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Similar to last year, our baby season started early! This looks to be the new normal, and like other rehabilitators across the country, we will adapt. Breeding in animals is triggered not only by longer days, but by warmer temperatures. Milder winters can spur early breeding in animals such as the eastern gray squirrel, and we receive a lot of those babies in the spring! This change in climate also impacts the early appearance of insects and other foods that animals rely on for their babies, another reason for early breeding.
In order to handle early spring babies, our Wildwoods staff and volunteers really step up. For our staff, this means coming in early and staying late; for our volunteers, this means many an evening at Wildwoods for weeks on end. It is through sheer dedication on their parts that we are able to handle this impact of our changing climate. Kudos to the Wildwoods animal care team and our volunteers!
An important piece of our work which we don’t focus enough on is our summer internship program. When these folks show up at the end of May, they are our lifesavers. Our interns bring with them an excitement and passion for this field that is invigorating; they help to remind us why we do this work; and they bring life to our building! We are proud to play a role in their development as they are the new leaders who will be shaping the world to come.
As of the end of July we have admitted 754 animals representing 77 species. 612 people have brought animals to us, and we have assisted an additional 775 people with animal inquiries that we were able to resolve on the phone.
Please enjoy the stories highlighted in this newsletter. You will note the informal theme of community; informal in the sense that people stepped up, individually, to work together on a common cause. Wild animals are in growing need of support, and it is going to take all of us.
Thank you for everything you are doing to make this a successful summer for the animals in our care, and for helping us to provide an oasis for these animals in need. We can only do what we do because of your commitment to this work.