GCWR Hotline Guide Book

GCWR Hotline Guide Book

Table of Contents

Which Rehabilitator to Call First

Phone Numbers of Rehabilitators

Directions to Rehabilitators’ Houses

Checking the Hotline

General Rescue Instructions

Talking to the Caller

Use of Admission Form

Items to Have on Hand

Personal Safety

Summary of Wildlife Laws

I Found an Injured/Orphaned Baby Bird

Does the Baby Bird Need Rescuing?

Tips for Instructing Public to Build “Fake Nests”

How to Rescue Baby Birds

How to Rescue Adult Birds

Bird Information

Baby Birds Natural History - Altricial and Precocial

Altricial Birds

Precocial Birds

Nuisance Birds

Bird Flies Into Window

Birds of Prey

Herons/Egrets

Miscellaneous Bird Information

I Found a an Injured/Orphaned Mammal

Basic Rescue Rules for Mammals

Rid Your Attic of Squirrels and Raccoons

Mammal Information

Armadillo

Bats

Deer

Opossums

Rabbits

Raccoons

Skunks

Squirrels

Stranded Marine Mammal

Revised7/2/2015

Which Rehabilitator to Call First

Type of Animal / Brazoria CountyContacts / Bay City contacts
Birds
Songbirdsexcept doves / Mary Nell Franklin, Kimberly Dobson, Dana Simon / Cherie Allen
All other birds (including birds of prey) / Dana Simon, Shannon Gonzales
Mammals
Bats / Marissa Arevalo, Dana Simon / Dotty Grandstaff
Opossums / Dana Simon, Shannon Gonzales,Joyce Gabbard / Dotty Grandstaff
Squirrels / Michelle Hague, Geralyn Rangel / Dotty Grandstaff
Rabbits / Colleen Reichel, Jennifer Janice, Dana Simon / Dotty Grandstaff
Raccoons / Dana Simon, Theresa Sanderfer, Shannon Gonzales / Dotty Grandstaff
All other mammals (armadillo, bobcat, coyote, deer, fox, skunk, etc) / Dana Simon, Shannon Gonzales / Dotty Grandstaff
Reptiles
All reptiles (alligators, snakes, turtles, etc) / Dana Simon, Shannon Gonzales / Cherie Allen, Dotty Grandstaff
Exotics
Lizards, iguanas, snakes, ferrets, parrots / Shannon Gonzales, Dana Simon / Cherie Allen, Dotty Grandstaff

Revised7/2/2015

Phone Numbersof Rehabilitators

Southern Brazoria CountyGCWR Rehabilitators(Hotline folksneed to call these rehabbers directly and determine what actions to take)

Last Name / First / Phone / Residence / Information
Arevalo / Marissa / 979-549-1750 cell
979-285-5653 work / 344 Hinken St., Clute / LJ Animal Control
Bentley / Nancy / 979-529-9462 home / 113 S. YauponLake Jackson
Dobson / Kimberly / 979-709-0272 cell / 51 Hybiscus Ct.
Lake Jackson
Etie / Sheree / 979-265-0400 home
979-236-2276 cell / 1418 Little Slough Rd., Clute / Does not take in birds after 8:00 pm
Franklin / Mary Nell / 979-417-1691 cell / 106 DeerwoodLakeJackson
Gabbard / Joyce / 979-864-6080 cell / 1290 Jimmy Phillips Dr., Ang.
Gonzales / Shannon / 979-285-5324 cell / 438 Southern Oaks D. LJ
Hague / Michelle / 979-798-2439 home
979-236-6516 cell / 1710 Hwy 332W
Lake Jackson
Henderson / Sandy / 979-297-5676 home
979-236-6054 cell / 303 HuckleberryLakeJackson
Janice / Jennifer / 979-240-4666 cell / 24039 FM 1301 Danciger 77431
Olmos / Jennifer / 979-549-2300 cell / 19 CR 726 Angleton
Rangel / Geralyn / 979-417-7999 cell / 205 Dogwood
Lake Jackson
Reichel / Colleen / 979-549-5448 cell
979-230-3264 work / BrazosportCollege -transport of bunnies
Sanderfer / Theresa / 979-549-8024 cell / 2596 CR 347
Brazoria, TX
Simmons / Robert / 713-303-3934 / Lake Jackson
Simon / Dana / 979-864-0670 cell979-848-3497 home / 316 CR 605 Angleton
Vancil / Mary Ann / 979-345-4263 home
979-236-1146 cell / 12 Bluebird Ct. WestColumbia / Hummingbirds only
Wimberley / Jillian / 254-709-5891 cell / 403 N. Elm Sweeny, 77480
Wright / Kelli / 979-201-1282 cell / Bats and Bat exclusion

