Boys gone wild.

And they're off! Tash, Gibby, Andy, Ringo and LB are finally out in the real world! (sort of). The weather was good and it was just plain old time for them to go. They have been more than patient while waiting for Rivers babies to be old enough to be mobile so she would not be so freaked out by them hanging around should they decide to harass them like Vin did! So last Friday the 6th the world became their playground and they were loving it!

By the end of the night, Andy and Gibby had made their way out back by the main feeding station....

....much to Belle's dismay! LOL She was less than thrilled by the company! She was a good girl though and didn't whip their butts like she could have. Instead she settled for a little meal away from the interlopers.The next morning everyone but Gibby was back home. One in the hammock, LB on top of the cage, and the other 2 in the den box! So much for out in the wild! Gibby was the only brave one to spend the night away from home in a tree out back by the feeding station....but he didn't seem to mind....quite comfortable actually!

For the past week they have been out all night and back in the pen to sleep off the day. Gibby and Tash were the first to not return to the pen after a few nights, and as of a couple nights ago, Andy has not returned to spend the days. Yesterday it was LB and Ringo still using the den box but when I went out this morning it was only Ringo in there.

Then there is Gibby......

Tuesday night I went out to check on everybody and found Gibby in the den box...and he didn't look good. He was obviously very painful and not moving much at all. I managed to get him into a carrier and into the basement where Laurie and I could check him out better. There were no apparent injuries at first and his color was good. He was so pathetic though....enough to convince me to comfort him all night....sleeping in my arms on the loveseat in the basement. I'm glad it helped him to sleep, becasue I sure as hell didn't get much!

I was convinced I had been played big time by a con-coon, but I did eventually find some spots where someone apparently chewed on him a little. So it looks like he just got beat up and has a little infection going.

After a couple days of pain meds and some antibiotics, he's already feeling better....although he's still trying to milk it by getting me to hold him and baby him.......! Too busy though. Have a new litter of baby raccoons to get settled....

Sneak peak....

I was not brave enough to go into the cage and risk the wrath of River, but I did manage to get a couple halfway decent shots with my cell phone! While River was enjoying a chicken wing, one of the babies was eagerly licking up the scraps behind her and playing in the outdoor den box.
It's tough getting pictures because they are still hanging out primarily in the inside section which is dark and opening the door wide enough to get enough light in there means putting my life at risk...lol.
What a good momma!

The local town paper, The Billerica Minuteman, did a wonderful story on us then had us on the local AM radio program to talk about our cause! It was great and I wish I could find a link online to show you all but it doesn't appear to be posted online. If I manage to find it I will share it with you all...or maybe I can just type the story in here when I get a spare minute.....(in the fall maybe! LOL).

A lot of updates!

Here is the new kid on the block. His tree was cut down and the gentleman that did it didn't realize there was a problem until he heard this little guy screaming and clinging to a branch. Unfortunately the rest of the family did not make it, but the man was kind enough to scoop this guy up and get him to me. He's a monster squirrel...huge for his age. He basically weighs what Peewee weighed when he came in, and Peewee was 4 weeks older!

Chunky was in perfect condition when I got him, having only lost his mother 3 hours prior, and amazingly not a single injury from the fall. He's doing great and eating like a pig. Speaking of Peewee.....he is doing great as well! Although still smaller than his sisters, he's growing like a weed and gaining ground fast...especially since he's not competing for mom's milk anymore. He's going to be just fine.
Sweetie, Luci, Wombat and his sister have already moved from this cage into the larger pre-release cage. They have graduated to bowls of formula and are eating solid foods well.

2 squirrels that came in from McGrath Animal Hospital where I used to work and 3 squirrels that arrived just before heading out to Laurie's birthday party have all be relocated with another rehabber who amazingly had none yet! She said she would take 10, so we took a look at the hoard we all had and mixed and matched and got a group together for her, including a couple of Lisa's and some that came in while we celebrated Laurie turning 29 (again...LOL).

Now for the raccoons.

Lucky & Ducky are doing great. Not having had mom at all, they are a little behind the 8 ball...smaller and slower to develop, but they are thriving. Stony's 2, Pebbles and Porcelain, are doing great as well. They had mom's milk for a whole day and what a difference it makes. They are larger and although a week younger, their eyes opened much sooner.
Here we have Lucky and Ducky on the left (Ducky being the smallest little guy in the middle) and Pebbles on the right.

