Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic

29/01/2026

Late last year, a tiny Margay kitten was found alone crying, weak, and very dehydrated. Concerned rescuers reached out to us immediately. We guided them to wait and watch for her mother, hoping she would return. But she never did. Whether lost to a road traffic accident, gunshot, or another cruel fate of the wild, this baby was left orphaned.

She arrived in our care with her eyes still closed, no more than 3–4 weeks old, fragile and fighting for her life. Our first priority was stabilization. Warmth. Hydration. Milk replacer. Around-the-clock care.

As her eyes slowly opened, our responsibility grew even heavier. To love her but from a distance. To care for her without letting her imprint. Because our mission is not to keep her, but to give her back her freedom, where she belongs.

Her rehabilitation journey will take 12 to 18 long months. Months of patience, discipline, and quiet dedication. Today, she is growing wild as she should, climbing, exploring, sharpening her instincts, and slowly transitioning to solid foods. Each day, she looks a little more like the fierce forest cat she was born to be.

We will continue to walk beside her, silently and carefully, until the day she can return home to the wild. Stay with us as her journey continues.

28/01/2026

🐾 One Health Awareness Month – Animal Health Matters 🌎🫶

When animals are healthy, people and the environment are healthier too. That’s the heart of One Health. Healthy pets, livestock, and wildlife mean: less risk of zoonotic diseases, safer and more reliable food systems and stronger, more balanced ecosystems. 💪⚖️🌿

By vaccinating our pets, treating domestic animals when they are sick, calling us if you suspect wildlife at risk, and prioritizing animal welfare, we’re we’re helping animals, our public health and food safety and our planet. 💚

Quiz Time- Who knows the species and what is wrong in this photo? 🧠🧐

28/01/2026

Wildlife giving you problems, or is wildlife in trouble?

Did you know that the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic (BWRC) provide 24/7 wildlife emergency support? Whether you’ve found an injured wildlife animal, a baby that seems abandoned, or a wild animal in trouble and not sure what to do? Don’t worry, we’ll guide you step by step on how to respond safely and responsibly.
One call can make all the difference for Belize’s wildlife.
Call us on our 24/7 hotline at 615-5159.

27/01/2026

What abnormalities do YOU see on this x-ray 🩻?

This super sweet friendly 11 year old dog 🐶 returned weak and very depressed from a brief evening stroll in his neighborhood.

The owner grew very concerned seeing his dog acting sad and even more so when he found a small puncture injury 🩸 on the dogs side and we were shocked when the xrays came out. Do you see it? Comment below ⬇️

26/01/2026

✨Happy Environmental Education Day✨
You can’t protect that which you don’t understand. That’s why environmental education is so important and is the foundation of our Wildlife Ambassador Program. 💡👨🏻‍🎓

Every Ambassador becomes a agent of change in their home, school/workplace, and community. 🌟Learning about Belizean wildlife and how to prevent conflict and recognize wildlife crime helps us all to maintain One Health- the health we share with animals and our environment. 💚🌎

Today lets celebrate the power of learning, teaching, sharing, and caring. Informed communities are empowered to make healthier choices for themselves and for our natural wonders 🦜🌱☀️🌊🐆

26/01/2026

Keep your eyes (and nose) for signs of screwworm and report cases immediately! Consistent wound care and inspection are vital to stopping infestations in their tracks. Report cases to BAHA @824-4872

Here’s a *clear and up-to-date breakdown of facts about screwworm (especially the New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax) in Belize — a topic that’s been very much in the news and agricultural reports lately 🐛🇧🇿:

🦟 What the Screwworm Is

The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) whose larvae infest open wounds of warm-blooded animals and humans.

Females lay eggs in wounds; within about 12–24 hours larvae hatch and burrow into living tissue, feeding on flesh and causing traumatic myiasis.

📍 Belize’s Recent Screwworm Situation
🐄 Outbreak & Spread

Screwworm was detected again in Belize starting late December 2024, after the country had been free from it for decades.

Cases have been found in multiple districts, especially Toledo, but also Cayo, Belize District, and Orange Walk.

It’s affected livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, horses), pets (especially dogs), and wildlife like howler monkeys.

🧑‍⚕️ Human Infection

In August 2025, Belize confirmed its first human case of New World Screwworm infection — a 21-year-old man who is being treated and responding well.

This underscores that while most cases occur in animals, humans can become infected if wounds aren’t properly protected and cleaned.

🐾 How it Affects Animals & People
🐶 Animals

Larvae feed on living tissue, leading to deep wounds, secondary infection, pain, and sometimes death if untreated.

Rapid growth means infestations can worsen within days, making daily checks of livestock and pets essential.

🧑 Humans

Although rarer, human cases are serious and characterized by larvae in wounds, pain, and potential secondary infection.

⚠️ Why Screwworm Is Serious

Rapid life cycle: Eggs hatch quickly; larvae burrow and feed deep into tissues.

Broad host range: Affects all warm-blooded animals — livestock, pets, wildlife, and humans.

Economic impact: Infestations hurt cattle production, may disrupt exports, and increase livestock treatment costs.

Public health concern: First human case highlights risk if wounds are exposed and health awareness is low.

🛡️ What Belize Authorities Are Doing

Surveillance & reporting: BAHA (Belize Agricultural Health Authority) and the Ministry of Agriculture continue monitoring and urging the public to report cases.

Movement controls: Animal movement is regulated, with inspections and permits required to prevent spread.

Public education: Officials emphasize proper wound care in animals and humans, plus wound inspection and treatment.

Infected areas declared: Certain regions, like Toledo District, have been officially declared infected under Belize’s agricultural health law.

🌿 Key Takeaways

✅ Screwworm is a parasitic fly larvae that burrows into live tissue, causing painful and dangerous infestations.
✅ Belize has had an active outbreak since late 2024, affecting many animals and at least one human.
✅ Prevention and vigilance are critical — keep wounds clean and treated, inspect animals daily, and report suspicious cases early.

26/01/2026

A heartfelt thank you to an anonymous donor whose incredible generosity kept our mission moving forward literally. Because of your donation, we were able to purchase four new tires for one of our most-used wildlife emergency response vehicles, the very one we rely on every single day for animal care and rescues ( which recently had a flat.)

With our wheels back on the road, our daily rescues and care efforts are once again running without interruption. Your kindness will ripple far beyond this moment countless wild lives will benefit, be saved, and be given a second chance because of you.

From all of us, and from the wildlife who cannot say thank you themselves we are deeply grateful.

25/01/2026

A huge shout out to Super Mart Cayo for reaching out and generously donating BZD $1,000 worth of materials toward our clinic’s new facilities.

Words can’t fully express how grateful we are. This contribution will go directly toward much-needed supplies as we work to finalize the building and expand our capacity to help those who need it most.

Because of kind hearted partners like the team at Super Mart Cayo, the future of Belize’s imperiled wildlife shines a little brighter.

Thank you for standing with conservation and making a real difference.

24/01/2026

🤓We were there too... fingers crossed we will see him released too!

23/01/2026

Vector-borne diseases are illnesses spread by animals like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Dengue is one we know all too well here. When mosquito numbers go up, so does the risk for people and animals. 🦟🌧️

Standing water and poor waste management → more mosquitoes → higher risk of dengue (and other diseases)
Healthy environments → healthier people and animals ❤️

To reduce this risk we should empty containers that collect 💧, provide drainage where water pools up and use nets and repellents.

Protecting the environment and controlling vectors (like mosquitoes) protects our communities, pets and wildlife 💚🐒
P.C.- Center for Disease Control