Recently a few friends asked me why I became a wildlife rehabilitator, so I thought I would share my story for anyone who is interested. I have always had a deep affinity for the natural world. This was not nurtured; it was just something I was born with. In fact, as a child I had little understanding of the natural world, but I saw the damage that mankind was inflicting on it very clearly. As I became older, my understanding…
I am a nature nerd and one of the things that I long to see more than anything when I am out exploring the woods are woodland turtles. Woodland turtles have become scarce over the last few decades due to habitat loss, collisions with automobiles, and the pet trade. The two main woodland turtles found in the northeast are the eastern box turtle and the wood turtle, both of which are listed as species of concern on the MA endangered…
The following is a guest post by Rob Fletcher, originally written for his blog At Your Best. It is about our experience rescuing a stranded skunk, and I couldn’t have written anything more perfect about this beautiful and poignant moment. I’ve also included a video of some of the skunks I have been caring for at the wildlife rehabilitation facility that I volunteer at. Please enjoy. Another 90 degree summer day, another work day done, another evening summer swim in the…
It’s been a challenging week. I’ve been struggling to go at a pace that my body doesn’t like. Meanwhile, life around me is slowing down. The leaves are starting to fall, the garden is winding down, and even the weeds seem to have stopped growing. The days are getting shorter, animals are preparing for winter, and there is less energy all around. Mother Nature is getting ready for the long winter’s rest ahead. So why shouldn’t I? Autumn is perhaps…
Whew! What a day! As some of you know, I volunteer on Tuesdays at a wildlife rehab facility. Today, we released 3 of the raccoons that we have raised for the past year. Loaded up in cages in the back of the van, we drove them out to a carefully selected site. My heart went out to them as I could hear them scratching frantically at the cages, desperate to get out. Poor babies! Fortunately, their distress was short lived,…
Well, autumn has tip-toed in, slowly creeping up on us until we were left with no choice but to wave goodbye to the bright buoyancy of summer. The days are marked by the familiar cool crispness that makes you long for simpler bygone days, and the chilly nights draw you in toward the cozy warmth of home. Admittedly, I have mixed feelings about the fall. It’s a time of unparalleled beauty here in New England as the trees hum with…
I volunteer once a week at a wildlife rehabilitation facility that cares for orphaned and injured animals. Currently, there are 10 young raccoons orphans in residence, and they are a riot! These guys are total characters, and they are incredibly smart, too. Raccoons can live up to 20 years in captivity, but in the wild, they are more likely to live 2-3 years, which is no doubt a result of predation and human interference. Many wind up hit by…