Wildlife Wonders Summer 2019

Wildlife Wonders LINDSAY WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2019

Inside:

In-depth interview with Lindsay’s first curator, Gary Bogue!

WELCOME

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f you’re like me, you sometimes wonder what difference your individual actions could

possibly make to the welfare of our natural world. When we read about mounting environmental challenges and threats to wildlife, it can be tempting to throw up our hands in despair. Yet when I

feel most discouraged is also when I feel most grateful for Lindsay Wildlife Experience and for people like our curator emeritus, Gary Bogue, featured in this issue. Through the decades, the staff and volunteers at Lindsay have continued to teach us that each one of us has the power to help wildlife. They remind

“

The happiness of the bee and the dolphin is to exist. For man it is to know that and to wonder at it.

”

— Jacques-Yves Cousteau

us that simple acts—such as keeping our cats indoors to protect declining populations of songbirds, or eliminating the use of rodenticides to protect animals such as foxes and owls from secondary poisoning—are indeed meaningful and important steps toward creating safer, healthier habitats for our wild neighbors.

The relevance of individual action is evident every day at Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital. While the direct or indirect actions of humans cause most of

Connecting people with wildlife to inspire responsibility and respect for the world we share.

the issues that bring wildlife into the hospital, it is also the action of individuals—transporting an injured or orphaned animal in for care, volunteering at Lindsay, or donating to support Lindsay’s mission—that saves many of these most vulnerable animals. And individual voices turn into powerful collective action when we advocate together for change; see this issue’s article on the effects of lead bullet use, finally banned this year because of collective action, as one example.

Thank you for all that you do, no matter how large or small, to help advance Lindsay’s vision of vibrant and healthy habitats for wildlife—and for ourselves.

Best, Dr. Rosanne M. Siino President | Lindsay Board of Directors

Exhibit Hall and Wildlife Hotline (925) 935-1978 Hours: Hall open Tues.–Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hospital open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily ­— lindsaywildlife.org General email: social media@lindsaywildlife.org­ — 1931 First Avenue Walnut Creek, CA 94597 Interim Executive Director Karen Deshayes Creative Staff Editor: Elisabeth Nardi Produced by DCP dcpubs.com Photography by Paul Hara and Margaret Kowalick-Hara

Board of Directors Rosanne Siino, Ph.D., President Lou Eber, Esq., Interim Treasurer Heather Stead, Secretary Laura Johnson Matt Lawson Elizabeth McWhorter, Ph.D. Ryan Misasi Jeremy Seymour, Esq. Andre Shevchuck Emeritus Board Members (Honorary nonvoting board members) Gary Bogue Barney Howard Nan Hudson Marc Kaplan James A. Pezzaglia Michael Stead

On the cover: “Reach out and touch Penelope” Photograph by Andrew Lee, AKL Photography.©

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W i l d l i f e Wo n d e r s | l i n d s ay w i l d l i f e . o r g

TRACKS

EDUCATION CONNECTION

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very year more than 11,000 Bay Area schoolchildren attend Lindsay Wildlife

field trips or have experiences brought right to their door with Lindsay in the Classroom.

For the past two years, thanks to generous

MEET OUR NEW ANIMAL AMBASSADOR: ALBINO RATTLESNAKE

sponsorships from Shell Oil Company and

Discover Lindsay’s striking new rare animal ambassador! This albino

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (formerly

western diamondback rattlesnake came to the wildlife rehabilitation hos-

Andeavor), outreach and field trip programs

pital in 2018 after he was found in Concord, the victim of an attack with tree

have grown even more. And now new fund-

trimmers. Suffering damage to his eye, multiple lacerations and a fractured

ing from the Lesher Foundation will under-

jaw, the snake was lucky to survive. His forked tongue fell out during

write field trips for Title 1 elementary schools

rehabilitation and his eye had to be removed, making him unable to return

in Pittsburg—forwarding Lindsay’s mission

to the wild. He now makes a terrific animal ambassador on display in

and connecting children to wildlife. Teachers

Lindsay’s Exhibit Hall. This rattlesnake is known as a tyrosinase-positive

describe the impact firsthand.

albino, which means he has some darker pigmentation. T+ albino morphs

“Our first-grade students described the

are typically referred to as “caramel albinos."

Lindsay visit as 'fantastic' and 'unforgettable' among many other positive responses!

