Blue jay regains health after possible road salt poisoning
The bird was taken in and rehabbed by The Raptor Trust in Millington.
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A blue jay was released back into the wild from a rehabilitation facility in Morris County after being nursed back to health from what might have been road salt poisoning.
Volunteers from the Raptor Trust in Millington released the blue jay a week ago after caring for the bird for a few weeks. In a social media post, The Raptor Trust said the bird arrived “weak and disoriented with suspected salt poisoning from road salt.”
For weeks, experts provided supportive and medical care to the blue jay. The bird was closely monitored until it regained enough strength and coordination to fly strongly again. When that day came, volunteers took the blue jay outside, opened its cage and watched as it flew off into a wooded area.
The Raptor Trust says the bird’s illness illustrates the harm salt poisoning can do to wildlife.
“Salt poisoning is largely preventable, and it starts with us humans making better choices,” the facility said on Facebook. “Let this positive ending serve as a reminder that small changes, like using less salt and opting for alternatives that are safer for wildlife, truly make a difference.”
The Raptor Trust is a nonprofit organization in Morris County that takes in and rehabilitates birds of prey. Most recently, the facility began caring for a bald eagle that was rescued from the icy Hudson River by New York City police officers. The Raptor Trust houses a medical infirmary along with an education center.
