Released June 29, 2005

Valery Smith, MWR Director, holds a Cooper's Hawkmoments before he is released into the woods behind the Gallenbeck residence. The Hawk was found in Hernando by Mrs. Kelly Jacobs, who named him. "I was driving to a friends' home when I saw a bird standing in the other lane," Mrs. Jacobs said. "I expected him to fly up as I passed by, and when he didn't I knew something was wrong. I circled back to check and the poor bird was dazed and unafraid of me so I carefully bagged him and took him home. I called my veterinarian who referred me to the volunteers of MWR. I don't know what I would have done with Cooper-San if MWR hadn't been available to treat him. I made a donation to pay for the expenses of his care, and now am a proud volunteer for MWR."

This male Cooper's Hawk, which was apparently shot by a pellet gun, spent three days in rehabilitation. The pellet entered and exited the bird's face and tore off a piece of his beak. Mrs. Smith cleaned the wound and administered antibiotics. Fortunately the wound healed rapidly and there was no other damage.

"Beau Oiseau" (French for "Beautiful Bird")

Released July 3, 2005

This America Kestrel was a chick who fell out of his nest and was unnecessarily “saved” in DeSoto County. Beau's parents were nearby, but a well-meaning person thought he had been abandoned and brought him to a local veterinarian. He was cared for at MWR until he was old enough to hunt for his own food. Parents of baby birds will continue to feed their young, even out of their nest, if they are left alone where they fell or put up in the tree. The American Kestrel is the smallest and most colorful falcon, 9-12 inches in length with a wingsan of 21-23 inches. They have a unique facial pattern that features two black stripes called eye beards. In the countryside, kestrels prey on insects, small birds, reptiles and rodents. Habitat destruction and loss of nest-cavity trees are possible factors leading to the decline in the breeding population that has earned the Kestrel a classification of threatened.

"Renée" and "Renard"

Released August 24, 2005

These Red Foxes were released together after receiving separate care from MWR volunteers specially trained for their rehabilitation. They were so happy to be freed! The female kept running between the bushes and her caregiver, but eventually departed into her wild home. The male had been injured and the female orphaned, but were both about the same age. Hopefully they will stay together and mate for life. These foxes dine on small rodents and other cropland pests, yet they are hunted for sport and trapped for fur.

"Ofunlo" (Choctaw for "Screech Owl")

Released August 24, 2005

There are two color-morphs for this small, nocturnal woodland owl, gray and reddish-brown. This red-phase Eastern Screech Owl was found dehydrated in a Mississippi back yard when it was a fledgeling and unable to care for itself. Eastern Screech Owls are one of the smallest Owls in North America, only 8" to 9" in length, so sometimes they are mistaken for baby owls. They mainly eat insects, but also like small fish, rodents and frogs. Screech-Owls are best seen in the early evening or pre-dawn hours in our local woodlands, including wooded urban regions. These little owls live with us in our suburbs, and they readily accept an owl house. If you can provide one, it would be an important replacement for the many dead trees are cut down for development or just firewood, destroying their natural habitat. Eastern Screech Owls hunt for prey while in flight, mainly in open woodlands, along the edges of open fields or wetlands, or makes short forays into open fields. When prey are spotted, this Owl dives quickly and seizes it in its talons. Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. cared for this orphan until it was able survive on its own, and then it was released. MWR is a nonprofit, Federally licenses group whose volunteers provide a lawful, temporary refuge for injured or orphaned wildlife whose numbers have increased due to Katrina.