Expert: Julia Booth - 4/29/2008

Question
I am Virginia State and Federally Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator for mammals and songbirds and waterfowl and  birds of prey, and shore and sea birds.  Have a gannet that will be in rehab for several weeks, and may have to be permanently placed.  What is feeding program for adult Northern Gannet- ammounts, times, and type of fish- plus vitamins, etc. for building strength and stabilizing a gannet? Thanks for helping me in the Tidewater area of Virginia after many storms.Can you give me address of a gannet rehabilitation center?

Answer
I don't personally have any information on rehab for Gannets. They are Pelicaniforms, so they usually catch fish and squid from the open sea- schooling fish like pilchards, barracouta, anchovies, garfish and mackerel. I don't know about the amount one individual Gannet would consume daily or how often they would feed.

I have contacts for Southern California only.

Here's a link for the Virigina Department of Fish and Game: http://vafwis.org/fwis/?Menu=Home.Help

They will be able to tell you where the Gannet should be placed once it's rehabilitiated.