The students were engaged while learning all about animal habitats that they can find in their very own neighborhoods. They

FAST FACT

classroom. Overall, the experience provided

10,000

students with knowledge that was imme-

The estimated number of porcu-

diately applicable to their daily lives; the

pine program attendees annually

presenters were incredibly knowledgeable

at Lindsay. NEW this summer our

and maintained the attention of all of the

porcupine will be joined by friends

first-graders—a great feat in itself. Thank

Thursday–Sunday in the mornings

you so much for connecting their communi-

in the Nature Cove and you may

ty with science in such an enjoyable way.”

get to TOUCH a real live porcupine!

begged to write and draw about their newfound facts when we returned to the

—Andrea Djajakusuma, first-grade teacher, John Swett Elementary in Martinez

SUMMER 2019

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SPOTLIGHT

LINDSAY’S LIVING LEGEND

Gary Bogue reflects on his career as a wildlife champion, having served as Lindsay’s first curator and founder of its Rehabilitation Hospital

Bogue and his crew were soon rehabilitating everything from hatchling hummingbirds to mountain lions. His family grew accustomed to eagles on the kitchen counter and lion cubs in their bedrooms. One time, a game warden called on the family in the middle of dinner. “He handed me two bear cubs by the scruff of their necks and walked away,” says Bogue. “So I did what I did with all our emergency stuff—I put them in the bathroom and finished dinner.”

Hoping to raise money for Lindsay, Bogue convinced the Contra Costa Times to let him write a daily column about animals. When his curatorship at Lindsay came to an end in 1979, Bogue continued writing his column until 2012.

Now 81, Bogue has spent much of his retirement launching a new career as a children’s writer. With help from local illustrator Chuck Todd, he has published four suburban wildlife stories about skunks, A historical photo of Gary Bogue, far left, examining a mountain lion at Lindsay Wildlife.

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raccoons, opossums and hummingbirds. “The purpose of the books is to teach people how to get along with the creatures in their backyards,” says Bogue.

ary Bogue was the kind of kid who hid rattlesnakes under his bed. He would catch tarantulas, garter snakes and lizards, too, but the rattler was one of his more hazardous pets.

“I would keep it on my dresser until I heard my mom coming and then I would shove it under the bed,” says Bogue. “But it was her own fault. She bought me a 5-foot boa constrictor for Christmas.”

The size and scale of Lindsay Wildlife Experience today render Bogue speechless, but looking back on his career, it’s some of the smallest things that have left the biggest mark. “To walk out my back door, hold out an eyedropper filled with sugar water and have a hummingbird zip out of nowhere and land on my hand to feed,” says Bogue, “that still blows my mind.”

Born in Oklahoma and raised in the East Bay, the young creature collector would grow up to become the first curator of what is now Lindsay Wildlife Experience; a longtime wildlife and pet columnist for the Contra Costa Times; and a fundraiser for organizations such as Save Mount Diablo, John Muir Land Trust and ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation).

Bogue got his start at Lindsay in 1967, after meeting Sam Smoker, Lindsay’s original director. Bogue remembers telling Smoker that the enclosures at Alexander Lindsay Junior Museum, as it was then called, were “a mess, ” Bogue says, “and five minutes later, he had me coming in every Saturday to take care of them.”

Within months, Bogue was named Lindsay’s curator, and in 1970 the deluge of injured and orphaned animals brought to the museum prompted Bogue to create the Lindsay Wildlife Hospital—the first of its kind in the country.

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W i l d l i f e Wo n d e r s | l i n d s ay w i l d l i f e . o r g

Gary Bogue helps examine a hawk during a recent visit to Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital, which he helped found in 1970.

SPOTLIGHT

1967 Gary Bogue begins working at Alexander Lindsay Junior Museum as the first official curator.

1970 With so many people bringing injured wildlife to the museum, Bogue and others start the first official rehabilitation program in the U.S.

1971 Lindsay is one of the first museums in the country to be accredited by the American Association of Museums, now American Alliance of Museums.

1979 Bogue leaves his post at Lindsay Wildlife to become a wildlife columnist for the Contra Costa Times.

1984 The museum receives notice that it will have to move. A capital campaign is launched for a permanent home.

1993 A new $7 million, 28,000-square-foot museum in Larkey Park opens. Bogue helps raise thousands through his newspaper column for the new building.

2003 Bogue authors his first children’s book, The Raccoon Next Door, illustrated by Chuck Todd.

2011 Bogue rallies readers to help raise money for Lindsay Wildlife to meet the city of Walnut Creek's $75,000 matching grant.

2012 Bogue retires from the Times after 40 years.

Lindsay’s second annual Faces of Wildlife Gala honors Bogue; he is named curator emeritus.

2018 Bogue authors his fourth children’s book, Is That a Skunk?, illustrated by Chuck Todd (left).

SUMMER 2019

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BEHIND THE SCENES

A LEAD PROBLEM Lindsay Wildlife offers expert care for wildlife suffering from lead poisoning

W

hen a turkey vulture found in Livermore was so sick he was

unable to fly, caring rescuers brought him to Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital. The vulture couldn’t hold down food and could barely stand. Once at Lindsay, his blood was tested and his lead level was so high that it registered off the charts—more than 7 ppm (parts per million). Normal levels often fall below 0.3 ppm.

“It was a shock to say the least,” says Lindsay’s chief veterinarian, Dr. Allison Daugherty.

