Pink Squirrels

It is that time again; the second litters of squirrels of the year are coming in:

2009 in Numbers so far

• 24 squirrels
• 19 cottontails
• 34 opossums
• 1 beaver
• 10 raccoons
• 3 foxes
• 37 kittens/cats
• 15 puppies/dogs
• 60 birds

-------------------------

• = 203 animals

(45 died or where euthanized, 90% of those cottontails and birds)

I went through 45 lbs of KMR (yes pounds!), 10 lbs of Esbilac, 6000 mealworms, 1000 crickets, a few hundred lbs of dog and cat food, 5 lbs of bird seeds, 30 lbs of hard shelled nuts, 5 bales of hay, 200 lbs of cat litter, 200 lbs of detergant, 50 bottles of bleach, tons of other supplies such as building material, towels, blankets, stuffed animals, toys, chewies, fresh produce, fresh meat, eggs, leave alone the electricity for heating lamps, heating pads, washing and drying, heating up the formula, the water bill went through the roof..

Sometimes I wonder why we rehabbers are not getting publicly funded. After all, we do provide a service to the community. Laws prohibit the general public to possess certain wildlife in most cases, but they do not support the ones that are at the end of the line feeding those critters.

That needs to change!

Orphaned Raccoons learn how to catch Crickets

Yep, the coonie gang at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue is at it again. They are growing like weeds and are learning to fish, catch crickets, and all the fun stuff raccoons do. Once they have learned everything and are old enough, they will be released back into the wild.

For more information on orphaned raccoons or other injured or orphaned wildlife, please go to www.rainbowwildlife.com and join our pets and wildlife forum at www.petsandwildlifeforum.com To stay updated about the orphaned raccoons at the RWR, subscribe to our blog at http://rainbowwildlife.blogspot.com/

Sleeping Time at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue

The raccoons like to squeeze into the space between the fly screen and the hardware cloth and camo net and end up in the funniest positions!

Mary and Mo are 2 white winged doves that were raised and released here at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue. But they are sticking around. Mary helps me raise other little doves and watches over them on the outside once released. Most of them left, but not Mary:

How to feed an Orphaned Infant Squirrel

Warning! It is illegal in most US States to be in the possession of a wild squirrel. By law you are required to turn it over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator!

This movie is intended for those folks that are not bound by US law and want to help out a little baby that otherwise will slowly die.

For more information on orphaned squirrels, please go to www.squirrel-rescue.com, www,rainbowwildlife.com and visit our Pets and Wildlife Forum for more support and advice at www.petsandwildlifeforum.com

Have you been kissed by a Raccoon today yet?

I have! Annie is such a sweetheart:

Annie's Introduction, 6 orphaned Raccoons growing up

We have a newbie at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue! Annie is a 10 weeks old raccoon that has been living with a family in a house since she was found at the age of 1 week. She has never seen another raccoon or even was outside for long.

It is my job now to get her used to her own kind and more independent of humans, so they all can be eventually released back into the wild.



Here a couple of funny snapshots I took yesterday. This is where most of the raccoons sleep at night. It's too hot up there during the day hours:

Orphaned Raccoons learn how to fish

I added some live minnows to the pool yesterday afternoon and watched them having fun: