Adventures of Another Kind

I said I'd occasionally break to add tales of our month long honeymoon in New Zealand and Australia where we had many many many adventures in nature. We marveled when driving through the 2 islands that are NZ how fantastical the landscape was. It's not that Lord of the Rings was filmed there and so it now looks that way to me -- the movie was filmed there because the place holds a kind of magic everywhere you look. I almost felt like I saw faeries in the forests and gargoyles in the rocky desert mountains.

Here's a perfect example:
We were driving along in an area so lush and green crayola crayons super pack doesn't even make the color, and we saw three miniature horses. Maybe this is a known breed, but I've never seen anything like it before.

I was fully prepared to witness little hobbits pop out from under some mushrooms, jump on their back and ride away.

Confidential

I have been posting something on one of my 3 blogs daily through the summer and am so glad to have readers! It's such a great motivation. I've slacked a little as this week has been busy -- and every spare moment I'd spent blogging has been devoted to nursing the oprhaned squirrels instead. They need the time now, and it will be short term. Plus it's something I may never get to experience again.

You see, I have a little secret: apparently my biology is not well suited for this solar system. I'm terribly allergic to almost everything! That includes almost every cuddly animal, many plants, some foods (one fatally), and much of what travels in the air. Yet as you can see, I am a huge animal lover and this has been a cross to bear in this life.

Suddenly I seem to be able to be with animals and you're reading about it all right here. Maybe if I was able to have a dog or a cat (or, more likely, 2, 4 or 100) at home, I would never have gotten as involved with such exotics or in such unusual ways as I have. But I figure something about being in The Park, being at The Zoo has allowed me to at least get by. I assume it's the open air. Whatever it is, I don't know if it will last, but I'm feeling the abundance and very grateful.

It dawned on me after another night of feeding baby squirrels... I don't seem to be suffering any repercussions of being in an enclosed space with them for 5-8 hours straight, getting little scratches by them or holding them near my face and neck. Normally I would pay for for hours or a few days. My eyes don't stream with tears, swell up or become red, I am not wheezing or covered in hives or headed to the ER.

For those of you who have animals at home, can you imagine not being able to pet them, or be inside anywhere with them, let alone sleep with them, or have them on your lap or even at your feet??? I can actually put my cheek to the soft, warm, furry bodies and not break out in welts or struggle to breathe. I tell you it's heaven! I'm beyond overjoyed!

It Started as a Harmless Walk in the Park

Hopefully this little video will tell you why I was so interested in squirrels in the first place. 

When I first walked in our park, I was astonished that these wild critters could be coaxed to take nuts from my hand. And I marveled at how gentle they were in doing it. We all know squirrels are crazed bundles of energy, and if they skittishly approach, you figure they'll bite your finger off. But these approached gingerly, taking a moment to nose what I've got, and then very very lightly removed it from my fingers with their mouth (no teeth involved). Often they put a trusting padded paw on my finger to hoist themselves up (no claws involved), then skampered up a tree to sit on a limb and munch, flipping the morsel around in their hands until it was all gone. Their head would pop up, they'd eye me, and come back for more. 

Yesterday after working 7AM-12:30PM at the Zoo as a Keeper Aid in the tiger house, I drove straight to the Wildlife Rehab Center and fed squirrel babies til 4:00PM. The first job is like an exotic version of Cinderella, the second, pure joy. Both are exhilarating, but also quite tiring.

So, near sunset, with temperatures pleasant, I decided to take a walk in the park looking for tranquility and rejuvenation.  Now that I know more about squirrels, I saw those in the park with new eyes. I could tell the difference between Red/Fox's and Grays and could see some females were pregnant or nursing. You think squirrels are small, but when you've been handling their babies for a while, the adults seem big by comparison.

Anyway, I was in a tree grove when a chubby Red came up to me. How did he know I had a bag of almonds in my pocket?  While it you'd think I'd had my fill of feedings for the day, I found myself sitting down on the kiddie train tracks to give him something. Utter pandemonium ensued. Amazingly, I got it all on tape. 

