A missing pet is always a terrifying experience. However, a missing pet in the Las Vegas desert strikes an entirely new fear into your heart. After all, the desert is not the most forgiving of landscapes. Nevertheless, a missing pet toucan managed to survive in the Las Vegas desert for three months before it was finally rescued.
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Missing Pet Toucan Survives 3 Months In The Desert
PEOPLE shared that Sam the toucan has been missing since mid-November after escaping his enclosure. After an agonizing three-month wait, his owner finally received some good news. The toucan was finally rescued on Feb 26. His rescue comes after homeowners in “northwest Las Vegas recognized him from news reports and contacted local rescuers.”
This toucan’s rescue proves that you should never give up hope. Even after three long months, this toucan managed to survive the desert and come home safely. Although this last sighting is what got Sam rescued, it was not the first time that the bird had been spotted throughout his adventures.
Instead, the outlet shared that the same had become a sort of viral sensation in Las Vegas. Visitors would occasionally see him flying about and share their sightings online.
Sam Decided It Was Time To Go Home
After surviving three months in the desert, it appeared that Sam the toucan was finally ready to return home. President and co-founder of Southwest Exotic Avian Rescue, Skye Marsh, spoke with PEOPLE about the rescue. “The little stinker decided it was time for help, and he flew into someone’s garage,” he joked.
Fortunately for Sam and his owner, the homeowners acted quickly. They shut their garage door, trapping Sam inside and preventing any further escapes. From there, the rescue group came to collect Sam. Afterward, the toucan was taken to a veterinary clinic for a check-up and treatment.
PEOPLE shared that “he received fluid and bloodwork.” Although he miraculously survived the Las Vegas desert, there were signs of his three-month journey. When speaking with Fox 5 Vegas, Marsh had this to say about Sam’s health.
“His beak is a little beat up. He’s got some missing patches of feathers. The tip of his beak is chipped off. So he’s got some stories in that little brid brain.” However, all things considered, this toucan faired quite well. After all, they are native to humid rainforests. The dry air and stark temperatures in the desert were not ideal for Sam’s survival, and yet he endured.
Rescueres hypothesize that Sam may have been surviving off the appropriate food they left for him near lures and traps meant to capture and rescue him.
