Lindsey Wildlife Museum

(My continuing summer 'field trip' series.)

We headed to Walnut Creek's Lindsey Wildlife Museum, a museum that has a hospital for injured animals. It is mainly a rehabilitate museum and houses local animals that were injured so severely that they could not be let back into the wild. They have many beautiful birds: a bald eagle, various barn owls, a turkey vulture, and a raven. It was a very educational experience because there were many volunteers available to talk about each animal that was housed there; how they got there and what happened to them.

This bald eagle was found in Montana after it hit a power line. It lost one wing so it was brought over to the museum.

This large common raven was found as a juvenile in the Bay Area. She was brought to the hospital where she was treated for a wing injury. Her wing did not heal well enough for her to fly so she stayed at the museum since 1990.

This Virgina opossum was born with three legs and has lived at the museum since 2009.

This desert cottontail was hit by a car in 2007. It suffered head trauma and an injury to his front leg making him unable to quickly flee from danger.

This band-tailed pigeon was rescued after flying into a window in Orinda. She was treated at their wildlife hospital for an injured wing. Even though her wing was healed, she can't fly well enough to live in the wild. They named her "Orinda" and has been living at the museum since 2008.

This ground squirrel was found and raised by people in their home. When released she would dig back into the house to be with 'her' family. Because she isn't afraid of humans and not afraid of potential predators, she cannot live in the wild.

The turkey vulture was shot in Arizona and his right wing had to be amputated. The bird developed arthritis in his leg and is treated regularly with medications at the museum. It was fascinating watching the turkey vulture eat.  His food is hidden under the leaves in his cage. We saw him find and eat four little white mice. He just tore them apart with his beak and swallowed their body pieces. He has a featherless head .. Why? Emily knew the answer (she learned it from the PBS show, Fetch).. So that their head feathers don't get all dirty while they eat their prey.

These owls were my favorite of all the animals displayed. The one in the front was so fluffy and huge!

The volunteers brought out a tortoise.. which is different that a turtle. Tortoises are land dwelling reptiles of the turtle family. But they have feet. Their marine cousins, the sea dwelling turtles, have flippers or webbed feet. This one was at least 60 years old and they can live up to 150 years. Tortoises can go without water for a year since it gets its fluid from what they eat.

It was a quick visit. It took us two hours and that's including eating lunch.
They are doing a remodel now of the museum and is expected to finish by end of September.

(Photo credit go to my daughter, Emily, who took most of these pictures. )