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PrintIf you have to take flight…
As Hurricane Season begins, be prepared and hope that the emergency evacuation never becomes necessary. Please check if hotels/shelters that take “pets” will take exotic pet birds or parrots.
Be Prepared to Evacuate:
1. Have a non-acrylic carrier for your birds. In FL, the acrylic carriers heat up too fast and, if you get stuck in traffic, or run out of gas, your bird will die. Small stackable cages or even hard cat carriers are easily modified for birds. Bring a Mister/ Spray bottle filled with water to mist the bird, if it gets too hot. Put paper towels, feeding dish, a toy and small perch in the cage/carrier. Bring the roll of paper towels, too. A thin tablecloth or sheet works well to cover the cage, if necessary.
2. Attach a luggage tag to the small cage/carrier with contact information for you, your vet, plus someone out of the area and include the bird’s name, photo, type, age, sex and diet.
3. Bring clean water for the birds to drink for a week. While traveling, give the bird ½ orange, melon or other soft juicy fruit-no water. Prepare millet, seed, pellets and other treats for a week for each bird.
4. Put the supplies in your car as soon as you think the hurricane is headed your way. Load the birds last, after other pets.
5. Keep a pillowcase near each cage. In case of a tornado, fire, or flood, grab the bird and put it headfirst in the pillowcase, tie a knot in the pillowcase and run for shelter!
Buy a large bottle of Bach’s Rescue Remedy. Put a few drops in the bird’s water or on their fruit and take a full dropper yourself! It will help to keep everybody and everybirdy calm and less anxious!
