Wildlife Wednesday – Successful Release

The work of a wildlife rehabber is something I know I can’t do.  Of course, it’s just plain hard work.  That part I would take on.   (Not so much the up all night feeding part . . .)  But it’s the emotional toll this work takes on the rehabber that is really rough.  Older Daughter takes on all of these babies –  too young to be without a mom.  And some don’t make it.  That’s hard enough.  Then, after investing so much of herself into the survival of each and every baby that comes to Wild Angels, the very goal is to let them go.  She works and works to keep them alive.  She works to move them slowly and carefully through each stage from arrival to release.  And in the course of doing so, she learns about each little individual.  It’s impossible to be oblivious to personality differences and cute characteristics.  It’s impossible to keep yourself from wanting desperately for each tiny furry soul to live.  Even when they’ve moved to outdoor enclosures and Older Daughter is no longer getting up in the night with them to feed and carrying them to and from work with her, there is still an attachment that is impossible to completely shed.  She watches them through the stages of learning.  And then one day – it’s time to be released.  This is such a bittersweet success.  The entire goal is to get these wildlife babies to the place where they can survive on their own.   Yet letting them go means there’s no way to know what happens to them after this. 

Older will definitely tell you that seeing them healthy and prepared for life in the wild outweighs the worry over what will happen to them as they go forward.  And of course, occasionally, one will return with a message to Older Daughter that things are going well.  Those are really nice moments.  (For example, Ms. Wobbly Raccoon has returned year after year.)

This was the year of the baby raccoon.  There were so many babies at Wild Angels that I lost track of who came in when.  But the very first babies to come to Wild Angels last Spring have now been released.  They always hang around for a while.  And there’s always food available for any alumnus that wishes to return for a meal.  These first releases of 2022 are climbing the trees and coming to the community water bowl.  They are rushing over to eat when Older dishes out food each evening.  As so many before them, these ones will slowly move on.  They will move off into the woods and all along the riverbank and find homes of their own.  Success!

 

 

 

 

 

While Older was picking blackberries, she was joined by one of the newly released.

 

 

The two opossums are not ready to be released yet.  They come out and move around in their enclosure during the evening and night.  During the day they stay in their little doghouse.

 

 

And there are still a handful of baby raccoons in Older Daughter’s house.  The youngest ones are still inside (I think that number might be 6) including the last two she received who didn’t even have their eyes open yet.  It will be a while before these two will venture out into an enclosure.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Ginny & the Fur Family]

It is so hard to let go. My baby raccoons we were feeding have moved on and others come to take their place. Older daughter must feel the loss in her heart as they are let go into a wild life and that is where they belong. To be able to survive is the work of Older daughter - she is doing the right thing for them and letting them go back to nature. I do hope they will return sometimes and let her know they are alright. Bless older in her gods work.

[Maria in FL]

The love and dedication that Older Daughter shows to these babies is nothing less than remarkable. As hard as it is to let them go, it must be so rewarding to see them out living the life they were born to live. Great job Older Daughter!

[John Bellen]

Every animal released to live its own life in the wilderness is another blessing bestowed on nature, which nature bestows right back on us.