***As a side note, motivated by vanity, I confess there are few things that reveal the fragility of one's sense of self more than listening to your own voice recorded. This seems universal, as I know many people who've heard their themselves and gasped, "Do I really sound like THAT?" I realize you'll be hearing my commentary all through it and for those of you who don't know me from Adam, I can't imagine what you'll think of me. I may need those who do know me well to vouch for the fact that just a short two years ago I was a very sophisticated career girl. Motivated by artistry, I'd say it only adds to the circus you're about to see. ***

Please, press play...

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Squirrel Mania!

Made you smile, didn't it? This is not a professional actor and this pic was not posed! She was doing this all on her own and I happened to have my camera in hand.

She's a red squirrel, which is easy to tell by the reddish fur on her belly and the underside of her little legs and arms. I've heard reds also called Fox Squirrels. I guess they vary in color from red to black to gray depending on the part of the country they're from.

Here is one of the two black Fox babies I fed.

With their square heads and noses they look like newborn black lab puppies to me.

Guess the more common squirrel in this area are called Grays. That would explain why 99% of the close to 1000 orphans at the Wildlife Rehab are Grays. These Foxes are a rare treat.

The Fox babies are fuzzier on their heads, and when you hold them you can tell their fur is thicker and softer. Grays have white undersides and when mature their hairs are tipped in a grayish color.

In the wild adults feed twice a day --mornings and early evenings -- are quiet in midday. I think they turn in early, as when I walk the park where they are abundant I never see any if it's nearing sunset. Anyone who's watched a squirrel for long knows how these high energy critters are a source of endless amusement.

They build nests high in the tree branches or den inside hollow trees. Once I learned that I began craning my neck as far back as I could, squinting at the oak branches and sure enough, here and there I could see decent sized hammocks made of leaves, bark and grass.

They mate in spring and fall and the babies take 40-45 days to gestate. Usually 2 or 4 babies are born --naked, blind and helpless. They stay in the nest, nursing for about 6 weeks, during which time their eyes open and their teeth develop enough to try solid food. They stay with the family for about a month learning to forage and are almost full adults by 6 months. By 12 months they're having babies of their own.

I think we need to have a caption contest for that first picture. Care to try your hand in the comments?

Beyond Adorable!

Since my post from 9/18 found here about helping feed  700 + orphaned baby squirrels, I have not been able to stop thinking about them!!!  There are just so many mouths and I knew volunteers would have to get back to work this week. There are only so many staff at the wildlife rehab center and they are exhausted.  Yet the babies still need to be fed several times a day for the next two months before being eased back into the wild!

So, I've been going in as often as I can. The hours fly by and it's nearly impossible to tear myself away.  Others say they feel the same. Today I got through breakfast with all the tiniest babies in the incubators then did all the ones in ICU and did a second round with them all before I had to go.  The older ones are easier to feed as they have their eyes open, know what to do and have the motor skills to do it.  They're also robust and don't need all the tender prodding and patient attention that the weaker ones do.  Yet the latter need the help so badly, I gravitate to them if I have a choice.  

It's terribly akward to keep a syringe in the mouth of a wiggly critter while controlling the plunger so it only dispenses a drop of milk at a time. To add taking movies of yourself with a digital still camera is insane, as my attractively craned neck attests. I wish I weren't in this but I can at least capture some of the experience this way... 

Below is the same little fella, sitting in my hand, relaxed and happy after eating his fill.  (there's sound with this one)

Can you see why I go back for more of that?  

About 699 more, lol....

___________________________________________________________________

ADDITION:  Someone suggested I post info in case anyone would like to make a donation.  Great idea, thanks!  I know they're a new center and going into debt over this and would welcome any amount, even $5!

You can send a check to:
Wildlife Rehab and Education
7007 Katy Road 
Houston, TX 77024

713-861-9453

Their website -- http://wrande.org -- has a pay pal link but apparently it only works right now if you use Internet Explorer. Click on "What Can I do to Help". It leads to cash donations. Find in the paragraph where it says something like "Adopt an Ambassador click here" and it should take you to PayPal. You should get a thank you note for small sums and tax deductible letter for $25 or more.

