All the squirrels are in release pens!

Well squirrel season is almost officially at an end finally! All the buggers are out in release pens and will be on their way very shortly. There are 3 release pens out there. The "deluxe suite" has a large indoor and outdoor section. That's what we use if there are any overwinters. Qbert, Snarf, Snuff and some of JoAnn's crew were in that one and have been released but are still hanging out in there a little. The middle cage is smaller and is now occupied by 5 of JoAnn's crew. You can see one of them in the background here behind Caramel. Caramel and my crew of 6 are in the third larger cage with 7 more of JoAnn's babies. It's a full house but they are loving the hollow trees and logs in there as they acclimate to the area.

Depending on weather conditions, the 5 in the middle cage will go this weekend and Caramel's crew will get released next weekend.

I'll also have to work it around the wildlife conferences we are going to on both weekends. We have the Wild in Vermont conference to go to this weekend and then up to the Niagra area for the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council conference next weekend! Things are going to be a little crazy for the next week or so. The fun part is getting critter sitters for everyone....and wildlife isn't the only thing I've rescued! I have 3 dogs and 6cats...all but one of the dogs were rescues. My family dreads it when they hear I am going away! LOL

This year's WRAM conference.

Our annual wildlife association of Mass conference was Saturday at Tuft's wildlife center. It was an early morning for us...after a close call the night before.

I was on the night shift when I got a call from Laurie...she picked up a dead raccoon that her uncle found in the road across from his driveway. He lives right down the street from the release site where Dozer and the gang were released!

And the panic sets in........

So when I got out around 11pm I headed straight for Laurie's to attempt an ID.

Even more panic when I open the bag and it's the color of Dozer, Tank and Razz.....

It's pretty frozen and really smelly...but I was so panicked I just forced the back legs apart and started searching for all the things a boy should have.....to no avail!!! OH THANK GOD!!! Why? Because there were only 2 girls released there...Cat and Goldie.... Cat was really black while Goldie's name says it all, and it definitely wasn't them!! Whew...now I could get some sleep before the early morning rise to head to Tuft's.

It was a packed house at this year's conference...the biggest ever!

Laurie and Mary set up the silent auction.

The highlight was the raptor presentation by Wingmaster's

http://www.wingmasters.net/index.html

An American kestrel...

This red tail was rescued and had a band on it...by tracking the band it was discovered this bird is 32 years old! Amazing! And now enjoying a very cushy retirement.
A golden eagle.
And my new favorites because they are just the cutest damn things!...the eastern screech owl....

...and the northern saw-whet owl. Both very cute and very little owls!!

The ever beautiful great horned. I've got one of these guys living in my woods.

The barn owl....female...

...and male.

Had wayyyy to much fun driving home. Laurie hopped in Mary's car with her and Lisa and I rode together. When Mary's jeep passed us we just fell in behind her and followed. Finally at one point we decide, hey let's pull up next to them and say Hi! Well you can imagine our surprise when I look into the car and it's not them!!! HA!!! We had been following the wrong car! I can't even begin to tell you how hard we were laughing......ok maybe I can, lets just say we came very close to wetting our pants! LOL Good thing we figured it out before the jeep pulled off the highway because we would have been right behind it wondering where the hell Mary and Laurie were going! Too funny! Seems we always have some type of adventure after a WRAM conference!

More bad news.

Forgive me for making this short, but it's too upsetting to spend a lot of time on. Stormy's luck has run out. I got a call from Laurie Wednesday night....Stormy was out at the feeding station and she was not using a hind leg....bad like Roxy. So Laurie brought her into work with her and they checked her out. It was a severe break and dislocation of the growth plate above her ankle. We had to make the unfortunate choice of euthanizing her. Now she too is home again, overlooking the pond she grew up on, next to her sister.

Right now myself, Mary and Laurie are at the NY state wildlife conference. Had a wonderful tour of Hawk Creek Wildlife. I got lots of great pictures that I will post when I get home and download them! JoAnn is caring for Roxy at her house and taking the time to trudge over to my house to care for the rest of the gang in their various pens! I CAN'T THANK HER ENOUGH!!! This trip would never be possible without her. Already checked in with her and Roxy is doing wonderful!