January 2025 – Wildlife Education by Bernie

12/31/24 – You will not believe me, but I started a post on October 7 and never finished it because it has been crazy around here. I thought things were slowing down and I found some time to write but life happens and I never got back to it. So, here’s what I started writing…

10/7/24 – Finally, life is beginning to slow down some for us. I know it’s been since May when you last heard any news about us here on the website. There is a Home Repair video posted 6/16 and a “Summer’s End” video posted 9/7 on our YouTube channel.

In May, I had to say goodbye to Smokey. He would have been 18 in July. Smokes had multiple old age issues but was still getting around. However, his quality of life was fading and I made an appointment to say goodbye on 5/31 but the universe had different plans. He seemed a bit out of it over the holiday weekend, rallied and then became very wobbly by the 28th. I had to crate him to keep him safe. Theo crawled in beside him to comfort him. I called the vets early on the 29th and was able to bring him in. The old boy went fast without complaint or hesitation and my heart broke into pieces. He’s now with mom. The last of her cats to pass. It was like losing her all over again and I hurt terribly.

Pearl had a vet visit in May for her left eye and it was on the road to recovery. Now, here it is October and her right eye is winking at me. So, she has an appointment on the 9th. I’m hoping it’s not a lesion but if so, we now know what it takes to heal it.

In June I began the time-consuming task of rust treatment and painting of Max’s enclosure panels. A few of his broken plexiglass panels could be re-used but I was able to purchase several new panels along with extra paint due to the generosity of Christine and Evan Johnson.

June was also a busy month with car repairs, doctor appointments and animal care. I laid grass seed in Max’s enclosure where he paces watching the wildlife and kept my fingers crossed.

The heat of early July nearly killed us! Max was looking pretty sorry on the 4th and I made the decision to purchase a portable floor air conditioner on the 5th! Though I couldn’t keep it on the floor because the exhaust tubing was not long enough, so I set it up on the workshop bench which worked out well. I pointed it away from his indoor enclosure and had a floor fan at the other end to blow the cool air back. It took me several tries to get him to come inside to cool down. He only wanted to do so when I was in there. So, I tidied up the area while he played with toys on the floor. I ran it for a few weeks until we began getting cooler nights to where I could shut it off and then turn it on for the day time.

I had seven programs in July with Max presenting at one of them. Of course, it was one of the longest drives we had but he was a good boy. A family donated their hedgehog to me. Charlie doesn’t mind running around the yard but doesn’t want to be held or bothered. I basically leave her alone.

On September 1st a family visited for a special educational introduction to all the animals. Max was not impressed but he rarely is with visitors. Later they mailed a very generous donation to help out.

Now, to finish where I left off… Videos since October – Pumpkin Bust , Purrfect Morning, Thanksgiving 2024, Merry Christmas Eve, Christmas Toy Destroy and Goodbye 2024.

Pearl has been to the vets every two weeks since October. They keep treating her eye and it’s not healing. I refuse to visit the ophthalmologist when they checked this eye back when she was having trouble with the left one. There were no underlying problems. Both eyes were healthy. For some reason, this eye is being stubborn to heal. It could be due to Ruby Chin. They do rustle at times. Perhaps she’s beating up on Pearl. The next step is possibly another treatment (Jan 3rd vet visit) and maybe separating them. Or we skip treatment and Pearl learns to deal with it. There’s much to decide on.

Frankie Ferret’s health began going downhill. He lost pretty much of his fur and he was on steriods to keep him from itching. He had swollen lymph nodes, and became incontinent. I knew the time was drawing near when I would need to put him to sleep. Although he was eating and drinking water, I noticed he was frantic about using the bathroom and began whimpering while sleeping, peeing and sometimes while I held him. I made the tough decision to let him go on the day after Thanksgiving. My best friend Deb went with me. I wanted him to leave in a peaceful manner and not in an emergency situation like with Smokey. Frankie lies in rest in my front garden. A week or so later, Frannie Ferret went in to have a tumor removed from behind her front left leg. I wasn’t interested in having the mass tested for cancer as it really doesn’t matter. I’ll love her until the end. She is beginning to lose more fur and itching a bit more than normal. That’s the problem with ferrets. It’s important for them to be spayed/neutered but then it takes away their hormones and they get adrenal gland disease. So, it’s a no win situation all around which is why five years is average for these little guys. Frankie was 8 and Frannie is 7. I most likely won’t use her for educational programs next summer as I’m sure she’ll be hairless by then.

On Christmas eve I noticed Igor Dove with a bloody beak. He was sitting down on the bottom of his cage. I believe Burt Parrot got him through the bars. I don’t think it was aggressive. Igor will hoo and peck whoever is at the bars, and I think Burt got lucky and pinched his beak. My heart died. He hatched here on 11/11/2009 and he’s a fighter. Within a week of being born, his beak became scissored and bent. I did gentle pressuring over several months which helped it become almost normal. Being a holiday, you can imagine how many bird vets were available. That’s right, none. The day after Christmas, I contacted a rehabilitator and she set me up with another one who showed me how to tube feed him and gave knowledge of how much pain meds to administer. Luckily, Poppy Bunny is on them. We saw a vet on Friday 12/27 and I ordered medication and special diet. I have yet to receive the diet. They should have had some in stock at the vets office but I was lucky to have even been seen. Igor is trying to eat seeds but not enough to maintain his weight. So, I’m fighting with him over the tube-feeding. Lucky me. Prayers please that he will fully recover. I now watch Burt Parrot like a hawk when she is roaming while I’m cleaning her cage.

Programs… we finished the year with 19 programs. Three of them being festivals. A busy year for us! Max participated in eight of them. Thankfully, not all. He’s a lot to lug around.

In closing, I’d like to thank Stephen Meier and Patricia Seppey for their support towards special meat & expenses, Christine and Evan Johnson for panels & supplies, Donna Ryan for Max’s raised dog bed and the Patterson family for their generous donation. I wouldn’t have made it through the year without my best friend, Debra Myers. She keeps me mostly sane. Then there’s my sisters. I can’t do without them and lastly my Facebook family & friends who listen and send me positive juju. Here’s hoping 2025 will be a better year for us all! Much love, Bernie