So When Did You Become Dr. Doolittle?

 

One Beautiful Owl

I learned this afternoon that I need to do a little bit of explaining when I say I have been feeding and caring for a dozen varieties of birds, small and large opossums, ground hogs, raccoons, coyotes, squirrels, geese, ducks, turtles and several other miscellaneous animals this summer.  A neighbor I seldom talk to was under the impression I was doing all of that in my backyard!  I know I had mentioned I was volunteering at the Fox Valley Wildlife Center this summer but I guess she didn't hear that part.  We were talking about her need to have someone watch her dogs and I was simply pointing out I was already feeding neighbor's cats, turtle and fish this weekend and was capable of handling a whole variety of animals including my own cats' strange eating patterns and need for an asthma inhaler.  Pretty certain she isn't going to be calling me.  I can just hear it, "That woman is crazier than I ever thought she was!"



Baby Oppossum

She isn't the first person I have told about my volunteer job that has thought it a peculiar thing to do.  I never really gave it a thought that anyone would think it unusual to help an animal in distress from being injured or orphaned.  Some people are particularly uncomfortable with the help we provide coyotes.  I don't judge them!  The people or the coyotes.  Most people have been supportive and very interested in what I have been up to.  One friend simply inquired, "When did you become Dr. Doolittle?",  after seeing some of my pictures.  Clever guy! There has been so much to learn, although as a volunteer, all the really cool fun stuff is left for the staff and interns to do. My definition of cool and fun may differ from what a normal person may consider cool and fun in this situation!  I have  had a great time hand feeding the babies with syringes, tubes and droppers. We are not supposed to have much eye contact with them and are not supposed to coo and talk in an attempt to prevent them from imprinting on humans.  If they become too attached to people they will not adapt to their release back into the wild.  When a baby raccoon is looking you in the eye and using one of their many cute voices it is extremely difficult to ignore.  You kind of want to bring them home but then you clean the cages and decide they stink much more than your high school football player did after doubles on a very hot day ever did. You don't smuggle out the raccoon and the smell stays in your nose for 12 hours....really, it does!  I did an informal survey and everyone agreed.




Your cage is stinky but you are cute!