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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Athelas Regular";color:black"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Athelas Regular";color:black"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Athelas Regular";color:black">CONTACT: Stephanie Ellis,
Executive Director, cell 650-319-5491</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Athelas Regular";color:black"><span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Athelas Regular";color:black">PHOTO: Copyright Wild Care, Inc.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Athelas Regular";color:black"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Athelas Regular";color:black">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</span><span style="font-family:"Athelas Regular";color:black"><span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:windowtext">RARE SEABIRD BROUGHT TO
WILD CARE - SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:windowtext">Eastham, MA. October 3,
2017. </span></i><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:windowtext">The tropical Masked Booby that has been in
care at Wild Care, Inc., a wildlife rehabilitation hospital located in Eastham, has passed
away during the wee hours of October 2<sup>nd</sup> after nearly a week
of intensive care. The booby was one of dozens
of battered seabirds that were left in the wake of Hurricane Jose on Cape Cod. The
tropical bird was likely blown over 1,000 miles from it’s oceanic home in the
Caribbean, and is the first time this species has been recorded touching down on Massachusetts soils.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:windowtext"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:windowtext">Wild
Care rescued the bird on September 26<sup>th</sup> from LeCount’s Hollow Beach
in Wellfleet. The bird was in grave condition; emaciated, and showing signs of
respiratory distress and advanced illness. “My team of dedicated staff worked
tirelessly to treat this bird’s condition and to make sure the bird was
comfortable,” stated Stephanie Ellis, Wild Care Executive Director. “We
submitted a lab culture to test respiratory secretions, and ran several non-invasive
tests in-house. We consulted with seabird experts from International Bird
Rescue in California, and also Save Our Seabirds, in Sarasota, Florida, both of which are organizations that work directly with this
species. We also consulted with John Kelley, DVM and his staff, at nearby Eastham
Veterinary Hospital. The booby was placed on supportive care and was treated with several different
medications, but the odds were against him…” states Ellis.<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none">“</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none">This
bird </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none">was carried thousands of miles</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none">
with the hurricane,</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none"> and probably had an underlying condition</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none">
to begin with. He</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none"> could no longer fly or swim, and chose to be</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none">ach
himself, despite his</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none"> sea-faring lifestyle. That's as bad as it gets
for a bird</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none">,” stated Jennifer Taylor, Wild Care Animal Care
Coordinator.</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none"><span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none">The
booby took a turn for the worst on Sunday morning, and was provided with oxygen
support for much of the day. “We were all deeply saddened that we could not
pull this bird through it's debilitating illness. I have no doubt that we provided the best possible care, and that the bird was comfortable during its stay. We are grateful for the outpouring of public
support. It has helped us tremendously through the intensive care, & through this
unfortunate outcome,” states Ellis. </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none"><span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black;border:none">The
booby will go to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary
Medicine at Tuft’s University, for a necropsy by Mark Pokras, DVM and </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Book Antiqua"">Associate Professor Emeritus, </span><span style="color:black;font-family:"Book Antiqua"">to determine the cause of death.. The bird will then be transported to the Museum of
Comparative Zoology at Harvard University for taxidermy. “I do not know what
plans the MCZ has for this bird as of yet, but it warms my heart to think that
this booby will at least continue its cycle-of-life as a specimen - to be
studied, observed and admired by many, for years to come.” – Ellis.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:windowtext"><i>This Masked Booby is a rare
visitor to our shorelines. The Masked Booby breeds throughout the world’s
tropical oceans and islands and is most commonly sighted along the Gulf of
Mexico, with breeding attempts on the Dry Tortugas, Fl. and the Hawaiian Islands.
It is otherwise not commonly seen in North America. </i><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;border:none"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Book Antiqua""><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none"><b><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)">SPECIAL THANKS:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)"> Wild Care would </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)">like to thank Rebecca
Duerr, DVM, Research Director and Veterinarian </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)">of International
Bird Rescue </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)">(IBR) of Cordelia, CA, and Kylie Clatterbuck,
Wildlife Center Manager of IBR in Los Angeles, as well as Dana LeWorthy,</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)"> Avian Hospital Administrator at Save Our Seabirds in Sarasota,
FL, for </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)">all for their booby expertise, and for
providing guidance on treatment for this bird.</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)"> </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)">Thank you also goes to John Kelley, DVM and Emily Sears of </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)">Eastham Veterinary Hospital for all of their assistance, even after hours.</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:rgb(22,25,31)"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:windowtext"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black">ABOUT</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black">:</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black"><span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black">WILD
CARE’s wildlife rehabilitators treat birds, mammals and reptiles brought to the
center, with the goal of releasing them back into the wild when they are
capable of independent survival. Through public education, WILD CARE works to
prevent wildlife casualties and works to engage the community in conservation
through volunteerism. Since our founding WILD CARE has accepted over 25,000
wild creatures, representing over 275 species of native birds, mammals and
reptiles. If you encounter injured, orphaned or ill wildlife please call the
WILD CARE of Cape Cod helpline at 508-240-2255. Visit WILD CARE’s website at </span><a href="http://www.wildcarecapecod.org"><span class="gmail-Hyperlink0"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua"">www.wildcarecapecod.org</span></span></a><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black"> to make a donation.</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua""><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:black"> </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Book Antiqua""> ###</span></p>
<div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal">Stephanie Ellis</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal">Executive Director</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal">Wild Care, Inc.</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal">10 Smith Lane</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal">Eastham, MA 02642</span><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:normal"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px"><a href="http://www.wildcarecapecod.org" target="_blank">www.wildcarecapecod.org</a></span></p><p>Find us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WildCareCapeCod" target="_blank">Facebook</a>! </p><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px"><span style="line-height:normal">508-240-2255 office</span><span style="line-height:normal"> </span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px"><span style="line-height:normal"><a href="http://www.wildcarecapecod.org/" target="_blank"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0By9sC6SpljkvQ1R0Tjl3MVVTa2s&revid=0By9sC6SpljkvWkFzT2lUUSsyZWdzczVOK3d4dzJZVTZyRk9FPQ" width="200" height="153"></a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.800000190734863px;color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </span><a href="http://bit.ly/wildcaresubscription" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.800000190734863px" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.wildcarecapecod.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/join-our-newsletter.png" width="200" height="62" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"></a><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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