So much happened this week! I feel much more confident with my 8 skunks, and their personalities and playful behaviors are a delight. Two groups of opossums I've had since they were tiny got released on two beautiful and safe properties, away from dogs, cars and humans. I am now down to 28 opossums! 3 baby bunnies arrived as well as 6 bats. Not all the bats survived, they are so delicate the first weeks of their lives, and they often arrive already debilitated from being without Mom, or from injury. I do my best to help everyone, but so much is out of my control.
Bird update
All 3 birds, the Starling, Tufted Titmouse, and what turned out to be an Acadian Flycatcher all went to our friends at Wild Nest Bird Rehab. To give you an idea of how many birds they have taken in this year, the Titmouse was #709.
Thank you to the Besse’s for a fresh new bird cage for any other birds that come in.
I don’t plan on taking in any more birds this season! But since I hold a Migratory Bird Permit, I am ready to lend a hand and a cage when the need arises.
Opossum update
The opossums are all growing up and moving from their double-decker Critter Nation cages to my 5 pre-release cages. In the pre-release caging I interact much less with them and make it harder to find food- it’s not served on a plate anymore! They have TONS of enrichment from rope ladders and large logs to climb, to running wheels made for bigger opossums. Thank you to everyone who has made a cash donation, especially to Rick and Shannon Waters, whose donation purchased new large running wheels for juvenile and adult opossums. This year I was able to convert all my rag-tag caging to double decker Critter Nations. This allows me to interchange parts, provide consistency and familiarity for the opossums, and they come with a warranty!
The skunklings
The skunks sure love to eat and there is a feeding frenzy at each meal. They are having fun in their play yard, donated by Jackie of Lucky’s Legacy. I add new tunnels, things to climb, and logs to dig in every day. They like to play with vat toys, too. Thank you Sarah Chattin for their snuffle mat and puzzles.
They use a litter box for toileting- thank you Claire Wilson for the bag of kitty litter! Their playpens are lined with pee pads- thank you donor of the pee pads- a giant box of them. Lauren DeLuca also sent pee pads and cleaning items. Mary McCart-Perez donated a handheld rechargeable vacuum to clean up their messes.
Once they are a little bigger they will move to a special skunk enclosure filled with dirt, tunnels-thank you to the Besse’s for their new fun tunnel- and hollow logs to hide in and dig at as they learn to use their claws.
The bunnies
These three bunnies were orphaned and their nest destroyed but Michelle Ferguson and Shawn Kennedy saved them. They are little enough that tube feeding them is the easiest way to make sure they are getting enough milk at each feeding.
The bats
With the exception of one days-old Evening bat, all my other intakes have been Big Brown bats of varying ages. The unflighted juveniles are the easiest to care for. They are all still on milk replacer but have started lapping mealworm viscera. When their teeth get sharper and their jaw muscle stronger, they will start eating whole mealworms.
It can be hard to tell the difference between them when I am feeding, but I can tell who has been fed by the size of their bellies and the visual presence of milk- they are still a little translucent.
The opossums
Frida- aka Frito, is still the most adorable little baby. She has moved in with Paralyzed Girl. Paralyzed Girl can now walk, climb, and use the running wheel! She will likely be non-releasable and I am working to find a placement for her. She lost the use of her hind legs for 6 weeks after being injured by a metal running wheel. I am so proud of how far she has come! She is still very small for her size so she makes a good cage mate for Frida, and neither are lonely anymore.
Everyone else remains adorable and personable as they grow.
Each year I release a set of opossums on a peaceful and lush piece of land bordering the Oconee river. This spot has large, protective boulders, trees to climb, a creek to drink from, and plenty of food.
They immediately started exploring the area right around the carriers then wandered off into the forest.
Another release was a bit challenging- they didn’t want to come out of their nest box and bit me every time I reached in! We were able to tempt them out with apples. This spot is along the Hudson river and is full of large old trees and dense underbrush. Many animals make their homes there.
Such beautiful faces and coats!
To cap this week’s post off, here are some fun videos of Frida, the skunks, and a lazy group of older juveniles.