Porcelain so named because she is almost white...not even a light blond tint like the light ones usually are, but white. She's beautiful and the biggest and fluffiest of the group.

Actually they are all a little fluffier now after getting baths. Someone decided to poop in there and of course they ALL had to roll in it! Lucky was less than thrilled I think! LOL

On to Trooper the monster coon! A perfect example of how much better mom's milk really is! He had mom for over 2 weeks and it shows! Weighing in at over a pound now(560 grams).....he's not fat, he's just big boned!

He's at the puppy dog stage...where his ears look more like a puppy's.

He is now in with the 2 sisters rescued from the evil homeowner, Doc and a yet to be named sister. Doc is missing part of an ear so it will always be easy to identify her! Both girls are about the same age as Trooper, but about 200 grams smaller. Like I said...he's a monster coon!

They love to snuggle with their fur from coats for cubs....thanks to Pat cutting some of the coats up into usable sized pieces for them!

I have wonderful news about River and her babies! I finally got a peek at all 4, very adorable and playful kits with River. Since putting her in the enclosed section of the pen, I have not been able to check the babies due to her murderous attempts to kill me anytime I tried to open the door! I could only hope for the best and quickly toss food and water in there and slam the door shut just before she could reach me and maul me...hehe. Now that the main part of the pen is vacant and cleaned.....she's had some more breathing room and has been out exploring.....

She is also much less murderous towards me when I approach the pen on this side....she has even calmly sat there on the other side of the door while I toss some food in to her.

Well, a couple nights ago all 4 were out with mom hanging out on that top shelf and in that den box! I had the very extreme pleasure of watching her gently play with the very mobile and curious kits. I'm happy to report that Tigris, Amazon, Nile and Howell are perfect and adorable as ever. As soon as I see them out when there is enough light for pictures, you'll see for yourselves!

Dad is making great progress on the isolation room. What used to be an empty corner that collected junk is quickly becoming a very useful area.

Frame, fluorescent light and door is up, some electrical outlets are going in as we speak and it won't be long before it's in use I'm sure!

I think that pretty much brings us up to speed...gotta go help dad bring up the new microwave....mine of course s#!t the bed the other morning...just as I was rushing around trying to get everyone fed before leaving for work of course! Grrrrrr

Crazy weekend.....great visits!

What a crazy weekend it has been! Started off the end of the week with a double delight on Thursday.....Ringer and her sister Belle came in for a visit! At least I had my cell phone with me this time for pictures. Ringer greeted me on the path and followed me to the feeding platform and minutes later her sister came crashing through the bushes. That's Ringer in the top picture and Belle in the second....

Of course just because they came in at the same time does not mean they were exactly getting along! They were not on the best of terms and did not want to see each other, but at the same time they both wanted to say Hi to mom and of course get the little handful of chow I brought in case of just such an occasion.

So they came up with a compromise both could live with! LOL
Friday was full of cleaning and torching the main pen, now that the girls were moved out of it. What a project that was.....all day...ugghhh. But it looks great and River now has access to much more room to move about and have the babies explore once they start coming out of the den box.....if she ever lets them! Talk about your overprotective mom!
Saturday was even longer as Laurie and I took a trapping course that is required to become PAC (problem animal control) agents. All day long in a course about trapping and killing wildlife. It was difficult but necessary....now we can become licensed to legally trap animals in other peoples houses and get them outside be released humanely or reunited with the babies left in attics to help prevent so many mom's from being killed and babies ending up in rehab.
Thanks Lisa for taking all our babies to feed for the very long day while we were gone!!!
Sunday was full of feeding babies and heading to JoAnn's house to celebrate Laurie's birthday! It looked like a zoo with carriers full of babies that we all brought that would need feedings throughout the afternoon. We spent more time feeding all the babies than we did feeding ourselves! LOL ....and we were constantly getting new ones delivered while we were there!
Par for the course this time of year. That's why we always get together at one of our houses...so we can bring the babies that need to be fed and still hang out together at the same time!
Whew....I need a day off from my days off!