Thursday, May 30, 2013

Turtle

My hubby is once  again faced with a big C scare.  I was out on my daily hike, feeling scared and alone.  Trying so hard to be strong for him and the boys.  I was feeling down, but the longer I was in the woods, the better I felt.  I ran into an old friend.  A wood turtle I've known for many years.  Here  is a message from Hub Pages on turtle symbolism.  

According to Bobby Lake-Thom, author of Spirits of the Earth, turtles are a positive sign. They have good power.  For many Native American cultures, the turtle and what it represents are sacred. Healing and good health are said to be hallmark powers of this animal. Just as this creature can live a long life, it can also be a symbol of long life and even a good bit of wisdom.  This animal's symbolism is one of protection – it has a sturdy shell that into which it can retreat for its own protection. If a turtle appears when you or a family member is sick, you can assume that healing is on its way, possibly also allowing the person to live a long life. The person should send up lots of prayers to help speed up healing.  


I really like this, it is a message I needed!

We went to Letchworth State Park last weekend, and had the best time with our friends.  I never tire of that park.  It was cold but beautiful.  I will be booking next year as well. 


Friday, May 10, 2013

Blessed!

The silent Spring here in the North East has ended.  With the much needed rain storms the neotropical migrants have once again arrived!  Visited both parks, and they were filled with bird song.  I felt so free and at peace.  I'm finding myself again......

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Great Wildlife Posters









Once again.....

Once again I'm going to attempt to stay off all social media.  I have to go cold turkey because other wise I'm never going to get myself and my life in order. I've been promising myself this for so long, and have not been able to do anything that I wanted to.  I need to get moving on my own personal *Biggest Loser* challenge, eat strict Paleo.  I need to get my fitness back, by lifting weights and trail running.   I need to stop absorbing other peoples pain.  I need to stop worrying and trying to fix the condition of the earth and it's creatures.  It's time to JUST BE IN THE MOMENT.  Take each precious day as it comes, and do the best I can with it.  News and Social media is sucking the life out of me.  So much of it is depressing that it distracts me from my own life.  Time to turn off and turn in! I won't be blogging until my trip out west.  I plan on keeping notes and taking pictures and will write in here after it's over.  And my quest begins again! 


Latest Letter to the Editor


Once again Spring is upon us.  As we all venture out into nature to enjoy the beautiful weather, human encounters with baby wild animals and fledged baby birds sharply increases, as do the phone calls to myself and my fellow wildlife rehabilitators.  Although most people only mean well, our local wildlife rarely needs human intervention.  Baby animals seem helpless, and are so adorable that they elicit  parental instinct for us to try and protect them.  It is unfair to them and their parents to inadvertently kidnap them.  Their chances of leading a normal life in the wild (if they live) after human intervention, decreases dramatically.  Before you *save* a baby animal or bird, watch it from a distance to see if it really needs your help.

The newborn fawn that is sleeping peacefully in your garden or on your lawn in not abandoned. Until he finds his legs over the next week or ten days, he is intentionally parked there by his mom. She has determined  that your garden is a safe spot for her precious offspring.  Lying motionless, scentless, and with dappled camouflaging fur, the fawn remains undetected by potential predators.    Under the cover of darkness, his mom returns several times each night to feed him.  She will also encourage him to follow her short distances so that he begins to builds his strength.  He will be moved to another location in your yard or your neighbors each night, please share this information with them, so they will leave him be as well.  Before you mow your lawn, check the grass for sleeping fawns.  If you do accidentally disturb one, chances are Mom is just out of sight and knows exactly where her baby is, give her a chance to get back to him. 

If you disturb a nest of baby squirrel by cutting down a tree or removing the nest from a location in or near your house, most mother squirrels if given enough time, will come and retrieve their babies.  Mom always has another nest location ready and waiting, just in case.  She needs you to put the babies near the original location where she can get to them, and then leave her alone to do her job.  She doesn't care if her babies have been touched by human hands,  in fact no species of mammal or birds cares, it is a  myth that animals are affected by smelling a human on their young, their motherly instinct completely overrides your scent. 

Mother Cottontail Rabbit only feeds her liter two times each day, at dawn and dusk.  She stays in the nest for only a few moments, so not to attract predators.  Rabbit nests can be anywhere in your yard or garden. The nest is usually located in a small dug out depression in  dirt. It lined with fur and covered with grass. If you or your pet accidentally disturb a nest, fix it up and put the babies back in it.  Mom will be back at dusk to feed her young.  Bunnies mature quickly, and are out and on their own by 4 weeks of age. They are still very small, but completely capable of caring for themselves.  Monitor your dogs and keep your cats inside as they mature.   Cat bites to baby bunnies are usually fatal.  Bunnies do the worst of all mammals we take in to rehab, we lose more then half of them.  It is heartbreaking for a rehabber to put so much time and energy into rearing them, only to have them die suddenly. 

Fledgling baby birds are suppose to be out of the nest. They are covered with feathers, have short tails, and can hop and fly short distances.  Over the course of days to more then a week they hop on the ground and in the bushes as they learn to fly and forage for their own food.  Although you might not see them, Mom and dad are near by, still feeding them multiple times each day.  This is the most critical learning time of their lives, and they need us and our pets to stay away from them as they learn to survive on their own.  If you find a baby bird with no feathers, see if you can locate the nest and put the baby back.  Mom and Dad are always the best choice to raise and teach their baby to become a wild bird. 

On a final note, if you happen upon a turtle crossing the road on it's way to its annual nesting area,  please give it a break, and only if you can do so safely, move it across the road in the direction it is traveling.   Please don't take the turtle home or move it to another location that you feel might be a better habitat.  Turtles live for decades and know their home territories intimately.  Moving them to another location most often results in death, as they will try to find their way back to their home territory.  If you find a turtle that has been hit and killed, let me know, and I can see if we can't save it's eggs and at least give the next generation a chance.

I thank you all for caring so deeply about our local wildlife.  If you have any questions or truly do need to find a NYS Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, please don't hesitate to call me, I will help you in any way I can. 



Wednesday, May 1, 2013