American Heritage Wildlife Foundation

I will pass along the story of the seagull that would not exercise in her sling unless she was moving. This was the second seagull that had a leg injury, The first seagull in our care had a broken leg. He needed to keep up his wing muscles from 'stiffening' while his leg mended but it was not possible for him to fly while having a cast on his leg so we created a sling. In this sling, he would be suspended from a beam and then he would exercise twice each day in 'fiight therapy'. He had a short stay and was able to be release very quickly ater the cast came off. This second seagull was did not like the stationary therapy set up. Because there was a need to work those wing muscles or else the stay would be very long - the only option then was to carry the sling. Twice each day, she was loaded into the the sling and a volunteer would begin jogging. The jog would slowly work up to a run and then back down to a jog ... we both got our exercise!