Healing

My parents told me of an incident that happened recently at their home. One day they spotted a young raccoon in their yard sitting under the bird feeder. The raccoon appeared to have an injured back leg and had found safety in the pet-free, fenced in yard. Over the course of the next few days, the raccoon, now named Chippewa, returned to the feeder in search of food. It became apparent that the youngster needed help, so my Father located a wildlife rehabilitator who promptly came to the house with a live trap and bait food. A short time after setting the trap, Chippewa entered the cage and the rehabilitator brought the raccoon to her facility. She assured my Dad that she would do what she could to care for the animal.

For six years I had a wildlife rehabilitation permit. Hearing Dad's story brought back memories of all the telephone calls I received from concerned people who had found injured and orphaned wildlife. My specialty was squirrels: gray squirrels, red squirrels and flying squirrels. Most were orphans with an occasional call for an injured adult.

The demands of caretaking injured and orphaned wildlife can be intense. You need to know the species' natural history, its nutritional demands, feeding schedule, weaning timetable. The youngest of wildlife often do not know how to eliminate, so you have to assist them and know what to do if diarrhea occurs. Most newly arrived wildlife are also infested with fleas and other parasites, so a safe method to treat the animal is needed as well as a means to avoid getting infested yourself.

Despite all your best efforts, there are times when the animal will die. It is heartrending to hold that small being in your hands watching it take its last breath. Even worst are those animals that no amount of care will ever prepare them for release, leaving no option but to make that one way trip to the veterinarian.

In situations like these, I had to remind myself that many times animals are abandoned for a good reason. They may be the runt of the litter with unseen disabilities or excess babies born that the mother cannot adequately nurse. That doesn't make their death any easier but does provide a rationale for dealing with the realities of nature.

As for Chippewa, the rehabilitator offered hope. Had the raccoon's front leg been the one injured, euthanasia was certain. It was obvious that the young raccoon had a will to live. Let's pray that Chippewa's inner strength combined with the rehabilitator's skill and care will allow Chippewa to live a long life.