Transport help

Location / Last Name / First / Phone
Angleton / Gerdes / Phyllis / 979-849-4627 home
979-299-9508 cell
Angleton / Kimball / Jennifer / 979-236-1748 cell
BrazoriaCounty / Sluis / Ken and Linda / 281-630-4878 cell
BrazoriaCounty / Langan / Rich / 979-313-9724 cell
Freeport / Villasana / Jesse / 979-201-9554
Rabbit transport to Jennifer Janice / Reichel / Colleen / 979-549-5448 cell
979-230-3264 work
SanLuisPass / King / Anna / 281-923-4612 cell
Sargent / Allen / Gene and Kate / 979-244-4910 home
979-429-7150 cell
Surfside / Perdew / Joedy / 979-201-6952
Surfside and Quintana / Weaver / Colleen / 979-239-2231 home
979-313-0891 cell
Sweeny / Wimberly / Jillian / 254-709-5891 cell

For all the phone numbers below this red box, give out the numbers directly to the caller. The caller then needs to contact the rehabbers directly.

Bay City, Sweeny, Sargent GCWR Rehabilitators

Last Name / First / Phone / Residence / Information
Allen / Cherie / 979-245-4392 home
979-244-6710 cell / 1909 Circle Dr.,Bay City / Bay City birds (all kinds)
Grandstaff / Dotty / 979-240-9526 cell / 2400 Waldron, Bay City / Bay City mammals and reptiles

Alvin, Friendswood, League City, Pearland Area

Last Name / First / Phone / Information
WildlifeCenter of Texas / 713-861-9453
/ All wildlife
TWRC (TexasWildlifeRehabilitationCenter)
Bat calls – Heather / 713-468-8972

No hawks or owls. / All animals except raptors. Hours are 10am – 2pm every day. West side of Houston
Michele / Johnson / 281-992-8080 / Birds
Brinkley / Sherry / 281-484-8743 / Takes calls on weekends only
Pickell / Margaret / 281-648-2328 / Friendswood / WildlifeCenter of TX
Other rehabilitators / Tell folks to check link to TP&W list of rehabilitators

Houston area

Last Name / First / Phone / Location / Information
TWRC (TexasWildlifeRehabilitationCenter) / 713-468-8972
/ West side of Houston / Hours are 10am – 2pm every day
WildlifeCenter of Texas / 713-861-9453
/ All wildlife
Erdmann / Mary / 281-530-3896 / SW Houston
Rhodes / Marsha / 281-930-9764 home
713-302-0888 cell
281-991-5958 work / Pasadena / Bats only
Other rehabilitators / Tell folks to check for link to TexasParks and Wildlife and rehabilitators in their area.

ClearLake, Dickinson, Galveston,Seabrook,Texas CityAreas

Last Name / First / Phone / Information
WildlifeCenter of Texas / 713-861-9453
/ All wildlife
Bay Area Wildlife Rescue / 713-705-5897 /
Charli Rohack / 409-974-1840 / Galveston

The Woodlands, Spring area

Phone / Information
Friends of Texas Wildlife / 281-259-0039 / Provides a list of rehabber phone numbers –

TWRC – The Woodlands / 713-468-8972 / Open MWF 10 til 2

Corpus Christi, Port Aransas area

Last Name / First / Phone / City / Information
Meyer-Guzman / Mary / 361-249-1694 / Corpus Christi / Mammals, song birds (Barnyard Sanctuary)
Wilkins / Rachel / 361-852-7008 / Corpus Christi / Corpus Christi calls
TexasState Aquarium (Bird Department) / 361-881-1210 / Corpus Christi / Large birds only (raptors, pelicans, etc.)
The Ark / 361-749-6793 / Port Aransas / Port Aransas calls

