by Anika Schmid
“Rescuing Miami’s Native Wildlife” was held on January 15, 2025, and hosted by Yaritza Acosta, the Rehabilitation Manager at Pelican Harbor Seabird Station (PHSS). As part of our monthly Natural History Speaker Series, the presentation recapped our 2024 data, including the animals with the highest intakes and reasons for admission. The key trends from last year reveal the vital role that rehabilitation plays in wildlife conservation. This data is also available in the 2024 Annual Report.
2024 Intakes
In 2024, PHSS treated 2,476 patients from 148 species. We received approximately 7,817 calls from the public throughout the Miami area, with Miami Beach having the largest amount of intakes.
April was the month with the highest number of intakes, 292, because it was the peak month for the spring baby bird season. Most calls were for injured, orphaned, or kidnapped baby birds. October saw a spike of 266 patients admitted because of fall migrants. During this month, we often receive calls about animals that have been injured or are suffering from migration fatigue.
Intakes by Class
With 1,649 aves, 792 mammals, and 35 reptiles, every class had more intakes in 2024 than in the last two years. The most common type of avian was songbirds, with 745 intakes. Songbirds are the biggest order of birds and have the most subspecies. Baby bird season sees an influx of nests falling from trees and babies getting hurt. April and October were the months with the highest intakes of avians. Bird intakes were steady throughout 2024.
Caption: Bar graph showing the number of aves, mammals, and reptiles from 2022 to 2024. The y-axis represents the number of intakes.
The most prevalent patients were the Virginia Opossum (48.1%), Grey Squirrel (17.6%), Northern Mockingbird (12.4%), Blue Jay (11.8%), and Laughing Gull (10.1%). Of the 148 species treated in 2024, 14 were new species. The most notable was an Atlantic Puffin found by Miami Beach Fire Rescue lifeguards in February 2024.
Avians
The most common songbird was the Northern Mockingbird, with 146 admitted. These are a common songbird in South Florida, and many nests are disturbed during baby bird season. Laughing Gulls were the most common seabird, with 119 admitted. They are increasingly becoming more urbanized; more Laughing Gulls can be found by beaches, lakes, and small bodies of water. The most common raptor was the Eastern Screech Owl, with 69 admitted. Most of these owls were babies who fell out of trees or had their trees cut down. The most common shorebird was the White Ibis, as 68 were admitted. These shorebirds often suffered from weakness and trauma-related injuries. When looking for lizards on the side of roads, White Ibis are often hit by cars.
Caption: A baby Eastern Screech Owl.
Mammals
The most common mammals admitted were 566 Virginia Opossums and 207 Grey Squirrels. The intake of opossums has increased since 2023. These opossums usually come in groups. If a mother is hit by a car and has babies in her pouch, there could be ten baby opossums admitted that day.
April and August were the months with the greatest mammal intakes. Squirrels have two breeding seasons: spring and fall. Opossums breed year-round, but there is sometimes an increase in the spring months.
Reptiles
PHSS receives relatively few reptile intakes — 31 in 2023 and 25 in 2022 — but there were 35 intakes in 2024. There is no pattern regarding reptile intakes by month, but there were six intakes in July 2024. Most reptile breeding seasons are in the spring, while the Cooter’s breeding season is year-round. Reptiles usually cross the road and get hit by a car. People often pick the reptiles up or move them, thinking something is wrong when they could have just helped the reptile cross the street.
The most common reptile was the Gopher Tortoise, with 11 admitted. These tortoises are federally protected and cannot be released until PHSS receives special permission from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The FWC lets us know where the tortoise can go, whether it is back in the wild or to a holding site, before the tortoise is ready for release. Gopher Tortoises do well, but they stay with PHSS for a long time as we wait for FWC instructions.
Reasons for Admission
Trauma was the biggest reason for admission in 2024, with 949 intakes. This ranges from being hit by a car to being attacked by cats or dogs. The most common reason for trauma was 104 cat interactions. Miami has a lot of feral cats, and many people have their cats outside. These cats attack these animals and injure them. There were 79 intakes for physical trauma. In these cases, the animal will come in with wounds or signs of trauma, but we do not know exactly what happened to them. Window strikes, the cause for 56 intakes, happen frequently during migration. Many birds migrate at night and become disoriented by sound and light pollution, causing them to collide with walls and buildings.
Caption: An ovenbird that flew into a window and suffered bad trauma. His head and eyes were swollen and infected. He was on laser therapy, oxygen therapy, and medication supportive care. After a few days, his swelling went down dramatically. His eye was able to open, and he was able to be released.
In 2024, 719 patients were admitted for sickness or weakness. This category includes conditions like a general weakness or botulism poisoning. 671 patients were admitted for being orphaned or a baby. These patients were either orphaned or fell from the nest and couldn’t be reunited with their parents, so PHSS kept them to raise. There were 55 cases of trapped or entangled animals, often resulting from fishing line and hook-related injuries.
Diagnosis and Treatment
646 radiographs were taken in 2024. This is helpful to look for fractures and any abnormalities. Approximately 657 patients received laser therapy. With different settings, this therapy increases oxygen coming into the wounded area. Red light promotes healing and growth, while the blue light setting helps kill bacteria and fungus. There is also a setting to help with pain and inflammation. Approximately 625 patients received oxygen therapy, and approximately 191 patients received a splint or wrap. Over 400 surgeries/procedures were conducted in 2024.
Caption: A hawk with a fracture in its elbow. Our vet put a pin there to speed up the healing process.
2025 and the Future
As of September 25, 2025, PHSS has treated 46,881 patients in its 45-year history. This year, we have treated 2084 patients and 104 patients are currently in our care, with 120 species having been treated.
If you find an injured animal, read our list of tips and contact a licensed wildlife rehab. PHSS is open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, so please call 305-751-9840 or text 786-459-9155 for help.