And Now for A Moment of Levity

I took this on a walk before Hurricane Ike hit, but you can hear the wind had kicked up and see it whipping the water....  The best part is seeing their feet paddling to keep them in position.  

 sorry the color isn't so great... I'll get better on this.

A Dim Bulb Perhaps, But a Gentleman

I mentioned here that Nutrias, while actually a rodent, were endearing and that I was going to prove it. Here I present my third installment to make my case. I am certain this will seal the deal with you, dear reader.  And if not, I hope it at least amuses you.

Notice the attractive orange teeth, that give the impression the guy is squinting even when he's not. The fact that they can't find the food when it's dropped RIGHT ON THEIR OWN HAND, centimeters from their mouth is why I think they either can't see well or are not so bright or both.

Now doesn't that kinda make you have a soft spot for him?

I have had a dear old friend who in the comments in the last nutria post suggested I name him Baxter.  Done!  I think it's quite perfect don't you?  Now there are several Nutrias in the little lake I visit -- about 4-5 grown ups and at least 2-6 young ones.  In the case I can always refer to them as "the Baxters" which I think works wonderfully well. 

Mother's Day

 *you can double click this picture to see the little fella much bigger and it's worth it* 

I now know there was a reason I canceled my trip to New York. I was scheduled to fly out this morning. I just didn't feel like leaving home so soon and for almost a week after such a major disaster. Though I usually get energized and restored in NYC, when I walked through all I had planned there in my mind, it just didn't sit right.

I rose at 7 AM thinking I had the luxury of the entire day free and the list of  things to catch up on was long. I sat down at the computer to put a dent in all the e-mails asking if we were OK and was looking forward to putting the house back into shape. But the first thing I saw an urgent message saying that the Wildlife Rehab and Education Center had seven hundred baby squirrels who needed nursing.  That's right -- 700! 

Squirrels have their broods in both fall and spring but their nice cozy nests sit high in the tree tops. Hurricane Ike ravaged those, flinging babies far and wide. I don't know if the parents lived or lost them or were too traumatized but people started to bring the babies in from all corners (along with a stray pelican, turtles, raptors, a baby duck, a few possums and an egret with a broken wing... so far). The WR&E expects another 2-300 more before the weekend ends.  They range in age from a day or so old up to 6-8 weeks and all of them need to be fed antibiotics and warm milk formula by droppers 4 times a day. There were about 2 dozen in intensive care and many more, like the little weenie below, were in incubators.

I raced over there and worked from 8 AM til almost 4 PM then went home briefly and returned with my husband to help til 8:30 tonight. The babies were all adorable. Each had different temperaments which they displayed in their eating styles. Some were fussy, some ravenous, some curious in-between sips, some wiggly and full of life, some vulnerable and shaking. Some held onto the syringe with their little claw paws, some looked me right in the eyes and several got sleepy as their tummies filled up, their lids growing heavy as their suckling slowed to a stop. With each CC that went down a little throat, there was the truly satisfying feeling that we were one step closer to saving that precious life. It was indeed a day well spent.

Here's one little cutie who I wanted to take home.  There were so many to feed I didn't feel I had the luxury of cuddling and comforting them much. But I hung onto this little girl who curled up in my pink washcloth against my chest as long as I could.

I've enormous respect for the people who run these organizations. They themselves have just gone through this hurricane and are putting in 12, 16, 18 hour days, only to get home after an hours drive to feed their own horses, ducks, goats, cats and dogs, fall into bed, get up in 5 hours and drive back in to do it all again... when gas is scarce to boot. And most still don't have power once they get home. No fridge, no lights! No complaints though either.

Imagine: 700-1000 helpless babies x four feedings for at least 2 months every day before the oldest among them can be reintroduced to the wild!!  These folks all do it all out of a sense of responsibility for the helpless and sheer love.

