Have you ever stared into the eyes of a barred owl for any length of time? Its all blackness and wisdom and creepiness up in those eyes. I did that today, as well as watched someone hand feed grub worms to tiny chirping baby birds, saw a raccoon carcass laying on a table, observed at least fifteen injured box turtles being cared for, smiled at more baby raccoons than I’ve ever seen in one place, laughed at squirrels playing, was startled by a coyote and had an opossum smile at me. Among other things.
It was quite the adventure. I lived right down the road from this wildlife rehabilitation and education center for years and didn’t even know it existed. Its hidden away and the address isn’t publicized lest people just start dropping animals off at the doorstep. It looks rather rag tag but this place knows its stuff. They take in injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife and do all they can to rehab the animals to be re-released into the wild. Owls who’ve flown into cars, bunnies abandoned by their mothers, deer hit by vehicles, baby birds who’ve floundered, all sorts of situations. The people there work very hard for little reward other than the satisfaction of what they’re doing, and from an outsider’s view, they look extremely overwhelmed. Money is needed, volunteers are needed, space is needed, resources are needed.
I’m volunteering to help with their social media exposure and hope I can make at least a small difference in increasing the public’s general awareness about what they need and what interested people can do to help out. I was met with a bit of skepticism and wariness and do feel I have to prove myself. It seems people like the idea of volunteering but aren’t so keen on the follow through part and so they’ve experienced three or four social media volunteers who have since disappeared. The doubt in my longevity is justified and I’m determined not to disappoint.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
– Albert Einstein