Victoriaarea

Last Name / First / Phone / City / Information
Victoria calls / Provide Bay City and Corpus Christi telephone numbers

Blessing and El Campo area

Last Name / First / Phone / Residence / Information
Susan / Dancer / 361-588-2143
979-479-0627 / Blessing / Mammals
Laura / Janek / 979-578-0016 home
979-541-6892 cell / El Campo / Mammals

Bellville area

McKeever / Rebecca / 281-356-9393 home
832-444-6996 cell / Bellville / Lone Star Wildlife Rescue, all animals, including raptors

Other Texas locations

Tell folks to check for link to TexasParks and Wildlife and rehabilitators in their area ( ) Otherwise, call Dana Simon for help.

Other Important Phone Numbers

Animal cruelty calls, livestock or wildlife abuse, illegal shooting / Houston SPCA
Local police
Do not call the following unless instructed by Dana:
Game Warden
Operation Game Thief / 713-869-7722
City dependent
281-842-8100
800-792-GAME
Bat Removal / Exclusion from buildings / Kelli Wright / 979-201-1282 cell
Bee swarms / Bee Wrangler inAlvin (they charge a fee to remove bees safely)
Brazoria County Extension Office has a list of beekeepers / 832-248-8313
979-864-1558
BrazoriaCounty Animal Control / 979-864-2265
Domestic Rabbit Rescue / Jennifer Janise / 979-240-4666

GulfCoast Exotic Bird Sanctuary / Pearland / 281-485-1900
Lake Jackson SPCA / 979-285-2340
Lake Jackson Animal Control / Marissa – 979-285-5653 / 979-415-2700 (Humane Dept.)
National Parrot Rescue and Preservation Foundation / / 713-557-BIRD
Oil spills / General Land Office / 800-832-8224
Snake removal company / Snake Removal Inc.
Killum Pest Control / 800-339-9470
979-297-9993
Stranded or dead DOLPHINS OR WHALES / Marine Mammal Rescue / 800-962-6625
Stranded or dead SEA TURTLES / Sea Turtle Rescue / 866-887-8535
Waterfowl Rescue and Rehab / Marsha Harper
Karen Smith / 281-356-2815
281-356-8853
West Nile Virus (dead bird calls) / BrazoriaCounty Health Dept. / 979-388-1484

GCWR Hotline Volunteers

Name / Phone / E-mail address / Normal call time
Phyllis Gerdes (Ang) / 979-849-4627 home
979-299-9508 cell / / Every other Saturday
Sandy Henderson (Lake Jackson) / 979-297-5676 home
979-236-6054 cell / / Monday evening
Kathleen Massey(San Leon) / 713-834-2056 cell / / Sunday evening
Susan McMillian (Angleton) / 713-503-8238 cell
979-849-5394 home / / Thursday evening
Ken Medway (Jones Creek) / 281-684-3150 cell / / Friday day
Rhonda Neel (Friendswood) / 979-665-7872 cell / / Every other Saturday day
Leo Novak (LJ) / 979-297-9827 home / / Thursday day
Dana Simon (south Angleton) / 979-848-3497 home
979-864-0670 cell / / As needed
Jillian Wimberley (Sweeny) / 254-709-5891 cell / / Wednesdayevening
Jesse Villasana (Freeport) / 979-201-9554 cell /

Directions to Rehabilitators’ Houses

To Dana Simon’s house

From FM 2004, turn left (north) on Business 288B (old 288), towards Angleton
Cross three flat bridges over Bastrop Bayou.
After the third bridge, turn right on CR 605. (Not 605B or 605C)
CR 605 will curve sharply left (at 0.3 mile). At end of the curve is Dana’s driveway on the right.
Address – 316 on mailbox.
Phone – 979-864-0670

To Sheree Etie’s house (SHE DOES NOT TAKE IN ANIMALS AFTER 8 P.M.)