They all deserve a medal.

I'm in Love!

Again. Used to be with Jonathan, the Zoo's very handsome lion, and though I'm still sweet on him, for the last 8 months or so I've been charmed away by the big, tall male giraffe. I've a huge crush on him and it seems like my affections are returned. In fact, I've been positively encouraged by him, I'm convinced of it. He pays me a lot of attention when I'm on the sidewalk, bats his huge brown eyes at me, and follows me until he can't see anymore (and at his height, that's a long way). Though in reality he's probably interested in a lot of folks, I'm in denial and am quite sure WE have a special relationship. Today was further proof of it.

The zoo was in dire need of help after the hurricane, so I went to pitch in for a few hours. There is just so much to do at home and so many others to help, but I'd been especially worried about the giraffes at 3 and 4 am when that storm was RAGING, wondering how they were getting through it. Their only shelter is a tall but narrow wooden house -- all they really need most of the time. But with 100 MPH winds, I could not imagine how they'd fare. I was so glad to see all five of them were there, with no injuries, happily watching their crew of humans tidying up their back yard.
I ended up helping rake and clear their habitat since I couldn't find anyone in carnivores. It did my heart good to be near them. Once I got close enough, my new boyfriend put his big face down to mine and got nose to nose with me. He stayed there breathing through his soft nostrils. His keeper, thinking I might be unnerved, said he might just want to smell me but I knew different.

He licked me and kept his face there for so long I felt forced to tear myself away so I would not look like I was slacking. I moved along, but he kept finding me. He's irresistible! I had to pet his face and coo to him. Around the fifth time I finally risked being totally unprofessional and whipped out my camera, handed it to someone and asked for a quick shot. I knew it would be a once in a lifetime pic. And this is what they got.He's pressing into my cheek and knocking my glasses askew, but clearly he loves me... for who I am, not how I look on clean up day! And I love him!

Fuzzy Thoughts Post-Ike

I've been trying to compose something with pictures about Thursday, my first day back as a Carnivore Keeper Aid but the truth is, after Ike I'm just not that witty or even very articulate. Please forgive poor grammar til my head gets clearer.

I know people have been worried about how the animals fared. I am too. They gave us an emergency website and phone number for updates but the phone has been on a fast busy for two days. The last post on the site was on Friday at 9:45 PM, saying the zoo was now locked with a ride out crew inside, with plenty of food and supplies for the animals and their people for several days.

I'm a four minute drive from the zoo and it was killing me to not be able to help the morning after. But I totally understand. In emergencies, volunteers must abide by the same rules as the general public, which is to steer clear and let the staff do their jobs. Husband and I did drive around it to see what we could see. There was a city crew working on a giant oak that had crashed through of the two entry gates and saw at least one side gate was destroyed. I don't know what the inside looks like but it was a mess on the outside. But the entire city looks like that.

On Thursday I got to help with hurricane prep for the cats and maned wolves. I'm certain the animals are fine if their safety is to be judged by the quality of the staff who stayed and the high level of care and concern on the part of the zoo execs themselves. They're impressive and their priorities are in the right place. I'm completely proud to be a tiny part of it.

As I mentioned on my other blog at 4 AM when we were getting the worst of it, I was thinking about the giraffes, wondering how they were possibly handling that wind. Can't imagine they could stand up through it, especially the babies. Their center of gravity is too high to not be knocked over. On our drive I was surprised to see that the tall wooden giraffe house looked fine, though there were several trees broken in half over the roof and on either side. Maybe they just got inside, actually curled up and sat up on the ground and the keeper closed the doors. If I remember right there are two separate "rooms" with a small keeper office in-between. What I don't know is if the keeper could stay with them but I'm sure she wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Do you mildly sedate some animals for their own safety?

I also wondered about the cats -- I knew they'd be safe, but can you picture what it was like to be the one or two keepers in there with so many wild animal who at their very core are deeply in sync with nature, so sensitive and able to pick up on things we don't? Were the cats pacing in their cages, snapping their tails or alert and poised for whatever they were sensing? Were they roaring or mewing or eerily quiet as the winds raged around their walls?

