Raccoon Journal 5: Bob Rules

Jun 26, 201432 min read

Deviation Actions

Published: Jun 26, 2014

657 Views

Wildlife rescue volunteering is hard work.

One of the hardest parts is the simple knowledge that not all of them make it. Some centers only take indigenous species, or don't take smaller, more common creatures like sparrows, or can't handle larger or more exotic animals like raptors and coyotes. I am fortunate that ours takes just about anything, though even we have limits; coyotes are handled only by staff who have been vaccinated; if bitten by one, the state will destroy the pups, no matter that they're not old enough to have rabies. We are understandably cautious, for their sake. Skunks and bats aren't even allowed to us; the state sees them as rabies vectors and takes no chances, even with infants that could not be infected. I find this tragic, and hope to see the laws one day change.

Bunnies come in often, but apparently have a fifty percent survival rate; believe it or not, this is equal to what it is in the wild, so if we can reach that, we're feeling pretty good. We get lots and lots of young raccoons, and I have to believe it's because they're more visible than other young animals that don't get spotted and brought in. Robins, likewise, are the most common birds brought in, due largely to how common they are. I keep my eyes open constantly for animals in distress, for those that might slip through the cracks like the little ground squirrels I rescued two years ago.

Those that make it in don't always make it. The adult goose that came in last week didn't survive, sadly. Neither did one of the sunburned raccoon babies, though the other one is still striving and healing. Some simply cannot be returned to the wild, like the gosling my wife and I brought in with a ruined leg. It had to be put down because they could not return it and could not keep it; I do not even know if there was an alternative, but I know it had a better chance with them than in the wild. More exotic animals that cannot return to the wild sometimes wind up permanent residents, depending on state laws and how well they can be healed; we have a turkey vulture and a barred owl that both think they're human, a barn owl with stunted wings, a screech owl with a bad eye, and the mother possum likely will stick around as well; her jaw is broken and it's believed she is blind in one eye.

Still, the vast majority our charges are re-introduced to the wild. They all need our help.

I handle a lot of dirty jobs. Stimulating the raccoons and squirrels and rabbits to get them to pee. Feeding them and getting scratched up, covered in poop and food. Cleaning out containers afterwards, for re-use, and doing laundry as well, as we put towels and blankets and toys in with them. There's also weeding the fawn meadow and the electric fence around it, gathering fawn and rabbit greens, fixing various enclosures (I'm pretty handy at that, and so often am put to work or take it upon myself to fix things like loose wire or netting), mopping and sweeping, bringing the animals in at the end of the night... there's always something to do. I come home worn out and banged up and thoroughly satisfied.

Now the pictures.

Not many Raccoon pictures this week. Here are some of our gruel babies; old enough to eat on their own, but not be outside permanently. They are placed outside in batches like this. But we have plenty that we still have to feed.

The trio of Minks are still incredibly cute.

Romping Baby Mink Animation

The Fawns have been moved into the meadow, where they have more freedom to roam. They have an enclosure to sleep in at night, and an electric fence turned on then to protect from coyotes and other predators.

Video: Curious Little Fawn

A few Squirrel shots, including a new arrival near the end of the day.

We have many more Birds in our aviary, and a few not; the pigeon has been released,
and I believe a few robins (it's difficult to keep track of how many we have).

Young Mourning Dove and Robin by Windthin

The Possum babies are out of the pouch, though still relying on mother for food. There are four of them, we can clearly see now.

Video: Curious Little Possum
Video: Momma Possum and Babies

The Goslings have been turned loose on the property, fenced in to keep them from wandering too far. They share that territory with Bob the rooster and his hens. They like to roam quite a bit, and follow anybody who wanders into the area, as I found out when I turned around at one point and nearly tripped over them!

Stinky and the young Screech Owl have been moved in together.
The little one isn't quite fond of the idea yet, though.

The Kestrel has also been moved into an outdoor enclosure, though it cannot fly yet.

The Great Horned Owls are doing well.

Video: Young Great Horned Owls

Two Young Great Horned Owls 1 by Windthin

Two Young Great Horned Owls 2 by Windthin

Two Young Great Horned Owls 3 by Windthin

And Bob is still definitely in charge, based on the high number of bruises and
scabs on my legs after I herded him and the hens into their coop.

Lastly, we have a visit with Hamlet, who is also outside now.
And a brief video of Vinnie, his frequent roommate in the bar.

Video: Vinnie the Ham
Video: Hello, Hamlet