Take FM 2004 heading east, towards Galveston
Go past Hwy 288B (old 288) and turn right at first road - CR 223
Go about a mile and turn right on Wineglass
Go 0.4 mile to the end of the road.
Turn left onto Little Slough Rd.
Her house is the 4th driveway on the left, #1418. There is an 8 ft. wooden privacy fence and automatic gate.
Phone - 979-265-0400

To Joyce Gabbard’s house

Take Hwy 35 west out of Angleton towards West Columbia.
Go approximately 2 miles past the new Hwy 288
Her driveway will be on the right hand side of Hwy 35
The address is 1290 on the mailbox.
Phone - 979-864-6080

To Jennifer Janice’s house

Go a mile past the Danciger Post Office (coming from West Columbia) and on the right there is an archway that says Olive Branch Ranch. The gate is always locked. Call first.
Address is 24039 Fm 1301, Danciger, TX 77431
Phone -979-240-4666 cell

To Michelle Hague’s house

Get on Hwy 332 heading toward Brazoria from Lake Jackson.
After passing a closed filling station, count 9 houses on the right hand side. Her house will be after those on the right hand side.
Address is 1710 Hwy 332W
Phone - 979-798-2439

To Nancy Bentley’s house

Get on Hwy 332 in Lake Jackson.
Turn on S. Yaupon (turn right if you are going from LJ towards Freeport)
Address is 113 S. Yaupon
Phone -979-529-9462

To Cherie Allen’s house

Take Hwy 35 to Bay City
From Angleton, go through Bay City, past Hwy 60 and the library.
Go to “Historical Marker 1 mile” sign
Turn right on Nancy St. The street sign is on the opposite side of the street. (If you pass the new high school you have gone too far.)
Go down Nancy St. to the 2nd street to the left, which is Circle Drive.
Turn left on Circle Drive. The house is the 1st house on the right.
Address is 1909 Circle Drive
Phone - 979-245-4392

To Dotty Grandstaff’s house

Take Hwy 35 to Bay City
From Hwy 35, take Norvel St. There is a Mexican restaurant called Fernandez Tacoria at the corner of Norvel and Hwy 35.
From Angleton, turn left on Norvel.
Go down Norvel two blocks to 4th St. turn right.
Go one block to Waldron.
Her house is on the corner of 4th and Waldron.
Address is 2400 Waldron (red and gray house)
Phone - 979-245-9877

To HoustonSPCAWildlifeCenter (WildlifeCenter of Texas)

Take Hwy 288 north to I-45 North (stay in left lane to exit onto I-45)
Take I-10 West (stay in left lane to exit onto I-10)
Exit on Washington / Wescott St.
At light, turn right onto Washington/Westcott.
Stay in left lane and get on Old Katy Rd.
Go over railroad track. You will see a SPCA billboard.
The SPCA is on your left.
Do a “U” turn by the Land Rover Dealership
Go to WildlifeCenter at right side of building and ring doorbell.

Checking the Hotline

Call 979-849-0184
Press / Action
19 (may have to press 19 again) / Starts playing messages
1 after the final message / Re-plays all messages
3 during message / Deletes individual message
4 during message / Starts message over from beginning
6 during message / Skips individual message but saves
5 and 0 (do not use) / Stops and turns off machine

The machine will tell the number of new messages and begin playing them. After hearing the new messages, press 1 to see if there are any old messages. The machine will tell you the number of old messages and then begin playing them.

Sign in for on-call duty. Call the Hotline number (979-849-0184), wait for the beep, and leave your name and phone number as one of the messages. Example message: “This is Joe Doe. I will be on call until 10:00 p.m. My phone number is xxx-xxxx.” You will erase this message when you go off call. This let’s Dana know you are on call.
Check for messages at least once an hour. During busy times (i.e., April – June), it is helpful to check every 30 minutes.
If unable to contact the caller, unable to make out the phone number, or the phone number does not work, call Dana Simonto retrieve the number from caller I.D.
Do not erase message until animal is in care or call is resolved.
Please follow up and complete all calls received during your time. If unable to do so, please communicate leave a message on the Hotline for the next person on duty.
Rehabilitators may be unable to answer their phone immediately. Please leave messages for the rehabilitator on all possible phone lines (home, cell, work, etc.) and the rehabilitator will return the call ASAP.
If you receive a message specifically for a rehabilitator (i.e., zoo calling for Dana), please call rehabber and leave a message on their personal line so that they will know to check the hotline, or give them the pertinent information.
Call Dana Simonif person leaves a message that they would like to volunteer or wants an educational program.
If you know you will be unable to do call on a particular day, please try to swap call or have someone cover for you. See Hotline Volunteer List. If you are unable to be on call or you cannot find a replacement, please contact Dana Simonby phone or text.

