Wildlife in Austin area hurt by drought

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Wild animals like birds, racoons and deer are living in deplorable conditions because of the worsening drought in Central Texas. The period from October to the end of April has been the third driest period since 1856, according to the Lower Colorado River Authority .

Preston Daughty, president of Wildlife Rescue, Inc. in East Austin, said he is seeing many more injured and sick wildlife because of the drought.

"We actually handle about 5,000 animals a year and this year we're probably going to handle upwards of 6,000 to 7,000," Daughty said.

He also said they normally get about 20,000 calls in a year, but this year he expects between 25,000 and 30,000 calls.

Daughty said the drought diminishes sources of food and water for the animals and it also destroys their homes.

"Cavity nesters such as owls, raccoons, squirrels live in the holes in the trees and a lot of trees have died due to the drought," he said, "and when people cut their trees down the animals still have nests and babies in the holes in those trees."

He is also seeing more injured and sick deer come to the center.

"We are getting more fawns at this time is because there is not much cover out there due to the drought," Daughty added. "Normally these fawns would be hiding in the tall grass, but there's not much tall grass this year because there isn't enough rain to make the grass grow."

On Wednesday afternoon, Maeghan Jones went to the wildlife rescue center because she had found a baby bird that was barely moving. She said the bird was obviously hurt and disoriented.

"It does touch you because you know he was just laying on the side of the road, you know, nobody cared," Jones said.

Jones is glad she had a place to turn to save the bird.

"This place is a miracle. People really need to get out here and help with donations," Jones said.

Susan Edwards runs the wildlife rescue center on a day-to-day basis. She said once they receive the animals, they give them emergency care, fluids and food until they are stable. But Edwards also said  that's the easy part.

"A lot of people just don't realize that now we spend five months with these babies and we have to teach them to fish, to hunt. So what we release is better than the average raccoon," Edwards explained.

When the wild animals are released, they are taken to an area outside of Austin where they can live in their natural habitat.

"Our animals are never released here to end up in the street. We go to a safe zone," Edwards said.

Jones said she believes it's important to care for these animals.

"This is our wildlife, you know; we need to keep them around. It's our fault they keep getting hurt and stuff and we need to do something about it," she said.

For more information on the wildlife rescue center, log onto www.austinwildliferescue.org or call 512-472-WILD (9453).