Don't Leave Injured Animal Outside if Flies are Swarming It
Don't read this posting unless you are prepared for graphic descriptions of maggot-related injuries.....
It was a horrible week for maggots on animals admitted to Flint Creek Wildlife this week. So many of the problems we encountered this week could have been prevented if rescuers would have brought animals inside and gotten help immediately at the first sign that the downed animal was being swarmed by flies.
For those that aren't familiar with maggots, flies lay eggs on injured or debilitated animals. They are particularly attracted to open wounds; however, even a debilitated animal without open wounds is vulnerable. Flies can lay thousands of eggs on an animal in a very short period of time and fly eggs can begin hatching into maggots in a few hours. Once the maggots hatch, they begin eating the animal. Although some people believe that maggots only eat necrotic (dead) tissue, they will actually consume perfectly healthy tissue as well. They will also tunnel deep inside of an animal - especially when a wound provides a convenient entrance. And don't think they won't quickly enter the inside of the animal through its ears, mouth and anus.
Animals that could have been saved if promptly brought to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator cannot be saved if maggots are not quickly and properly addressed. We had two instances this week, one with an Eastern Cottontail and one with a Great Horned Owl, where we were forced to euthanize animals due to maggot issues. In both cases, the animals stood a good chance of survival if they had been promptly brought to us. We also had one close call where just another hour or two would have rendered a juvenile Fox Squirrel beyond help.
The Eastern Cottontail arrived at Flint Creek almost a full day after its rescuers found it. Unaware of the devastating impact of flies, they left it lying in the grass about 12 hours before taking it inside and placing it in a box. Even then, they were completely unaware that maggots were essentially eating the bunny alive. By the time the bunny arrived at Flint Creek, its stomach was eaten completely through and maggots were even eating its internal organs.
The Great Horned Owl was found at the side of the road at approximately 6:30 pm. Its rescuers, unaware of the fly eggs that had been laid on the bird, didn't contact us until the next morning. When they called they were already at work and couldn't bring the bird out until 6:00 pm.
The bird was being kept in a garbage can with screening loosely covering the top of the can. Blood was spattered on the inside of the can and the birds head and neck feathers were covered in blood. I lifted the bird from the garbage can and, in horror, realized that the bird's entire face, head and throat were engulfed in thousands of maggots that were eating it alive. The blood was from the raw flesh that was being created by the maggots.
In both of these cases, we would have likely had a good chance of saving the animals if they had received prompt treatment. Below are some general tips to help you deal with maggots.
1. Although it is often proper to leave wildlife outside so that the parents can continue to care for it/so that the fledgling can learn to fly/so that the mother squirrel can retrieve her baby and return it to the nest, you must watch for flies during this process and should immediately bring the animal inside if flies appear.
2. If you cannot bring the animal inside, at least place it in a covered box with a sheet or blanket over it (in a shady location) so that the flies cannot get to it.
3. Check the animal for fly eggs and maggots. If either are present, you should immediately get the animal to a licensed rehabilitator. Fly eggs look like miniature pieces of white rice. They are often stuck in the fur and will also frequently be found in the mouth and ears. Remember that these can become a major maggot infestation in a short period of time - do not delay seeking immediate assistance.
4. In extreme cases where you have unsuccessfully tried to reach a licensed rehabilitator, use a pair of tweezers and a flea comb to remove maggots and fly eggs. You must get EVERY single maggot and every single egg; otherwise, some number of maggots will still hatch and begin eating the animal's flesh.
5. In some cases, maggots cannot all be removed using tweezers. Newly hatched maggots, particularly when there are hundreds or thousands of them present, can be difficult to pick off with tweezers. If necessary, use cornstarch to smother the maggots. Please be careful not to get cornstarch in mouth, ears or eyes. Get the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately.
Hope this helps.
Dawn
It was a horrible week for maggots on animals admitted to Flint Creek Wildlife this week. So many of the problems we encountered this week could have been prevented if rescuers would have brought animals inside and gotten help immediately at the first sign that the downed animal was being swarmed by flies.
For those that aren't familiar with maggots, flies lay eggs on injured or debilitated animals. They are particularly attracted to open wounds; however, even a debilitated animal without open wounds is vulnerable. Flies can lay thousands of eggs on an animal in a very short period of time and fly eggs can begin hatching into maggots in a few hours. Once the maggots hatch, they begin eating the animal. Although some people believe that maggots only eat necrotic (dead) tissue, they will actually consume perfectly healthy tissue as well. They will also tunnel deep inside of an animal - especially when a wound provides a convenient entrance. And don't think they won't quickly enter the inside of the animal through its ears, mouth and anus.
Animals that could have been saved if promptly brought to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator cannot be saved if maggots are not quickly and properly addressed. We had two instances this week, one with an Eastern Cottontail and one with a Great Horned Owl, where we were forced to euthanize animals due to maggot issues. In both cases, the animals stood a good chance of survival if they had been promptly brought to us. We also had one close call where just another hour or two would have rendered a juvenile Fox Squirrel beyond help.
