Turkey Vulture Release
This young turkey vulture was brought to Tucson Wildlife Center after colliding with a building. On intake he was found weak and disoriented, showing signs of mild head trauma. While he appeared to have no major external injuries, our veterinary team quickly discovered a far more serious internal concern.
Bloodwork revealed severe anemia with a packed cell volume (PCV) of just 7%, meaning only a tiny fraction of his blood volume was made up of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. For comparison, normal avian values are closer to 35–45%. With such severe anemia, there is a high risk of organ failure and sudden death, so every moment counted.
An emergency blood transfusion was performed, and he was immediately started on oxygen support, IV fluids, and medications to stimulate red blood cell production. Further diagnostics revealed the cause—Plasmodium, a mosquito-borne parasite that infects a bird’s blood cells and is the avian equivalent of malaria. Fortunately, antimalarial treatment is effective when caught in time, and within days his strength began to return.
After intensive care and steady improvement, this young vulture made a full recovery and has now been released back into the wild, ready to take his place among the currents of fall migration as the vultures continue their journey south. Turkey vultures are highly social birds that soar together on rising thermals, traveling great distances in loose family and communal groups.
Seeing him take to the sky—strong, healthy, and free—is a powerful reminder of both the dangers wildlife face and the resilience they can show when given a second chance. If you would like to help patients like this Turkey Vulture, click this link to donate,
https://give-usa.keela.co/twc-donation-form. Another way you can contribute is to visit our “wish list” on Amazon by using the following ink, https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1Z0GXJXQ5KICS/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex?pldnSite=1 or on Chewy at https://www.chewy.com/g/tucson-wildlife-center_b137699594#wish-list&wishlistsortby=DEFAULT. We appreciate it, as will all the wild animals in our care!
#tucsonwildlifecenter#wildliferehabber#tucsonnativewildlife#tucsonanimals#AZnativeanimals#wildliferehabilitation, click this link to donate,
Another way you can contribute is to visit our “wish list” on Amazon or Chewy below:
We appreciate it, as will all the wild animals in our care!
Show your support with a minimum $25 donation and we’ll send you a “KEEP TUCSON WILD” sticker. Click the bumper sticker to donate.