by Wanda D’Agostino
Victor interrupted our Sunday dinner by getting hit by a car on I-84 one day. The call came in just as I was sitting down. A man had seen the injured turkey vulture, and managed to catch him. However, the emergency vet he took him to could only offer him euthanasia because they didn’t deal with wildlife. The good samaritan who had rescued the bird said ‘no,’ and after several calls to the Humane Society and the DEP, he got my phone number.
I had never cared for a turkey vulture before, although I had spent numerous hours watching them soar gracefully over the Litchfield Hills while visiting friends in Northfield. However, a turkey vulture CLOSE UP was a lot different from those far-off shapes in the air. With a wing-span of over five feet, and a body very similar to a wild turkey, it was an impressive bird.
Our visit to Bolton Vet revealed suspected nerve damage in his right wing. Dr. Zyra said that sometimes nerves heal and I had high hopes that my vulture, now named Victor, would someday also soar above Litchfield Hills. I learned a lot about vultures that first week, especially their unique defense mechanism. Instead of talons they use projectile vomiting to protect themselves! It is not pleasant! I also discovered that Victor really likes chicken legs and road-kill squirrels.
I had Victor since March and although he still can’t fly, his wing is improving. I plan on keeping him until the fall to see if he can be released, but if not, Wendy at Sharon Audubon has guaranteed him a permanent home.