Squirrel season!

Squirrel season is officially in full swing. Last night we had no volunteers show up, so we got to work, moving efficiently and speedily, to accomplish the nights chores. 6pm - feed all the nocturnal animals - I made a delicious meal for all our raccoons, that included dog food, sun flower seeds, apples, and some fish.
Then we tubed a few of the animals not eating on their own, did a few cleaning chores, and got started on the evening med list early. Luckily the med list was shorter than in past weeks, and we got through it in record time, finishing by 8:30.
So I felt like we were doing ok to get out of paws on time at 10pm... Then I remembered the squirrels.
A week ago we had about 5 squirrels, we now have over 20. All getting fed formula/milk out of little syringes, which is not a fast process. Its lucky baby squirrels are so cute!


(Someone on youtube feeding a baby squirrel).

Some of the volunteers from the bird nursery came up and helped, since they are running low on baby birds (their season ends as our second squirrel season begins). But feeding them just takes a long time, no matter how cute they are. Especially when one of them says he's not hungry, and squirms and screams at me instead. I finally discovered he prefers being wrapped in a towel like a burrito, and then he was willing to drink his 8ml of formula.
It was around 9:30 by the time we finished with the squirrels (overall it took maybe 2 hours, since other people started at 7:30). Then we rushed through the evenings chores, and head home after 10:30. It was a full, squirrel filled day. And it may only get worse in the next few weeks :).

Releasing animals

Probably one of the best parts of working at Paws Wildlife is getting to release animals back to the wild. Last week I released 2 crows and 6 ducks. Our naturalist considers a plethora of factors and chooses them a perfect release site, then we take them out and set them free. The crows had been antsy the whole drive down to their park, and as usual with birds when I opened the box they immediately flew out and were gone.
Then I drove the 6 ducks down to their park, which had a nice big pond in it. I set the crate about 10 feet from the pond and opened up the door... And noone left. So I rattled the crate a little, tilted it up, still no movement. I then just stepped back and waite, and first one guy walked out tentatively, then the other 5 all followed a little more bravely. The 6 made of a bee-line to the pond, and jumped right in.

Here is a picture I snapped of them just after they got into the water in their new home: