Wildlife Center Seeing More Injured Turtles This Year
ROSEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) -- We are surrounded by wildlife here in Minnesota. Every once in a while you'll see a sick or injured animal.
The Twin Cities is home to one of the largest independent wildlife medical centers in the nation.
Workers at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville say they've experienced one of their busiest summers yet. One of the animals that they've noted seeing a lot more of lately are turtles.
"This year we're having one of our bigger turtle years. We had over a dozen snappers," said Renee Schott with the Rehabilitation Center, pointing out a recent patient. "This guy has a jaw fracture. You can see there's a wire in it. Because of the jaw fracture, we don't want it eating. So we have a feeding tube into the neck."
Schott said one of the most common injuries they're seeing in turtles and birds are traumatic injuries, typically involving vehicles. A number of birds also come in after flying into windows.
Schott said the reason it's important for people to bring injured animals into the center is because humans are directly or indirectly responsible for so many of the injuries the animals suffer. She estimated about 80 percent of those injuries are related to the human element.
"We have a responsibility to help the animals," she said.
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville is an independently-run facility. They run off of donations and help from the public. More information can be found here.