The Eastern Cottontail arrived at Flint Creek almost a full day after its rescuers found it. Unaware of the devastating impact of flies, they left it lying in the grass about 12 hours before taking it inside and placing it in a box. Even then, they were completely unaware that maggots were essentially eating the bunny alive. By the time the bunny arrived at Flint Creek, its stomach was eaten completely through and maggots were even eating its internal organs.
The Great Horned Owl was found at the side of the road at approximately 6:30 pm. Its rescuers, unaware of the fly eggs that had been laid on the bird, didn't contact us until the next morning. When they called they were already at work and couldn't bring the bird out until 6:00 pm.
The bird was being kept in a garbage can with screening loosely covering the top of the can. Blood was spattered on the inside of the can and the birds head and neck feathers were covered in blood. I lifted the bird from the garbage can and, in horror, realized that the bird's entire face, head and throat were engulfed in thousands of maggots that were eating it alive. The blood was from the raw flesh that was being created by the maggots.
In both of these cases, we would have likely had a good chance of saving the animals if they had received prompt treatment. Below are some general tips to help you deal with maggots.
1. Although it is often proper to leave wildlife outside so that the parents can continue to care for it/so that the fledgling can learn to fly/so that the mother squirrel can retrieve her baby and return it to the nest, you must watch for flies during this process and should immediately bring the animal inside if flies appear.
2. If you cannot bring the animal inside, at least place it in a covered box with a sheet or blanket over it (in a shady location) so that the flies cannot get to it.
3. Check the animal for fly eggs and maggots. If either are present, you should immediately get the animal to a licensed rehabilitator. Fly eggs look like miniature pieces of white rice. They are often stuck in the fur and will also frequently be found in the mouth and ears. Remember that these can become a major maggot infestation in a short period of time - do not delay seeking immediate assistance.
4. In extreme cases where you have unsuccessfully tried to reach a licensed rehabilitator, use a pair of tweezers and a flea comb to remove maggots and fly eggs. You must get EVERY single maggot and every single egg; otherwise, some number of maggots will still hatch and begin eating the animal's flesh.
5. In some cases, maggots cannot all be removed using tweezers. Newly hatched maggots, particularly when there are hundreds or thousands of them present, can be difficult to pick off with tweezers. If necessary, use cornstarch to smother the maggots. Please be careful not to get cornstarch in mouth, ears or eyes. Get the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately.
Hope this helps.
Dawn
posted by Dawn Keller at 7:34 AM
2 Comments:
OMG! I wish I had known how quickly this could have occurred! I watched a downed Heron next to my house for about a day before I got close to it. By the time I did, it was in bad shape. I went online to read about how to kill maggots and it mentioned a solution of potassium permanganate. (Well, who has THAT laying around?) BUT!, It also mentioned Hydrogen Peroxide. Well, THAT I had. I took a container of it out to the Heron and it killed these (very tiny, almost microscopic hatched maggots) almost instantly. YAY! (but like I said, the Heron was in bad shape and didn't make it.) I wonder if I had gotten to it sooner would it have faired better?
Well, live and learn. I will look more closely next time! Thanks to this site, and these helpful souls.
my daugter found a 1.2 pound baby kitten laying on the side of a back country road while spending the night with a friend. She said the kitten was walking and eating but her friends mother would not let the kitten in her home, by the next day when my daughter called me she said the kitten had an eye infection and wanted me to come get it and try to save it. By the time I got home from work the next evening I drove to the country to retreve the kitten, when I arrived the kitten was covered in flies, I thought oh no I was to late, since it was 90 degrees that day, to my surprise the kitten lifted its head and started crying, I wiped the flies from the kitten grabbed a towel and picked it up. I layed the kitten in a box and began making phone calls, no one would help me, so I in turn took the kitten to my sister. We examined the kitten and found no open wounds but yet the kitten smelled like it was decaying, I thought with the heat outside and it not having any water, it must have almost started cooking from the inside out. My sister found alot of white clumps on the kittens fur and told me they were fly eggs. The kitten was so dehydrated that it was impossible to shave so I bathed the kitten in a mild baby shampoo and bought a lice comb and started combing out the eggs. Unfortunatly I did not remove them all. I started feeding the kitten with kitten milk and thought I was doing a good job. The next morning when I got up to check on the kitten I notice she tried to walk and there was blood on the blanket in the bottom of the crate. I picked her out to examine her and noticed that some eggs had hatched and the maggots started eating through the pads of her back feet. I washed the open areas out with warm water to get as many of the maggots out as I could I then picked through the wound with a pair of tweezers to remove more. I don't know how deep they are and want to give this kitten a chance, but it is Sunday and Monday is a holiday so I can't get her to a vet, even then I will have to pay to have her put down or helped because around my area they do not try and help save abandoned animals, they assume you found it, it's yours. I am still having a hard time removing the eggs and would like some advice, I am a huge animal lover but don't know how to save this poor kitten, If anyone who reads this can give me advice, please post so I can read it. Thank you.
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