Pictured: Thanks to the dedicated team at Save Our Seabirds, this sandhill crane colt has been reunited with her family. Provided photo.

When a young sandhill crane was struck by a car at the busy intersection of University Parkway and Lorraine Road—where speed-through traffic can be common—her future seemed uncertain. But thanks to a quick-thinking passerby and the dedicated team at Save Our Seabirds (SOS), her story became one of resilience, care and reunion.

As a nonprofit devoted to rescuing and rehabilitating sick and injured birds for release back into the wild, SOS knew that colt's survival depended on minimizing human contact. Sandhill cranes imprint quickly, bonding to the first large moving figure they see—often a human, which can jeopardize their return to the wild.

To prevent this, the SOS team devised a specialized care plan and introduced her to their resident surrogate crane, Lady. With patience, Lady guided her through recovery, teaching her how to be a crane again. Day by day, her once-wobbly steps grew strong and sure—thanks in part to a custom splint crafted by the SOS hospital team.

After weeks of expert care, the young crane was ready to go home. She was joyfully reunited with her parents, who welcomed her with jubilant trumpets.

“The family can still be spotted in that area,” says the SOS Marketing and Outreach Manager. “It’s so wonderful to see!”

SOS reminds the public that slowing down on the road doesn’t just protect people—it saves wildlife too.

“Fewer than 5,000 Florida sandhill cranes remain--a threatened subspecies of the greater sandhill crane. By slowing down and staying alert, we can protect not just one bird, but the future of this iconic native species," explains Wood.

Save Our Seabirds, 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, 941-388-3010.

Pictured: Thanks to the dedicated team at Save Our Seabirds, this sandhill crane colt has been reunited with her family. Provided photo.