Article and images by Jen Howard
Approximate read time: 3 minutes
May has been a crazy month. We’ve had to stop admissions a couple of times due to the shelter being at full capacity. Baby animals are very demanding little tykes. We can only care for the lives we have enough volunteers to look after them with. It’s as hard on us to say no as it is on you to hear it.
We really need to be more mindful of how we handle wildlife issues. Always call us, or your nearest rehab facility, for advice. We can help you to get mothers to move their babies on their own. This will take a bit of time while they scope out a safe location, but they are amazing mothers and just want a safe quiet place to raise their little ones. Please do not orphan these precious lives. It’s a critical balance. We need to work together to make this situation better. Please always make that call before you act.
Our first fawn of the year has been admitted. Call us right away if you see a fawn wandering around crying or it tries to follow you or its ears are curling. That fawn needs help asap, and we will instruct you on what you need to do next in preparation for transporting.
Otherwise, please never approach fawns. Never let your dog or your children approach one. Never touch them. Never move them. Mom, unless you know she has been hit by a car, will always be close by. But she will not allow herself to be easily seen if possible. She leaves her fawn in what she considers a safe space. Fawn curls up and stays quiet until Mom returns. Fawns have no scent, so Mom stays away, coming only to feed and move them on. She may leave them anywhere; your lawn, by your deck, in your garden. If you find one, please leave it alone and do not touch it or talk to it or move it. Leave it be.
Pileated woodpecker
This woodpecker is really anxious to get going. Recovering from a clavicle injury, rest is important. However, after 3 weeks rest and a trial flight he is sadly not ready to be released just yet. Some more quiet time is needed, or not so quiet for us or his roommates. Pileated woodpeckers love to peck. And peck he does. Their tongue wraps around their brain 3 times to protect it from those hard non stop pecks on hard surfaces, built very well for the job at hand.
More raccoons and opossums have been released back to the wild and we are anxiously awaiting the weather to fully cooperate for the bats and snakes to go home also.
Our new baby red squirrels found orphaned in a construction site are doing well, as are the other orphaned squirrels, bunnies and raccoons. Our baby minks are in foster care, also doing well. Apple, our permanent porcupine, is awaiting the final construction of her new home, soon to be completed. Our two fox kits are growing and thriving now in an outdoor enclosure. And the robins who took up residence over our outdoor lights are busy feeding wee babes. Won’t be long until they will be moving on. One big happy family.
Jen Howard