Baby Toucans Rescued from Mud in Succotz After Tree Pruning Disrupts Nesting

According to the Belize Raptor Center, last week, a baby toucan was found stuck in the mud in the village of Succotz. The discovery was made near a tree that had been recently stripped of its branches. The baby toucan was trapped beneath the thick mud. According to the Belize Raptor Center, without branches to fledge from, the young bird was at a disadvantage.

Rescuers cleaned the toucan and attempted to place it in a nearby tree where its parents were. However, as they were about to leave, the toucan tried to fly and ended up in the river. An intern quickly dove in to rescue the bird. The toucan was then taken to the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic for treatment after aspirating water during the incident.

Belize Raptor Center says the tree has been a nesting site for toucans for as long as the community can remember, but without branches, the young birds now lack a crucial step in their flight practice. The following day, a second baby toucan was found on the ground in the mud. Both young toucans are now at BBR, where they will be rehabilitated before being released back to their family group in Succotz.