Care gone wild

Dogs, cats and other house pets aren’t the only animals receiving treatment at Alford Avenue Veterinary Hospital.

Dr. David W. Friddle and Dr. Haley F. Burke see dozens of wild animals in their practice each month, Friddle said.

“It is still far less than our regular pet population that we see, but it keeps each day exciting when they come in,” he said.

Friddle said he has been working with wildlife since before he graduated from veterinary school at Auburn. His involvement with wildlife began while working with Dr. J.D. Nall at Nall Animal Hospital in Homewood.

“He was the part-time zoo veterinarian at the Birmingham Zoo at that time, and I helped him there when possible,” Friddle said.

One of the zookeepers was Anne Miller, who Friddle said had a passion for starting a rehabilitation program for native wildlife of Alabama.

“Since Dr. Nall had a pretty full plate, I was given the task of helping her with veterinary support for this program,” Friddle said. “It started as the Wildlife Rescue Service and has gone through a few transitions through the years and is now known as the Alabama Wildlife Center.”

Initially, he said the AWC worked with raptors, songbirds and wild mammals including deer, beavers and rabbits.

“As long as they were native to Alabama — no pigeons, starlings or sparrows,” he said.

About seven years ago, the AWC limited their work to avian species — raptors and songbirds, Friddle said.

“The void for native mammals was soon filled by Amy George and a few former AWC workers as they started the Wild Mammal Care of Alabama,” he said. 

Friddle is one of the veterinarians in the area who helps these organizations with the veterinary support that is needed – and they do so out of the kindness of their hearts.

“These services are entirely voluntary as a way the veterinary community can give back to these programs,” he said.

Friddle said his practice sees wildlife from both services on an almost daily basis. From AWC, they see birds that have been hit by cars, caught in pole traps, tangled in fishing line or discarded plastics, as well as birds that have run into reflective glass windows, have had wind-turbine blade collisions and have been attacked by predators.

“Our job involves initial triage for the injuries, as well as determining if the birds can be returned to the wild,” Friddle said. “If they are irreparably damaged, then they are humanely euthanized, as a permanently injured wild bird cannot be kept as a pet.”

After an initial physical exam and assessment of injuries, Friddle said he takes radiography when indicated, does initial treatment, and a treatment regimen is prescribed. Sometimes surgery is needed, and the animals are scheduled for that.

“We get them back periodically for rechecks until they are ready for release,” he said. 

From Wild Mammal Care of Alabama, Friddle sees raccoons, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, beavers, woodchucks, opossums and bats. The procedure for these animals is oftentimes similar to the animals that come in from AWC — an initial examination and triage, radiography when needed, and beginning a treatment regimen for injuries or other treatable illnesses.

“After that, the rehab teams take over, and they are reexamined as needed prior to being released,” Friddle said.

The main goal when treating wildlife is to keep both the wildlife and the handlers safe, he said.

“Special training is offered throughout the year for volunteers with each service, and it is highly recommended before getting involved with either organization,” Friddle said. “We keep them [the wildlife] separated from other pets and people at our hospital to minimize any stress.”

Stories can be told about each animal that comes through the hospital, Friddle said. He remembers a black vulture that had been imprinted — raised by people so that he didn’t realize that he was a bird — and he stayed after rehabilitation at Anne Miller’s place on the lake.

“A neighbor called her one evening to complain that he had gotten loose and was visiting them at their barbecue and was trying to steal stuff off the grill,” Friddle said.

Highlights of working with wildlife include being able to personally release some birds back into the wild, Friddle said. He takes pride in his work with them and all other wildlife that he treats.

“I count it an honor and privilege to be able to handle many of God’s creatures that others can only dream of doing,” he said.