If you donate to a shelter that provides care and placement to abandoned, neglected, or homeless pets then be sure that is what they do.  If you are passionate about an animal sanctuary, be sure they meet YOUR definition of the word sanctuary.  All of the above should be community helpers.  None of the above should ever operate for profit or personal gain.

What the Cluck?

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Homesteading has always been a fad and it seems the pandemic years brought out the wannabe homesteader in a lot of folks.  Homesteading can be rewarding.  Anyone who has ever grown their own tomatoes will tell you there is no better tasting tomato than one you grew yourself.
Apparently the next easiest step of homesteading after vegetable growing is raising chickens.

The idea of collecting eggs from the chickens you raise is very appealing.  And yes, we know that feeling at the rescue. The truth is the eggs you collect from chickens you raise will be the most expensive free eggs ever. Properly raising chickens is not cheap and not as easy as most folks assume.  We have encountered many first-time chicken owners this year and that came along with a lot of first-time owner problems. 

Nutrition  We often take in in chickens who have severe nutritional deficiencies.  Chickens need a balanced diet which would include quality chicken feed suitable for the stage of life for your chickens. Additional nutrients such as calcium (we use crushed oyster shell available at most feed stores) and Vitamins, especially B Vitamins, are needed for egg production and overall health.  Chicken scratch is a treat and should only be a very small part of a chicken’s diet.  Extra protein is a bonus, especially during stress. We give mealworms as protein treats. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great treat, too. Fresh, CLEAN water EVERYDAY is a must.

Biosecurity  Keeping your chicken free of parasites, worms, and disease is just as important as proper nutrition.  ALL chickens are susceptible to parasites, worms, and disease because even the cleanest coop or yard can harbor things you cannot see.  It is recommended that you keep your coop clean, do not overpopulate your flock, and practice proper parasite control.  This means you need to keep the poop scooped and regularly examine your flock, their roost, and nesting boxes for signs of parasites.  A good rule of thumb, if you suspect one chicken has parasites, mites, or any cooties is to treat them all.  Do not rely on holistic treatments for parasites.  We watched many chickens die because the only treatments they ever got were “all natural.”

Medical  Chickens get sick. Chickens get injured.  It is your responsibility to have a vet or way to care for your flock.  We keep an emergency first aid kit for chickens on hand because it is difficult to find vets who see any breed of fowl. A responsible chicken owner will never let a chicken suffer.  Many chicken owners will not seek medical help because they do not want to pay a vet bill for a chicken they purchased for a few dollars.  The moment you decided to raise chickens you became responsible for their care, no matter the cost.  Make sure you have a local vet that will see chickens or pair up with your local Clemson Extension office/4H club to meet others with chicken care knowledge. If you have a chicken that gets sick or shows symptoms you cannot identify you should separate and quarantine the bird immediately. Seek help immediately.  The wait and see method is often fatal.

Housing  Coops should be large enough to house your population.  There is a lot of debate about HOW much room each chicken needs, but most experienced chicken experts recommend 6 square feet per bird, enough nesting boxes to accommodate your flock, a secure place to roost, as well as feed and clean water areas.  Do not house roosters and hens together unless you plan on collecting eggs daily.  You only need one rooster for every five hens.  Roosters should not be housed together.  They are very territorial and will fight.

Free-Range Pros and Cons  There are benefits to free ranging your chickens. Chickens will have a wider area to roam, they keep bug population down, chicken poop is an excellent fertilizer, and free-range chickens don’t get bored.
Cons to free-ranging are your chickens are more susceptible to injury and death.  Eggs are laid in various places which makes egg collecting difficult.  Chicken poop is everywhere. And of course, predators.  Free range chickens are often a free meal for wildlife and other pets.

Raising Chicks  Most people start out with chicks purchased from feed stores.  Chicks need A LOT of attention.  Proper temperature, proper lighting, diet, water, and housing are important to have in place before you bring chicks home. Then they will graduate to larger coops, etc and you must be prepared for their growth.  If you plan to hatch and raise your own chicks, you need to do a lot of research about proper hatching conditions and egg care.  And know what vaccines are needed for hatchlings if you plan to sell your birds.  One very important thing about hatching your own chicks is this requires a rooster to fertilize the eggs.  Some of you may be rolling your eyes at us right about now, but many people do not understand that a hen will lay eggs regardless of whether or not a rooster is present.  Eggs must be fertilized by a rooster to be hatched.

