Austin Wildlife

Here are some pictures from last weekend's visit to the Wildlife Rescue.

There wasn't much work to do because we were delayed and went there a little late in the morning. Most of the feeding and cleaning was done by then, but there were two special little babies that needed to be fed.


The baby raccoons had been found in a shed, apparently. But looks like many people just round up raccoons and drop them off here for no other reason than to get rid of them from their property! So it's quite possible that these babies were stolen while their mother was away, and she's looking for them right now. :(

Last weekend while we were there, one lady showed up with yet another perfectly healthy raccoon - she had been steadily catching them on her property and dropping them off at this rescue center. She said they were getting into her vegetable patch. The volunteer there who talked to her said that the last time she'd brought in a lactating mother raccoon. They had asked her to look for babies, but the lady didn't get back to them. If separated from their moms, these babies just die. I wish people wouldn't do this, and would just get a fence and learn to live with wildlife!


These little ones were fast asleep when they were extracted from the carrier to be fed. As soon as they woke up, they started screaming and searching frantically for the nipple! They hadn't learned to drink yet, so couldn't really suck on the nipple. So it was quite a production getting the pedialyte into their hungry little mouths. :)


There were other curious babies there too. This one kept clawing its way to the top of the crib, trying to get to us.


They are just weeks old! The ginger ones have found families already, but the black one still needs a home.


Cute, aren't they?

Austin Wildlife Rescue

We have been volunteering the past couple of weekends with the Austin Wildlife Rescue, for a couple of hours every Sunday.

When hurricane Ike hit Houston, several squirrels drowned and many more were left half dead on the streets and lawns. These were rounded up and many were sent to Austin and other cities nearby to be nursed back to health.


Several of them had already returned to Houston when we went there last weekend, but we got to feed the dozen or so that were still there. They were squirming, hungry little babies - impatient and demanding! Even after we got the milk syringe into their mouths, they wouldn't stop squirming - so in all that hurry, I could only get these partially-in-focus photographs!



Little vibrating squirrel feet, as they suck on the milk syringe on the other end!


When we went in today, all the Houston squirrels had left. I wish now, that we had gone over there earlier. But there are lots of other little creatures in need of help, so it was still very exciting.

This tiny little duck was jumpy and lonely, and after he was done wandering around, he went back into his enclosure where he cuddled up with a teddy bear!


There were a bunch of baby raccoons as well, curious little things with the softest little paws.


This little skunk was blind and deaf - he stayed in an outdoor enclosure during the day and went home with one of the girls at night. He had rough, but very beautiful hair, and was happy to be picked up and held.


When we went in today, there were a few new additions - a baby chicken, which couldn't stand being alone! He would follow everyone around and stay very close to people. Can't imagine how factory farms have the heart to torture these adorable and friendly little things!

There were three tiny kittens today too - only a couple of weeks old. They had been left outside the rescue center in a box - no mom in sight. They were so tiny! They chewed on my hand incessantly, but barely had teeth so it just tickled. We fed them milk through miniature bottles. I forgot my camera today, so didn't get any pictures of these, or the injured hawk and pigeon that also arrived.

This is so much fun. Now I look forward to Sundays for a whole new reason!