Wildlife Rescue

Wildlife Rescue (Feb. 23/Day 2): A Friendly Goose and a Blind Raccoon

Weather: a cool 33 degrees. Ice/snow/sleet in forecast.

I am not a cold weather person. If it is below 70 out, I need a sweater. But my drive and determination to earn the respect of Gerda and other volunteers at Wildlife Rescue out weighs frostbitten fingers and a runny nose. Having been there once before I knew what needed to be done and was more than ready to get moving.

The duck, goose, rabbit, pigeon and chicken area outside seems to be where I will start my days here. Frozen water hose and a trash bag in hand I pass the porcupine and wave as I enter the mini aviary/ rabbit house.

Immediately I am greeted by Matilda, my new best friend, a gray goose. She is extremely excited I have come in to see her and the other 40 plus feathered friends. I dump ponds of frozen water, fill bowls of chicken scratch, corn, rabbit food and goose pellets. All the while, a very vocal, chubby goose waddles behind me. With a few minutes to spare when I am refilling the ponds, I take the time to get to know Matilda. At first she nipped at my arms and fingers…then she kinda tried to get in my lap as I was squatted down…and the more I pet her the more she tried to mount me.

Getting her drift we quickly parted ways. She got the jest and later repaid me by literally grabbing the water hose out of the pond and seemed to aim it at me. I guess I will find out where our relationship stands when I drop by later this week. May I add, geese have some wicked toenails.

Next stop the raccoon room. I am not allowed to handle them yet, but I cant help but pass blueberries through the cage wires. There is a blind old man there who was hit by a car. I am in love with this guy. I watched him as he felt around his cage, falling every so often. I then noticed that he had defecated on a blanket and within minutes had begun to feel the poop with his curious little hands. Not understanding what he was touching he then smelled it. I suppose it didn’t smell good because he then waved his hands and accidentally wiped some on his nose. Of course I laughed and then gave him a blueberry for his troubles.

In a small crate that you would put your terrier in when riding in the car, was a red-tailed hawk with a broken pelvis. His legs bent drastically out before him. I spied him eating a mouse that was put in his carrier. You have to admire the will for survival with these creatures. You want them to fight. You want them to want to eat and eat well. Fighting and eating a great signs that this one will make it back into the wild.

I helped feed an owl!! A great horned owl. I held his feet while he was fed mice. He has one eye and that one seems to not function. Having an owl 2 inches from your face is amazing. Truly a sight, if this is your type thing of course. Otherwise it is just a bird.

I heard an excellent story about an African Grey parrot while I was there. He is a bird that Gerda has had for about 10 years. He was found in the city by animal control who was called out there to inspect foul odors from a home. In the house there were tons of pets. The only 2 who survived were the African Grey, George, and another little bird with one leg. They had no food or water. They lived off the maggots from the other dead bodies. Nice eh? Hooray for humans.

George can tell you he loves you, he can burp and best of all he farts. He is the coolest kid on his block! Did I mention he is naked? Except his wings and a little on his head. Yea, George lets is all hang out!

Hopefully next week I can touch the coons. I just received my rabies titers and I am safe.

Update on the red fox with the leg trap wounds…the infection spread and he was euthanized. Hunting was necessary when we didn’t have a Piggly Wiggly to pick up a few pounds of angus beef. Now you’re just making up for your small penis and lousy marriage. Did I ever mention the story of the woman who had 2 dogs and was walking in the woods with them when her one got snagged in a leg trap? She was so distraught she didn’t want to leave her there but she didn’t want to watch her suffer and die. She went to get help. But it was too late.

Do me a favor, if you have a dog, look at him right now. If you hunt with leg traps, look at him again, and if you have kids, look at them. Is it worth it? God forbid one is forgotten and later found by your 12 year old. No worries, if I can help it they will be outlawed in Maryland.