If you are unable to view this e-mail, go here. "West Nile Virus." The name sounds ominous and, at the same time, somewhat exotic. Initially identified in Uganda in 1937, it first appeared in the US around 1999. It's technically a type of "flavivirus" that is borne by mosquitoes and transmitted by their bite. It's most common in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East, although it is now probably permanently present in North America. Affecting mammals and birds, it is most prevalent in the late summer or early fall in temperate climates, but can be present all year in warmer tropical zones. Go here to find out more. All new Liberty Wildlife volunteers have two things in common. They have a love and respect for animals, and they need training. Not many people know how to feed a baby bird, or pick up an injured great horned owl, much less how to hold a red-tailed hawk on a glove! At Liberty Wildlife, we are well-versed in teaching newcomers these very skills. To read about our training program, go here. Sonoran desert tortoises are a complex member of Arizona's nature. Migrating great distances up and around mountains, they are able to regulate their temperature and dictate humidity. Desert tortoises feed on herbs, grasses, and wildflowers. In the wild they can live 80-100 years. Burrowing allows them to withstand surface temperatures up to 140 degrees and keeps them from freezing while dormant. Go here to read more on this story! Whooo is helping Liberty save wildlife? For nearly a decade, Liberty Wildlife’s Research and Conservation team has been involved with Arizona Public Service and their Wildlife Protection Program. APS has taken a proactive approach to ensure that Arizona’s native wildlife is safe when it comes to the utility’s power structures. The working relationship between APS and LWRF has saved countless birds and active nests on or near utility lines and equipment as a result of this wonderful program headed by Michael Neal and Peggy Jelen, both of APS. APS forestry division’s biologist Mike Boyd discovered a possible ferruginous pygmy owl nest while surveying vegetation scheduled to be removed beneath a power line north of the Valley. APS was able to deter the construction crew from the site to prevent having to remove the nest or displace any adult birds. APS often contacts Liberty Wildlife regarding wildlife issues such as this, for scientific assistance. Several of Arizona’s owl species such as the elf owl and western screech owl will predominantly use saguaro cactus holes and cavities for roosting and nesting here in the desert. Liberty’s research team depends on state-of-the-art fiber-optic tools such as the ProVision tool recently donated by CML Innovative Technologies, Inc., a company based in New Jersey, to find and determine activities of such nests. These nests are difficult to see into, but tools such as this allow the research team to perform investigations and surveys with minimal disturbance to the occupants. Thank you to APS and CML Innovative Technologies, Inc., for continuing to support saving Arizona’s wildlife and the mission of Liberty Wildlife. Quick, Easy, and Fun! Well, if you’ve taken your vacation, got the kids back in school, and are now looking for something to do that’s fun and will help Liberty at the same time, here are some suggestions! Blog? What's a blog? And if I get it on my shoes can I get it off?!? Liberty has a blog! For the past two years or so, an e-mail has been sent to a growing number of volunteers and supporters called "This Week at Liberty" which includes a little blurb about what's happened during the week, along with supportive photos of the cool animals we help during the year. It started out just going to a few friends and fellow volunteers, but has been forwarded to people in Canada, Greece, India, and China! Well, now it's available as a blog at libertywildlife.blogspot.com and will be updated weekly. It's still in its developmental stages, but it's up and running, complete with links to the Liberty Web site, a brief update by Megan, and any news flashes that occur during the week. If you like the Nature News, you might like our blog as well! Contact Us | Terms of Use  ©2003 - 2008 Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation To make sure you continue receiving our newsletters (and that they don't go to your bulk or junk folders), please add naturenews@libertywildlife.org to your e-mail address book. Please remove me from this e-mail list.