She had to place an esophageal feeding tube so the bird could be fed directly into the stomach. He had been unable to empty his crop and get any nutrients due to the severity of the lead toxicity, says Daugherty.

This approach to treating a vulture

Turkey vulture being treated for lead poisoning.

was a first at Lindsay. bullets or BB gun pellets, and the lead inside

leg or wing. The eagle's lead level registered at

these dead animals transfers to the carnivores.

1.6 ppm. After taking medication to clear the

with lead at other facilities couldn’t

The California Department of Fish and

lead out of her system, she was finally able

Wildlife has noticed this increase statewide.

to use both of her feet and perch normally

digest food and tube feeding had been done successfully with them.

“This increase in lead cases could

nearly two months later.

After several weeks, the vulture was

potentially be directly correlated with the

able to have the tube removed and

increased numbers of shot animals we also

amount of intensive care and lots of expen-

began digesting food on his own.

saw this year. More shot animals means more

sive medications to clear the lead out of their

carcasses with lead that are eaten by other

system,” says Daugherty. “We are still worried

birds, who then get sick,” says Daugherty.

that there may be permanent damage from

The vulture is just one of several animals that Lindsay Wildlife vet staff and volunteers have treated

A law banning the use of lead ammunition

“These lead toxicity cases take a huge

the extremely high levels of lead found in our

for lead poisoning. There’s been

went into effect this year, but wild animals with

patients, but the progress they have made so

an alarming increase in wildlife

lead toxicity are still being brought to Lindsay.

far is very exciting.”

animals suffering from lead toxicity.

Carnivores eat animals shot with

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A golden eagle that arrived in December was found in Clayton unable to move her left

W i l d l i f e Wo n d e r s | l i n d s ay w i l d l i f e . o r g

In fact, the turkey vulture from Livermore was released back into the wild in May.

PAU L H A R A A N D M A R G A R E T KO WA L I C K- H A R A

Daugherty got the idea to tubefeed after finding that condors sick

FAC E S A N D P L AC E S

Faces of Wildlife Gala!

Guests and animals had a WILD time at the ninth annual Faces of Wildlife Gala held May 18 at Blackhawk Museum. From the “Fire’s Fuel” signature cocktail to hundreds of auction items and the real-time art masterpieces of the

b

infamous Lord Richard, Lindsay c

raised more than $150,000! The generous donations all support Lindsay’s pioneering rehabilitation hospital and education programs. a d

e

f

PAU L H A R A A N D M A R G A R E T KO WA L I C K- H A R A

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a: Heather and Corby Stead at Blackhawk Museum. b: Artist Joel Kratter paints a real-life portrait of Lord Richard, a turkey vulture. c: Dr. Rosanne Siino, Lindsay board president, poses with her dog Tatis! d: Laura Johnson (left), Lindsay board member, poses with her children Greg and Angela Johnson. e: Danville Town Councilwoman Renee Morgan (left)

and Chantee Sullivan meet Poppy, Lindsay’s Virginia opossum. f: Emcee Tracy Farrington (left) and auctioneer Kanani Reynolds thank the crowd. g: Lindsay volunteer and guest Nancy Thomas gets a special “thank you” for donating and feeds Fire, the red-tailed hawk held by Curator Emma Molinare.

SUMMER 2019

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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

WALNUT CREEK CA PERMIT NO. 525 Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue Walnut Creek, CA 94597-2540

Event Calendar June 8: Volunteer Opportunity Class 10: Mini Monday: Delightful Dinosaurs 10–14: Lindsay Summer Camp: Creepy Crawly 17–21: Lindsay Summer Camp: Nature Science 22: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Monkey Mania 24–28: Lindsay Summer Camp: Dinosaur Days 28: Wild@Night: Lord Richard Hosts Trivia Night 30: Lord Richard Birthday Celebration

July 4: Lindsay Exhibit Hall closed 8–12: Lindsay Summer Camp: Creepy Crawly 13: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Destination South America 15–19: Lindsay Summer Camp: Nature Science 22–26: Lindsay Summer Camp: Dinosaur Days 29–Aug. 2: Lindsay Summer Camp: Nature Science

August 5–9: Lindsay Summer Camp: Creepy Crawly 10: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Camels, Summer and BEEyond! and Bee Bop! 11: Neon Scorpion Hike 18: Neon Scorpion Hike 19: Mini Monday: Digging Deserts 23: Wild@Night: A Night at Camp Lindsay!

25: Neon Scorpion Hike

Free, one-year family membership to Lindsay Wildlife Experience

September 1: Neon Scorpion Hike 1: Wildlife Hospital hours change to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2: Closed for Labor Day 3–6: Lindsay Wildlife Exhibit Hall annual closure 12: Volunteer Opportunity Class 14: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition 22: An Evening at the Bistro FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF UPCOMING EVENTS,

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