Harmony Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Programs
Budget
$5,000.00
Description
Wild animals require specific diets to grow and thrive. The diets vary species-to-species and change as the animal develops. We use Fox Valley Animal Nutrition milk replacers (https://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/). There are different milk replacers for each species. Squirrels 4 weeks and younger require 32/40 (32% protein and 40% fat); once the squirrel reaches 4 weeks of age, the formula is switched to 20/50. Extrapolated out, a single squirrel can cost more than $50 in formula alone. There is also the cost of feeding equipment. This includes everything from flexible feeding tubes (used for small mammals like rabbits and opossums), metal feeding tubes for animals like mourning doves, nipples sized for squirrels and raccoons, hundreds of syringes, and more. Most items are relatively inexpensive, but collectively add up! As the animal matures, we need a lot more: fresh fruit, vegetables, all varieties of proteins, nuts, seeds, etc. Thank you for helping us give them the best start!
Program Successes
A successful program means we have the resources to offer every nutritional element that a wild animal needs to properly develop and be released into the wild. Success can also be measured by waste: that is, minimizing it. As we experiment with various diets and learn what works best, we can optimize our nutrition program. The first priority is a successful outcome for the animal; secondly is the most efficient, cost-effective way to achieve that goal.
Category
Animal Related - Wild Animals Preservation & Protection
Beneficiaries
Animals
Long-term Success
Simply put, optimal nutrition contributes to increased chance of survival. Our ultimate goal is to release animals back into their natural environments. If we can emulate the diets they would have received via their natural parents we can set them up for success and increase their likelihood of maturing into healthy, releasable animals.
We are also looking for the most economical way to provide optimal nutrition. There will always be some food waste, but we hope to find "the sweet spot" - where the animals gets the best nutrition we can offer with the least food waste. Our most recent experiment is including "Henry's Healthy Blocks" - a specialty feed developed specifically for squirrels. They are relatively expensive, but other local wildlife rehabilitators report success and less waste using this feed.
Short-term Success
Funding this program will allow us to accept more animals; our capacity is determined, in part, by the resources available to properly feed them. This funding will be used to purchase formula, produce, meat, dairy, hay, nuts, seeds, and more. This segues into our long-term success. As we feed more animals, and acquire the resources to offer various diet options, we can adapt our diets to improve outcomes.
Program Success Monitored By
We now use WRMD: an online medical database designed specifically for wildlife rehabilitators to collect, manage and analyze data for patients. Over time, we will use the collected data to modify diets and experiment with modifications to see if animal health/ release rates can be improved.
For example, we are currently testing squirrel diets, to see which combinations deliver the best outcomes As we collect data, we can look for trends that influence our animal nutrition program.
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee, West Nashville
$5,000.00
Description
Wild animals require specific diets to grow and thrive. The diets vary species-to-species and change as the animal develops. We use Fox Valley Animal Nutrition milk replacers (https://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/). There are different milk replacers for each species. Squirrels 4 weeks and younger require 32/40 (32% protein and 40% fat); once the squirrel reaches 4 weeks of age, the formula is switched to 20/50. Extrapolated out, a single squirrel can cost more than $50 in formula alone. There is also the cost of feeding equipment. This includes everything from flexible feeding tubes (used for small mammals like rabbits and opossums), metal feeding tubes for animals like mourning doves, nipples sized for squirrels and raccoons, hundreds of syringes, and more. Most items are relatively inexpensive, but collectively add up! As the animal matures, we need a lot more: fresh fruit, vegetables, all varieties of proteins, nuts, seeds, etc. Thank you for helping us give them the best start!
Program Successes
A successful program means we have the resources to offer every nutritional element that a wild animal needs to properly develop and be released into the wild. Success can also be measured by waste: that is, minimizing it. As we experiment with various diets and learn what works best, we can optimize our nutrition program. The first priority is a successful outcome for the animal; secondly is the most efficient, cost-effective way to achieve that goal.
Category
Animal Related - Wild Animals Preservation & Protection
Beneficiaries
Animals
Long-term Success
Simply put, optimal nutrition contributes to increased chance of survival. Our ultimate goal is to release animals back into their natural environments. If we can emulate the diets they would have received via their natural parents we can set them up for success and increase their likelihood of maturing into healthy, releasable animals.
We are also looking for the most economical way to provide optimal nutrition. There will always be some food waste, but we hope to find "the sweet spot" - where the animals gets the best nutrition we can offer with the least food waste. Our most recent experiment is including "Henry's Healthy Blocks" - a specialty feed developed specifically for squirrels. They are relatively expensive, but other local wildlife rehabilitators report success and less waste using this feed.
Short-term Success
Funding this program will allow us to accept more animals; our capacity is determined, in part, by the resources available to properly feed them. This funding will be used to purchase formula, produce, meat, dairy, hay, nuts, seeds, and more. This segues into our long-term success. As we feed more animals, and acquire the resources to offer various diet options, we can adapt our diets to improve outcomes.
Program Success Monitored By
We now use WRMD: an online medical database designed specifically for wildlife rehabilitators to collect, manage and analyze data for patients. Over time, we will use the collected data to modify diets and experiment with modifications to see if animal health/ release rates can be improved.
For example, we are currently testing squirrel diets, to see which combinations deliver the best outcomes As we collect data, we can look for trends that influence our animal nutrition program.
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee, West Nashville
