March 27 to April 2- intakes and phone calls

By Suzie Degrasse

It's been a fairly busy week between updates on current residents, new baby opossums, and some fun phone calls

Miss Fox

Miss Fox is with Lori Morgan, an experienced rabies vector species (fox, skunk, raccoon, bobcat) rehabilitator in Gray , Georgia.

My foxy friend and I made the two hour trek to middle Georgia last Sunday.

She needed another verification that she was non-releasable. While not tame, she is certainly habituated and was likely hand raised,

The Special Permits department of the Department of Natural Resources will check the list of facilities needing foxes and will let me know where she can go and what else needs to be done to prepare her for a new job.

I wouldn’t be able to provide this boarding and expert care without the generous donors!

Big Round Bunnies

All 5 bunnies are big fluff balls out in their pre-release structure.

Last winter I placed their pre-release cage on top of soil where grass, clover and violet leaves were already growing. Over time they grew through the base of the wire cage.

I moved the bunnies habitat into there, stocked it with more delicious greens, and covered it with a light cloth to minimize visual stress.

They appreciate the extra space to roam and lounge.

Once they’ve been out there a week and gotten accustomed to the smells, sounds and temperature, I can open the little door and off they go!

Newest Baby Opossums

On top of the 15 tinies I have, I received 3 more 60 gram opossums, about 8 weeks old. They lost their Mom when she was hit by a car but the finders did everything right. The next morning Destiny and Josh brought them to me in a terrible rainstorm! They are thriving and finally feel safe enough to explore their incubator.

Neonate Armadillo

While the truth of how this baby armadillo appeared is murky, what was evident was that he sustained physical injury and dehydration before coming to me.

He was so young, he still had a visible umbilical stump.

Yes, they are mammals! There are 3 other identical brothers out there. I hope they are ok.

Sadly, his injuries were more than his tiny body could handle and he died.

And now for a few of the interesting calls!

Kennel Bat

This bat, likely a Big brown, was determined that the wall of a dog kennel was a great napping spot.

I instructed the caller how to encourage him on a towel and then hang the towel on the branch of a near tree so he could climb on to the bark and fly away that night.

Fly away he did, right back to that same kennel! When they called back I told them to repeat the actions of the day prior- but this time, politely ask the bat not to come back.

I swear it works. I haven’t heard back from the finder so I suppose it did!

Orphaned eggs

Can you rehab eggs?

That was one call I received. The family cat had killed the parent- which looked like a Carolina wren in the photo, and left behind a nest of eggs, with one broken.

Another similar looking adult had been killed the week prior.

Sadly, I know of few rehabbers who will try to raise eggs.

Tiny Loner

This story is still in progress.

This little one was found alone with no Mom is sight.

At this age they are riding on her back and sometimes they fall off. Mom is moving quickly and its the baby’s job to hold on! If she gets startled they may be shaken loose.

This baby is currently in a nice warm bed on fleece and has been offered a little diluted yogurt to tide him over.

We hope a veterinary service in a town 45 minutes from them can take him. Otherwise we need to figure how to get him from Augusta, Georgia to me in Ila.

It’s a 90 minute drive one way.

Some other phone calls I received

Injured Hawk

Hunters who found a hawk with an injured wing while out in the woods reached out for help from the DNR, local animal control, and Facebook. They were, however, unable to transport it anywhere. I don’t know it’s fate.

Goose acting oddly

A goose was seen hanging around a suburban area, just walking around and not flying off. The caller did some more research and realized there was a nest near by the goose was guarding.

I’d like to adopt a racoon, please

I also received calls from people wanting to adopt a raccoon.

Babies too far away to help

I heard from someone who is determined to raise opossums on her own, although she seems very skilled and has no way to easily transport them the 2 hour drive to me.

Bunnies in good hands

I heard from a lady doing a great job with 3 bunnies. Normally I’d take them into care but the stress of leaving her, then a car ride, and into a new environment would cause them more stress than their little bodies could handle. They are doing well with her and is doing everything right and consulting with me.

Sometimes we have to choose what is best for the animal, not what is “right”.