So our boy Tuk is doing well. In fact, he pretty much thinks he is the boss and has taken charge of overseeing most of the operations out here! You may remember Tuk was one of last years babies that was raised as a single with way too much human contact. He came here to hang with the overwinters a learn to become a wild coon and get released in the spring. He eventually had to be separated from the girls with one of his brothers, and they actually ended up releasing themselves here! Easily recaptured, but it so was obvious both were just so ready, that I decided to let them be instead of wait to go with the rest to the other release site.
Times were tough at first for him. He would return with wounds and injuries after the locals started beating the crap out of him. Luckily he was here where I could keep an eye on him. For a while, I would be awakened by the fighting close by and would drag myself outside for an intervention. I would always find poor Tuk out at the end of some branch with no where else to run! Luckily all it took was me showing up with a flashlight to convince the bullies to leave him alone for the rest of the night. Eventually those encounters were less frequent and finally stopped. Tuk got big....really big! I think the tables finally turned on the bullies! LOL
But Tuk has not drifted off into the woods never to be seen or just showing up occasionally. On the contrary, he is quite the regular! Sometimes he sleeps in his old den box, sometimes he utilizes one out back in the woods. But he always shows up to say Hi. Sometimes it to get a treat, sometimes it is to inspect the Whole Foods delivery and sometimes it's just to make sure whatever I am doing out there is being done properly!
Inspecting the Whole Foods delivery.
What did ya bring me?
OK, these eggs are good enough for distribution!
Thanks for the cookie!
Let me see if you are doing this properly....hmmmmmmmmm. Looks good, don't forget to staple the wire on the front too.
The finished addition to the baby pen, Tuk approved!
It is a very exhausting job running things around here!
It just so happens that it is because of Tuk's habits that I ended up finding this poor boy out back in the woods! I never saw Tuk the day before, and he is way too nosy when I go out there! Now mind you, I know I am not always going to see him every day, and eventually I will see less and less of him.....but this was the first time and it caught my attention. So when I got home from work, instead of taking my time, changing out of my uniform and heading out to take care of the squirrels and check on things, I just grabbed a snack and walked out there. I have not been down the back of the property for ages since the cage out there has been empty and there has been no need, but for some reason I decided to poke around down there looking for Tuk. I even went so far as to walk further to the waters edge for no good reason. That's when I noticed this little guy at the base of a tree. I could tell immediately when I saw him try to crawl into the hollow of the tree something was very wrong.
He is just adorable as hell, and I am pretty sure he is one of the 4 late babies I've seen with one of the mom's around here. (Seen in the pictures below him). Sadly, I think I am going to have to euthanize him. He is dragging his hind legs and it appears to be trauma, not illness. I'll know more soon. At the very least, thanks to Tuk, he was not left to suffer scared and alone out there. He is on metacam for pain and inflammation, resting comfortably in a nice safe den box, with plenty of food and water.
Of course Tuk showed up in time to make sure I was treating the little guy properly!
Laurie and Lisa were able to attend the NY state wildlife conference last weekend. While they were gone I got to take care of these cutie pies for Laurie. They should be getting released soon!
Tuk isn't the only big fatty around here. Needless to say, it is not unusual to encounter any wildlife at any given moment around here, including right outside my kitchen window. This girl never missed a beat when I turned on the lights with the intention of letting the dogs out! Not positive, but it looks like Nile. (Amazon's sister, one of River's girls). She settled right back down and continued to eat all the birdseed. Yup, the dogs had to wait....all my kids get to eat. :)
Two of the three groups of squirrels were released. I was planning on opening the pen for the third this weekend, however the Nor'easter has put an end to that idea! Next stretch of good weather and they'll be off too!