Before You Buy  If you are considering getting chickens ask yourself if you have the time each day/week to provide proper care.  Can you afford to provide proper nutrition, housing, and medical care?  Can you commit to the lifespan of a chicken?  Chickens live 5+ years.  Hens only lay eggs for about 3 years.
You also need to check on local laws and ordinances.  Most cities and counties allow hens but prohibit roosters.  Many Homeowner’s Associations prohibit livestock.  If you are part of an HOA you need to check with them and see if they consider poultry livestock.


Most important, have a plan if you can no longer keep your chickens.  Chicken rescues are very rare resources.  Domestic pet and animal shelters do not have the accommodations to take in and care for chickens.  And rescues of any kind rarely have room for roosters.

Walt Disney Syndrome

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A consistent problem wildlife rescues face is the public keeping the wild animals they
find instead of seeking help from experienced rehabbers. We have addressed this issue
before, and it is a continuous struggle to educate folks on why it is a bad idea to keep an
animal if you have no experience or knowledge about their needs.

Finders tend to bond quickly to the animals they find. We jokingly call this Walt Disney
Syndrome. We understand the emotional need to save and care for a helpless animal.
What we need the public to understand is wildlife requires special care and sometimes
special permits to even have possession of that animal.

We have had several recent intakes that were kept by the finders for several days before
being surrendered. Many were only surrendered after the animals became ill, most
likely from improper care. We spend a lot of time and funds correcting problems that
could have been prevented if we were contacted when the animals were first found.
Finders have good intentions. Most say they kept the animals because they felt a need
to protect them and did not want them to die. We get that…but in this day and age a
wildlife rehabber is usually just a phone call away. Giving the baby to a rescue ensures
the animal will receive proper care AND will most likely able to be released back into the
wild. We are trained to know what’s best for the species in our care.

Keeping wildlife is a big responsibility. Once the animal imprints or becomes human
habituated releasing it into the wild will not be an option. Most wildlife species learn
how to be wild by growing up with others of its own species. If an animal grows up with
humans, it becomes desensitized to the dangers other humans could pose if its released.

We get countless calls about adult squirrels who were obviously released pets that are
fearless of humans. These animals sometimes get aggressive when people do not feed
them. They do not understand why a new person is not as accommodating as the one
who raised them.

If you choose to keep wildlife, it is yours forever. Although some places advertise they
are wildlife sanctuaries, there are no regulated wildlife sanctuaries in South Carolina
where you can take pet wildlife to live happy and free. Places that claim to be sanctuaries
are not inspected and do not have any regulations to follow that make sure animals
receive proper care. Zoos do not take in native wildlife. Domesticated animal shelters are not
equipped to handle wildlife.

The saddest part is most found wildlife does not need to be rescued. Wild animals do
not stay with their young. Finders react emotionally and pick up fawns or fledgling
birds or a number of other species and then refuse to return them when we explain why
this is the best option.

There are no laws in South Carolina that restrict the public from keeping wildlife*. The lack of laws does not make it right for you to keep an animal that deserves every chance to be released back into its natural habitat.

REMINDERS THIS BABY SEASON
Birds: Baby birds do not know how to fly as soon as they jump from their nests. A baby bird
must fledge the nest and live on the ground for several days. The parents will continue
to care for the baby until it learns to fly. Some birds nest on the ground. A baby bird
does not need to be rescued unless it has had contact with a cat, has obvious injuries or
is covered in ants. Birds cannot be rescued just because you are concerned for their
safety. Songbirds and Birds of Prey are federally protected and can only be kept by
people or organizations who are federally permitted for those species.

Fawns: Deer do not stay with their young. Fawns are “parked” in an area and the
mother watches from a safe distance. You will not see or hear the mother if you
approach the fawn. The fawn will not run away. Fawns are super skinny the first
several weeks of life and people often mistake this for malnourishment. A fawn does not
need to be rescued unless it is found with a dead Doe, has obvious injuries or is laying in
an unnatural (flat not curled up) position. In SC it is unlawful to take and keep a fawn
unless you do so under the guidance of SC DNR or a wildlife rehabber that is permitted
for fawns.

All Species: It is important to remember that all species of wildlife can carry diseases
that could be transmitted to humans and pets. In recent years we have seen increased
numbers of confirmed rabies cases in domesticated animals and wildlife. Huge
outbreaks of distemper in both wild and domesticated animals continue to plague our
state as well. Parasites from wild animals can also be transmitted to people and pets,
too. Do not risk unnecessarily exposing your family or pets.

Wildlife rescues like ours are eager to help. We answer calls each day
and do our best to assist when possible. Our organization is 100% volunteer based and
we do what we do because it is our passion. If you need to contact us, phone or text is
best. We respond to calls not in the order received but by the importance of the call, so
this means details are very important when leaving a message. We are grateful to live in
a community that supports what we do!

