I have been a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for the state of Oklahoma for almost ten years. Working with orphaned and injured animals has brought us much joy as well as sadness, but the joys and satisfaction we get from saving these lives must outweigh the sad times as we continue to put our time, hearts and money into this effort.
I have no idea how many orphaned baby deer we have bottle fed and released on our 200 acres, at least 30 or more. We will have an average of 15, at any given time, who live out their lives with us and show up every morning and evening to be fed. These gentle animals have given us back so much love in return for the care given them.
Raccoons, mink, baby owls, kestrals, hawks, opossums, squirrels and fox have all come to us for aide.
We have seven permanent residents - a raccoon someone declawed then decided he wasn't the "pet" for them, two bobcats who were too young when orphaned to know how to hunt for food and have never learned; a screech owl who is blind; a red-tailed hawk with a broken wing; a coyote raised by a science teacher who would be a danger to pets and possibly children if she were released and a blue jay who wolf whistles at everyone passing by.
Our favorite full time guest is Flower, an 8 1/2 year old female skunk who thinks she is a person. Flower came to us with eyes still closed and laid in our hands trying to hold her own bottle. She has been taken to school for show and tell - and has never figured out she has a weapon of defense - or has simply never had any need for it. She is the most affectionate animal I have known who came to us wild and has never reverted to wild tendencies. We have raised and release many skunks, but they came to us older and never became people oriented.
The state of Oklahoma doesn't pay wildlife rehabilitators nor provide food for the animals, so it is definitely a money losing situation - but most of us who raise and show dogs are used to our hobbies costing us money. I am sure that as long as we are physically able to get up and feed newborns every few hours, we will continue to do so. We had an egret once with an injured leg and he required live minnows every day. Thankfully, he healed rapidly!! |