Those folks must be paired with really great people who don't mind riding out the city's biggest hurricane ever without their partner there. But all people love their animals, and the zoo staff are no different.

When I have more information, it will be posted here.

Needed: Prayers and A Little Luck

Today will be my first day back in weeks to the zoo in my role as a Keeper Aid in Carnivores. If all goes well I will be doing it just about every Thursday morning, as originally planned. My first day was quite awhile ago, so what happened?

I waited, hoped, prayed (I confess it was more I like begged and pleaded) to be able to get this opportunity and two days after my posts about it, I injured my shoulder... BADLY. I had to cancel what I had lined up with the supervisor, and drag my broken body into physical therapy -- for adjustments, shots in the muscle to aid healing, being taped up, starting an at home regimen of ice, heat and stretching, and began several bi-weekly appointments to get me right.

I - - a full fledged grown up -- cried like a baby at the thought that they'd think I was a flake before they got to see how hyper-responsible, hard working, dedicated and well, just how invaluable I would be to their department! I was afraid they'd discover I am not the spring chicken I look like, and banish me to being a greeter at the front door... or make me don an actual chicken outfit with sandwich boards advertising keeper chats or something. Yes, I sobbed and wailed while driving, tears falling off my chin onto the wheel, my vision alarmingly blurred while trying to get home in rush hour traffic with a thousand lanes converging at once, getting lost on highways I still don't know well enough.

But a month has passed, and I've been feeling pretty good so if you have a moment, I need any good vibes you've got to send to me today. Both fingers crossed, I'll come home relatively unscathed, and can go on do it again next Thursday, and the next and the next.

Fox Glacier in New Zealand

If I HAD to pick the activity I thought was most memorable in New Zealand, it was climbing Fox glacier. We were dropped on it by helicopter, and even from that height it was hard to tell it's size. I remember thinking, OK, it's big, but it's not THAT huge. Then the pilot pointed out barely discernable black flecks on the surface below us... and it was the party they were picking up when we got out. I realized we would be that small in comparison too once that copter flew away, and humbly corrected my erroneous perspective.

I can't possibly describe how enormous it was. However magnificent it looks in my pictures, they appear too small on the blog to translate. So expand these in your mind's eye, and then know it's only a fraction of what it really was.

This is what it looked like to be standing on the thing, ready to take a step. They gave us walking poles with a little prong at the end, and funny boots with ice spikes that we secured with seemingly flimsy 1 " leather straps. This was going to be what held us as we walked along crevices like this -- the

difference between life and death! Clearly I lived to tell the tale.

We were lucky to catch a day with bright sun, otherwise we heard we'd have been icy, wet, freezing.

The snow was grey-white marbled with streaks of dirt made from the rock it was crushing below as it moved (yes, it was moving, though so slow you could never tell). I don't know that I gave much thought to what being on a glacier would be like, but everywhere we went there were surprises -- like sky blue translucent ice caves or little streams of clear, cold, clean, glistening water.

We hiked around, did some slippy slide stuff where it was safe to by invitation of our guide, took pictures and marveled at this rare excursion, knowing as we did that it would forever be at the top of our once-in-a-life time list.

Nature in All Her Forms

You probably know from your own adventures in nature that it's not all about animal encounters. There are many things Husband and I did on our honeymoon that would qualify. We went to New Zealand for 3 weeks last November, and since we were that far over, hopped to Australia for an additional, skimpy, but better than nothing week. Not nearly enough time in either place, but we managed to do an amazing variety of things.

It fascinated me that you can experience all four seasons and just about every topography that exists in the world all on the two humble islands that make New Zealand. And we did. There were beaches of every kind, endless forest, desert-like areas, hills and alps, waterfalls, glaciers and fijords to name a few. 

There were also encounters with Dolphins, miniature horses, and birds both new and familiar (In fact, wherever I go it seems I find ducks -- or they find me-- who will eat out of my hand).