*Bears, Fox, and Coyote require a permit issued by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Wrongful Rescue

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The past week has been especially tough here at the rescue. We are experiencing an increased amount of wrongful rescues. The purpose of a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization is to take in, care for, and release wild species back into their natural environment in a timely manner. Agencies such as SCDNR and DHEC allow us the privilege to do what we do as long as we follow the laws and regulations set forth to protect not only the wildlife in our state, but also the humans. We are trusted, based on our training and experience, to make the right decision for any wildlife situations that come our way. If these agencies trust us, you should, too.
 
When you call our rescue we will ask a series of questions about the species you have found and we will instruct you on the best option for that species. Please listen to us. Please answer our questions accurately. We base our advice on the information you give us. We do not make up advice on the spot or only tell you what we think you want to hear. We have cared for dozens, if not hundreds, of the species you call us about. We understand the internet may say something different than what we advise. We understand your grandmother may have raised one of those babies when you were a kid. If you choose to do something other than what we advise, the outcome is your choice and your responsibility.
 
It is our responsibility as a wildlife rescue to keep all wildlife wild. If you find an animal alone please do not assume it is orphaned or abandoned. In the wild kingdom, parents do not stay with their young. Parents are usually nearby and probably won’t try to intervene while you are kidnapping their babies. Adult animals have a scent that can attract predators. Adults are also very visible to predators. The parents stay away and return only to feed in an effort to keep the location of their young a secret. Believe it or not, we can tell if a baby has recently been fed by the mother! Years of experience have taught us what to look for and how to know if a baby has any nutritional needs.
 
It is not inhumane to leave a wild animal in the wild to wait for its parents. These animals live in every weather situation you can imagine. They survive everyday with other wild species lurking around. It is not our job to question where a doe has left her baby. It is not our job to protect wildlife from the heat, from other wildlife, or from pets.
 
Speaking of pets, it is not the job of a wildlife rescue to save wildlife from your pets. If there is a fledgling on the ground learning how to fly and you are afraid your cat will get it then simply bring your cat inside for a few days. That bird is in the last stages of becoming independent from its parents and bringing it in to rescue dramatically lessens its chance of survival. Afraid your dog will bother a fawn who has been parked in your yard? Keep the dog inside or crated until the fawn leaves. Sometimes these dogs and cats are not pets, but strays who roam around and are a threat to wildlife. If that’s the case let us know and we will be happy to have the strays relocated to a local animal shelter or rescue.
 
NEVER EVER feed a wild baby. Feeding wildlife the wrong thing even one time can be fatal. We know the nutritional needs of the species we work with at the rescue. We would much rather get a hungry, dehydrated baby than one who is slowly and painfully dying from improper feeding.
 
Also, feeding wildlife can lead to other consequences. Example: If you feed a species that is a high risk carrier of rabies and you have had contact with the animal’s saliva or it has bitten or scratched you – even a tiny scratch – we are obligated under laws in our state to euthanize and submit that animal for disease testing. We do work to protect wildlife, but human and public safety are our responsibility, too.
 
And while we are talking about public safety, sometimes we might refer you to another rescue because our vet cannot treat a specific species or injury. This is not us refusing to help. This is us sending you to the best place possible for the species you have found.
 
What do you do if you found orphaned or injured wildlife? In South Carolina, contact a wildlife rehabber right away. We will instruct you on what to do next. Do not remove the animal until you talk to one of us. If the animal is in immediate danger and you can safely move it, be sure to wear gloves – and if needed eye protection – and put the animal in a container with air holes for ventilation. Crates will work for larger species. Be sure to note the exact location where the animal was found.
 
Getting orphaned or injured wildlife to a rescue is the responsibility of the finder. Once you have talked to us and we determined the animal does need care we will help you find the closest rehabber to you.
 
If we ask you to leave the animal where you found it we expect you to LEAVE THE ANIMAL WHERE YOU FOUND IT. Remember mamma will not return if she can see you. Her instincts will not allow her to show you where her babies are hidden. Some species, like fawns and raccoon, need to be left all night.
 
We encounter a lot of myths about wildlife. The most common is that if a human has touched a wild baby the parents will reject it. This is an old wives’ tale, probably invented to keep kids from picking up every animal they find. We return babies that have been exposed to human scent all the time and the parents continue to care for their young.
 
We are invested in the wildlife in our state. We are dedicated to doing not only what is best for the wildlife we are called about but also what is RIGHT. Please help us educate others about the importance of knowing when to rescue a wild animal, but most importantly knowing when to NOT rescue.
 
Sincerely yours,
The Humans & Critters of PTH Wildlife
 

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