A young black skimmer found on beach unable to walk
By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital

A young black skimmer was among the 87 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include an eastern screech owl, a common ground dove, a great blue heron, a striped mud turtle and a black racer.
The young black skimmer was found on Tigertail Beach where a colony of skimmers is currently nesting. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff member noticed the young skimmer while monitoring the nesting colony.
The skimmer was active but unable to stand so the bird “walked” with his legs in a bent position. An exam at the wildlife hospital showed the skimmer was thin and had a laceration on his back and both ankles. The bird’s ankle joints were swollen and red which made it impossible for his legs to extend properly. The skimmer was given an anti-inflammatory, an antibiotic, pain medication, and electrolytes and placed in an animal intensive care unit to rest.
A radiograph determined the damage to the skimmer’s ankle joints was too severe to rehabilitate and humane euthanasia was our only treatment option. A second young skimmer was found amongst the same colony on Tigertail Beach two days later but that young skimmer passed away during transport to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. The cause of illness for both of these birds is unknown.
When visiting our local beaches be aware that shorebird nesting season is underway. Several species of beach-nesting birds’ populations are imperiled.
Please watch out for and avoid disturbing birds and their young. Shorebirds build shallow nests out of sand and shells on the beach and their chicks are perfectly camouflaged with their surroundings. Obey all posted signs along the beaches where birds are nesting. Nesting success and species’ survival depends on birds being able to care for their young without being disturbed by people or pets.
Recent Releases — 24 Animals Returned Home
- 1 gopher tortoise
- 2 Virginia opossums
- 4 eastern cottontails
- 2 killdeer
- 1 blue jay
- 1 red-bellied woodpecker
- 6 Northern mockingbirds
- 1 Florida red-bellied turtle
- 1 Florida softshell turtle
- 1 morning dove
- 1 barred owl
- 1 common grackle
- 1 eastern screech owl
- 1 peninsula cooter
Opportunities to Help
Please visit the Conservancy website at www.conservancy.org to view all of the amazing volunteer opportunities at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Your volunteer time, donations, and memberships are vital in helping us continue our work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.
Joanna Fitzgerald is director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Call 239–262–2273 or see conservancy.org
