WORDS FOR WILDLIFE ARTICLE #20

American Coot with paralyzed legs gets treatment at Witter Wildlife Refuge.

Photo by Author

Words For Wildlife
by State licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, James Orr

COOT

Saturday I met my first Coot, American Coot to be specific. Coots where much more plentiful in the 1800’s than they are today. James Audubon, the famous bird watcher talks of shooting 78 with one shotgun shot.

The Coot I am working with has paralyzed legs. This can be the result of a severe trauma such as hitting a car or wire, a neurological disease, or a severe vitamin deficiency to name a few possibilities. It is eating and snapping at me which is a encouraging.

Although not as abundant as they use to be they are still spotted around freshwater marshes, lakes, ponds, wet meadows, marshy edges of rivers and streams. They require shallow water for feeding and some marsh vegetation for cover.

They are kind of like a cross between a chicken and a duck. Their toes are lobed (separate) rather than webbed but each toe is sort wide and cupped to help with swimming. These unusual toes serve them both in the water and on the mud. They appear duck like in the water, but are actually shaped more like a chicken. They have been referred to as “Mud hens” by some.

Coots feed on aquatic animals and plants, often snatching uprooted plants brought up by other ducks. Coots swim in open water, often in large groups.

They have to get a running start to become airborne. Although the American Coot is a superb swimmer, it is so plump it has difficulty taking flight. It is quite humorous to see them running across the water to gain speed before lifting off.

You can identify a Coot by its white bill, black-head and slate gray body. Juveniles are paler gray below and the bill silvery.

DONATIONS NEEDED If you would like to help any donation amount it is greatly appreciated. Donations should be made out to Witter Wildlife Refuge and can be sent to P.O. Box 1118, Huntsville AR 72740.

See web page under "HOW YOU CAN HELP" for specific ways you can help us help wildlife