Rehabilitating A Green Heron

Green herons are a difficult species to rehabilitate for many reasons, but in particular, because of their high-stress levels. An adult green heron was brought to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) and the finder stated, “it can’t fly.”

With herons being a high-stress species, it was important for staff to minimize the amount of stress on the patient. During diagnostics, radiographs showed the patient had a left coracoid fracture rendering it unable to fly. The green heron was admitted and placed in a body wrap to stabilize the wing in the correct position while avoiding further damage. The wrap kept the wing stable, but the heron was unable to eat without assistance.

With this heron being on the thin side and a stressful bird, CROW veterinarians elected to feed EmerAid Intensive Care Piscivore as an easily digestible supplemental diet that is high in calories. It also meant the patient would not have to move the injured wing much to eat. The liquid diet is fast and efficient, which decreases handling time and meant the heron was less likely to re-injure the wing. As the fracture site healed, and with the help of EmerAid Intensive Care Piscivore, the green heron began eating on its own. The patient continued gaining weight and was able to fly once in an outdoor enclosure. The green heron was released almost one month later at a wildlife preserve in Fort Myers, Florida.