Wild Neighbors

New Year's Eve day...

invited to see some animals.

 

I volunteered at a wildlife center pre-kiddos.

My dad...still helps the center out a lot!

 

So, knowing who we know...

dad and one of the directors...

gave the girls and I a private tour!

 

I was allowed to go into the squirrel pen to get some shots...

waiting for those cuties to come jump on me...

just got a lotta peeks though.

Walked on over to raccoon village.

 

All these pens will each house 20 some raccons come spring.

And WOW!  Raccoons need FUN, so lotsa kid toys, hammocks, buckets...

you name it, they play with it all!

My fav part of volunteering...

going in these pens to feed all the raccoons.

They all come out...

paws in your hair...

will pick pocket you...

grab anything that isn't nailed down to you.

And oh, so darn funny!

 

 

The girls and I were allowed to go into a room and peek at some great horned owls.

Yep, peeking right through slats in a wooden door.

 

Went on into the animal hospital.

Keeping warm for the winter...

educational opossum Virginia.

Someone tried to raise her...

she didn't get the right food and care...

not enough calcium, so all of her lil bones...

not good at all.

And notice her sweet eyes?

Result of it all...

sadness that humans can do.

Cute hit-by-car turtle.

Once his shell is ready to go, he'll be released!

Told the director that Emily just got her first sewing machine...

so now my sweet girl...

gonna start sewing little bags/hammocks for squirrels to snuggle into!

She's so excited to help out!

Posing with a few...

gonna use cuddly fabrics, flannel lined jeans, sweatshirts...

oh how the center goes through these...

especially in the spring  AKA baby season!

 

Back outside to visit some ducks, raccoons, a snoozing skunk and this guy...

Spirit.

She's still a bit shy...

so heard her...

like a low kitty purr!

 

Visited some AMAZING birds,

but layers of fencing kept me from any shots...

and the fact that they stress easily.

Barred owl...

turkey vulture that had a prosthetic beak...

due to naughty boys with b.b. guns and hard fists and boots.

My favorite...

a barn own (endangered) who's eyesight is pretty bad..

and lotsa neurological gunk going on due to firecrackers.

 

While we were peeking at the birds...

look who came right up!

Notice her ear...or lack of?

Staples...lots of them...helping it all heal.

 

Pretty neat to visit such amazing animals.

My Laney....said all the animals had sad stories.

Yep, sure do,

but also lots of people who volunteer time, money, supplies...

  help get these animals healed and back into the wild.

 

Can't wait to get out there after baby season...

that place will be packed...

animals with sad stories, ready to start new lives.

 

Thanks to my dad for organizing our visit.

Off to help my gal sew some squirrel beds...

baby season will be here before we know it!