Merlin : The story of Resilient, from injury to Recovery.

Calgary Wildlife
May 1
2 min read

At the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, every call that comes through our hotline is a chance to make a difference. On the morning of February 19th, our team received such a call from a concerned member of the public located between Linden and Swalwell in Kneehill County, Alberta. They reported finding a Merlin that appeared unable to fly due to an injured wing. Our dedicated rescue team promptly set out to bring this feisty falcon into our care.

merlin hawk close up at Calgary wildlife — Merlin at the Calgary wildlife

Upon admission, it was evident that the Merlin was in a fragile state. She was thin, pale, and had tacky mucous membranes—clear signs of dehydration and poor condition. As we began her examination, her wild spirit shone through; she protested with loud screams and defensive biting. Recognizing her stress, we decided to give her time to calm down before proceeding with further treatment.

Our first priority was stabilizing her condition. She was started on an emaciation protocol that included subcutaneous fluids and gavage feeding for hydration and nutrition. She was placed in the isolation room for close monitoring. During this time, we noticed superficial wounds along the ridge of her keel. These were carefully cleaned and treated with antibiotic cream.

Despite our efforts, her weight continued to drop over the first week in isolation. We ran blood tests to check for underlying infections, but all results came back clean. To prevent potential crop impaction, we fed her clean meat without large bones or hair. Despite this careful feeding plan, she was not eating well, leaving multiple pieces of meat behind after each feed.

A closer examination revealed a necrotic wound on her right foot, specifically on digit four. Immediate treatment was initiated to manage the infection, but further investigation was

needed.

Merlin hawk talon close up of injury — Merlin amputated toe

An X-ray taken a week prior confirmed our concerns: digit four on her right foot was dislocated and had become necrotic. On March 7th, we performed a surgical amputation of the affected toe. The surgery was successful, and the wound was carefully sutured. Post-surgery, she was moved to a smaller room for closer monitoring.

Merlin hawk on perch in rehabilitation centre — Merlin in a smaller room after surgery.

As the days passed, our team observed significant improvements. The keel wound was healing nicely, and her weight began to stabilize. One week after surgery, she showed remarkable progress, even starting to fly in her enclosure. Her energy levels improved, and the amputation site healed without signs of discharge or swelling.

Daily care included cleaning the site, drying it thoroughly, and applying antibiotic cream to prevent infection. Two weeks post-surgery, we successfully removed the sutures.

Merlin hawk patient post surgery looking at camera — Merlin post surgery.

This resilient Merlin has come a long way since her initial rescue. Her journey is a testament to the incredible strength of wildlife and the unwavering dedication of our team. As she continues to heal and build strength, we are optimistic about her future release back into the wild where she belongs.

Stay tuned for more updates on her progress and other inspiring stories from the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society. Every life matters, and together, we make a difference.