In our short stay in Australia we went to the Great Barrier Reef, saw bats flying overhead in the middle of the city at Sydney's great Hyde Park, and went to Steve Irwin's Australian Zoo.  

We also climbed the Bridge in Sydney Harbor.  Maybe it wasn't made by Mother Nature but it sure felt adventurous.

I thought I'd sprinkle in some of those tales. Tune in tomorrow.

Love and Marriage

Mr and Mrs. Goose. Always together, these two teach me so much about partnership. They compromise well. When he wants to go, she follows. At times, it's she that walks or swims away and he's right behind her, no matter what.

Now, I've seen her ready to move on while he's still busy and it takes her awhile of talking to him and, let's face it, finally poking him with her beak to get him to see the wisdom of her way (amusing that I've never seen this in the reverse). But ultimately he honors and obeys. Once I saw him make her wait to the point that she gave up. After loudly squaking her discontent, she raised her proud, elegant head, got into the water and headed toward home, suddenly silent. He didn't let her get far.

Guess they never go to bed angry.

They're equal rights geese on the whole, as most of the time they're side by side in all endeavors. But Mr. Goose seems quite chivalrous too. While she often positions herself just a little behind him like this, I think it's the way he protects her, rather than that she's subserviently trailing behind. When they eat he gobbles what's offered as she fends for her own bites. But if other geese or ducks or their least favorite intruder, the nutria, are around, he stops to fight them off while she continues to eat. He respects her very much, and she is confident in her position with him. She doesn't take him for granted, but is certain what kind of behavior she expects from her man. That feminine strength is something I admire.

Like most males, he needs to take an occasional bachelor's stroll, his alone time to hang with the elements. She must be off where they make their home, resting or attending to things, since I've never seen them with goslings. And that's another thing -- whether or not they can have babies, which is why you'd think nature brought them together, they remain committed for life, choosing each other over the inherent drive to propagate.

They obviously haven't let themselves go. I think he's a hunk and she is so very pretty. While their markings are almost identical, she's smaller than him in just the right way, and has a smoother, more rounded head. Her eyes are more almond shaped and look like they're lined in a sweep of black, giving Angelina Jolie a fair run.

I'm not sure how they act if one or the other is ill, but when she disappeared for 6 weeks this summer, he was gone for most of that time. Maybe she was on a nest and he stayed close by, or if she flew off for some reason, he went with or after her. But since that wonderful day I first saw them both again, they've been there each time I've gone to visit, never far apart.

They are a pair, and in watching them, you can learn quite a bit about what that really takes. In marriage, life isn't lived soley on your terms anymore, and that can be quite an adjustment in this world of independent living.

Striving to be a little more like them might just make the swim a whole lot smoother.

Bambi

Last week we had the enchanting experience of driving past a large family of deer close to the road while driving in Larimer County, Colorado.

While seeing deer is nothing new to many, I still find happening upon them to be much like seeing fairies dancing on the lawn. These darling beings usually leap out of sight before the cortex can send the image to the brain. I often have to ask myself, did I really see them or did I imagine it?

To get them to stay, you have to be terribly still, which I didn't quite achieve as evidenced by my camerawork. I was just so nervous to record something before they darted off and I only had a little digital pix camera, zoomed in as far as it would go. But it brings the moment back, and that is what matters.

My father was a great white hunter. I tried to respect that he came from a different place with all this stuff, but after he'd shot his share of EVERYTHING, I asked him once, and only once, if he could just say he had enough of deer. In his sensitive manner, he looked at his little girl and replied, without missing a beat, "Don't give me that Bambi shit".

S'wonderful, in't?

Enjoy this snippet of these sweet creatures with their soft, floppy ears. In the first shot you can see a buck with his horns in the upper right walking across the screen, and later there are two babies, which you can tell by the while spots on their back. Just like Bambi...

(Forgive my horrid editing. It's my first try using imovie editing without instructions and it's so OBVIOUS. Just wanted to get the post up. Hey, nowhere to go but up with these skills!)