General RescueInstructions

Contact the caller. Always call back the caller ASAP even if you do not have an answer and tell them that you are working on the call and give them instructions (warmth/no food).
If the caller is from outside our area, provide them with multiple phone numbers of rehabilitators in those areas and instruct them to call back if they don’t hear from the rehabilitator in an hour or two. Give instructions as to care (heat, no food, box size, etc).
Do NOT take in mammals that have bitten a person or give advice until you speak to DanaSimon. Also, do not take in a bat that may have come in contact with an unvaccinated animal.
Contact the appropriate rehabilitator and make sure they will take the animal.
Make arrangements to either pick up the animal at the caller’s house, meet the caller at a central location, or have them deliver the animal directly to the rehabber.
When you take in the animal, have the person with the animal fill out an Admittance Form. Also give them a GCWR flyer and magnet.
Let the rehabilitator know approximately what time the animal will be delivered.
Do not send animals to rehabilitatoruntil you have made sure the rehabilitator is home. Give the person the home phone #s of the rehabilitator in case they get lost.
Try to get the animal to the rehabilitator in a timely fashion. Babies (especially baby birds) need to get to the rehabilitator ASAP.
Keep animals warm using rice socks, heating pads, etc. (If an animal is panting, it is too hot!)
Do not attempt to feed or water birds or mammals unless you are trained AND an experienced rehabilitator has told you to. For hummingbirds that you can’t get to a rehabber right away, draw up sugar water (3:1 water to sugar) into straw or plastic syringe, or place a drop of the water on your finger. Direct the bird’s bill into the fluid and let it sip.
Use the Rid Your Attic Flyer for raccoons and squirrels. Always tell the caller this technique has never failed and to call us back if they have problems. NEVER recommend trapping.
Always be nice and pleasant and patient with the public– when on call you represent GCWR and your attitude may impact whether they call us the next time.
If you decide an animal is too far away or that it is too late, call Dana Simonor another rehabilitator and inform them of your decision.
If a vet clinic calls, go and pick up the animal.
Before accepting exotics call Dana Simonor another experienced rehabilitator. WE do accept feral ducks and geese (i.e., from Shy Pond). However, we do not treat pets and do NOT accept cat or dogs. We refer them to SPCA.

Talking to the Caller

Determine the age (baby, adult) and type of animal (use common size comparisons i.e. size of a pigeon, crow, robin)
Find out location of caller.
Ask how long have they had the animal, what it is in, and if it is warm.
Try to determine what action is necessary (leave-it-alone, put it back, rescue, etc.).
If a baby bird call comes in, please talk to the people at length – use List of Questions (see bird section) to make sure the bird needs rescuing. If in doubt bring the bird in and we can always return if possible.
Tell them it is a myth that if you touch a bird or mammal that the parents won’t come back. The public can handle the animal for very short periods of time as necessary to put the animal back in a nest, etc. The parents will return.
Most baby mammals need to be rescued. Exceptions include baby squirrels and raccoons which have been cut from the nest or uninjured baby deer and rabbits.
Bats – Has any one touched the bat or has an unvaccinated animal come in contact with the bat? If so, contact Dana Simon.
Has the mammal bit anyone? If so, call an Dana Simon advice.
If person is resistant to bringing in the animal, explain why it is best for the animals to bring it to GCWR. Talk about possible diseases that they can get. Talk about personal safety, liabilities, and legalities.
If person is afraid of the animal or if it is particularly dangerous, tell them not to handle it. The on-call person or rehabilitator will handle OR you can explain how to tip a box on its side and push animal in with a broom.
Tell them we are volunteers with state and federal permits, but no government funding.
Ask for donations. Give the money to the rehabber that you take the animal to.
If they had trouble getting our number, ask who they called who did not know about us. Get GCWR phone number to that person.

Use of Admission Form

Have the person bringing in the animal fill out an Admission Form.
Also provide them with a GCWR flyer and magnet with our phone number and information on our organization.
Give this admission form to the rehabilitator so that they know the background and history of the animal. Information on these forms such as names and FULL addresses are required by law. Please include city.
EXACT location of where animals were found and under what circumstances is critical!!

Items to Have on Hand