Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas sees spike in injured and orphaned animals during pandemic

Executive Director Sharon Schmalz at the Houston SPCA's Wildlife Center of Texas, in Houston, Wednesday, April 8, 2020. The Houston SPCA's Wildlife Center remains open and continues to provide lifesaving services during the pandemic and intakes 60-90 orphaned and injured wild animals each day. The higher intake number is mostly attributed to more people staying at home during the Stay Home Work Safe order. less Executive Director Sharon Schmalz at the Houston SPCA's Wildlife Center of Texas, in Houston, Wednesday, April 8, 2020. The Houston SPCA's Wildlife Center remains open and continues to provide lifesaving ... more Photo: Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Photo: Karen Warren/Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas sees spike in injured and orphaned animals during pandemic 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

As more people venture outdoors for fresh air during the novel coronavirus crisis, they’re increasingly coming across injured and orphaned animals and bringing them to the region’s wildlife center.

The spring and summer months signal breeding season for many animals, so higher numbers during this time of year are expected, according to Sharon Schmalz, executive director of the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal's (SPCA) Wildlife Center of Texas. But over the last three months, the center has taken in 700 more animals than the same time period last year.

"Some days we are getting anywhere from 70 to 90 animals a day right now," Schmalz said. "It’s nonstop. We are constantly on our feet."

The society treats an average of about 11,000 injured or orphaned wild animals every year. Lauded as one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation centers in the nation, the center also provides environmental education for schools and children and plays a critical role in rescuing animals during emergency situations such as hurricanes, floods, fires and oil spills.

The outbreak of the coronavirus in the Houston region has placed the center under a different kind of emergency response situation.

Residents under stay-at-home orders are increasingly heading out into backyards or parks, onto nature trails or along bayous where they are finding injured and or orphaned baby animals.

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Despite the pandemic, the center is still operating because it is deemed an essential business. It currently has more than 500 wild animals in its care.

"We want to keep our doors open because there are still animals that are getting hit by cars, there are migratory birds that are hitting windows," Schmalz said. "If we are not here to take them in they will lay out there and suffer before they eventually die."

Heights resident Connor Jolibois was recently furloughed from his copywriting job due to the pandemic. On a recent sunny Wednesday morning, he was enjoying coffee on his patio when he suddenly heard what he described as persistent “little chirping” noises. With extra time on his hands, he decided to investigate.

He quickly discovered a baby opossum that was tangled in some thorny vines that scale the abandoned building next to his townhome complex.

“I looked down and I saw this tiny little white face just poking up in the bushes,” Jolibois said. “They are just so helpless. I didn’t want to leave him out any longer than I had to.”

The center has been so flooded with calls that Jolibois was unable to speak with someone until he brought the animal to the facility. He did his research and was sure the mother would not return before deciding to rescue it. Jolibois, who admits he has a love for wildlife conservation, said he had no idea the center was one of the largest of its kind in the country.

“It was a really impressive facility,” he said. “I felt really good leaving because I knew [that the baby was safe.] People should know this is a resource we have here in Houston.”

Hopeful sign

The center cares for a wide variety of animals, from squirrels, opossums, birds and snakes to more unusual cases like river otters. Healed animals are released in designated areas located outside of the city, usually in outdoor areas from an approved property owner.

Schmalz, who started at the center as a volunteer 38 years ago, said she even releases some animals on her own 2-acre property in League City.

"Almost all wildlife is protected by the government, so we have to have certain permits to do this," Schmalz said. "We are trying to move them out as quickly as we can, once they are ready to be on their own."

Operations at the center have been adjusted to help prevent the spread of the virus. Staff is outfitted with personal protection equipment (PPE), only one resident is allowed in at a time and all surfaces are routinely disinfected. The center relies on donations to help fund its mission but is no longer allowing staff to touch credit cards.

Despite the long hours and constant reminder of the virus, Schmalz sees the spike in cases as a hopeful sign.

"It says a lot about people in Houston, that they care," Schmalz said. "It’s exhausting but it gives me hope that their lives are going to be okay, they are going to get back to normal and our lives are going to be back to normal too, eventually."

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Houstonians that come across an injured or orphaned wild animal should heed experts' advice before making any moves. Schmalz warns residents against trapping an animal themselves as they are territorial in nature and could lash out in defense.

"Even though it looks like it might not bite you, just don’t take a chance with wildlife," she said.

If it’s determined that the animal needs to be brought into the center, Schmalz said, the best way to do so is to throw a blanket or towel over it, place a dog kennel or box in front of it and then use a broom to gently push it inside.

"That way there is no contact with your hands and we will uncover them when they get here," she said. "But never try and pick up a wild animal especially without some kind of expertise or talking to somebody because people can definitely get hurt."

Schmalz said one of the center's most recent patients is an orphaned baby dove that a Houston girl brought in with her dad after discovering it was unable to fly on its own. The little girl named the bird, "Hope."

The help the center continue its mission, consider a monetary donation, contributing with a grocery store gift card for fruits and vegetables for the animals or donating to its Amazon wish list. The Wildlife Center of Texas is located at 7007 Katy Road, Houston.

Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com