“[S]urprisingly, it was effective.”
Last weekend, a family near Amarillo, Texas, was savoring the summer weather at home when they stumbled upon an unexpected guest in their yard. While the kids enjoyed the pool and the adults tended the grill, they found a tiny, white, fluffy baby bird lying helplessly on the ground, too young to call out for help.
The homeowners searched for the nestling’s parents but couldn’t find them anywhere. Realizing the baby needed warmth, they tried to think of a way to keep her comfortable until help could arrive, but they had no suitable blankets on hand.
Then, inspiration struck as they glanced at the pile of food by the grill.
“Concerned that the baby might be getting cold, the mother requested a tortilla to be heated on the grill to provide some warmth,” the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WWWRC) shared on Facebook. One of the family members promptly placed a tortilla on the grill and called WWWRC for guidance. When Christy from WWWRC heard about their inventive solution, she was momentarily speechless.
“[They said], ‘We wrapped him in a warm tortilla,’” WWWRC recounted. “There was a notable pause on Christy’s end.”
Christy quickly ended the call and sent rehabber Amee to the scene. When Amee arrived, she found the orphaned baby still cozily wrapped in her edible blanket.
“She was greeted by a welcoming family holding a baby Mississippi kite snug in a tortilla,” WWWRC noted. “It was a resourceful way to keep the baby warm, and remarkably, it worked.”
As Taquito grows stronger and prepares for her release, she enjoys the company of other residents at WWWRC, especially the many Mississippi kites. Despite the numerous kites in their care, Taquito’s story stands out to her rescuers.
The team at WWWRC is always ready for any rescue situation, but cases like Taquito’s remind them that surprises are an inevitable part of wildlife rescue.
“Wildlife rescue is always full of lively and unexpected moments,” WWWRC concluded.