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1-1-24 It was a great start to the new year. Although Max was not happy about getting reduced meals, he was thrilled to be taken out for a walk. He got to roll in the grass, weeds and dirt. He behaved quite well on the lead. Thankfully, we are trying to lose weight because his harness barely fits. The floof is 51 pounds. He needs to lose 10 pounds by summer. I won’t be able to walk him daily because I work and get home when it’s dark, but hoping for at least a few times a week. My resolution started as well with 20 minutes on the treadmill. The organizing will start soon enough. Baby steps.
12/31/23 – I really wanted to post before now but the last few months have been non-stop living. I’m not even sure if I will remember everything that I originally wanted to post but I’ll try.
In August we participated in an Eco-Arts Festival in upstate NY. We volunteered our time to educate visitors about the Canada Lynx. You can view our Eco-Arts Festival.
Porkchop Hedgehog goes on a run around the backyard and Max watches with interest. – Porkchop on the Run
In September, Max went on a walk and fell in love with a tree – Tree Love. I was forced to put wheels under Max’s travel kennel because he weighed in at 47 pounds. On a Roll shows you exactly how I did it. We participated in a wildlife festival on the 23rd. Max snoozed through most of it but let a few people know they got too close to his kennel to take photos. He bluff charged and growled. At the end of the month, I found an ottoman sitting at the end of one’s driveway which was being tossed. I thought it would be wonderful for Max in his outside enclosure. I hauled it home and it still sits in the workshop because it’s great for me to sit on to interact with Max! Sorry Max, I stole it!
October was a difficult month for both of us. As you can see Max seemed fine on September 28 but come October 1st, he wasn’t. I noticed it immediately when he refused to come when I called him for mealtime. In fact, when I went into his enclosure, he still would not come to me. I knew something was wrong. He stood when I approached him but his demeanor was subdued. I got the butt greeting but he was slow. When he laid down I noticed his breathing was labored and his stomach moving. He would shift his legs like he was uncomfortable. I couldn’t get him to eat or drink water and therefore trying to get laxative into him was going to be impossible. I called the vet and he suggested giving Max an enema and I was willing to try it. He also prescribed meds for nausea. I let Max lie on the ground and I sat with my back up against the fence with my legs over him. The procedure went quite well but when he realized there was a large amount of liquid up his butt, he immediately stood up and tried to poop it out. No Max no! LOL. I sat with him as much as I could putting heat packs on his back and belly. Massages were welcomed too. He passed the blockage on the 3rd and it wasn’t even loaded with fur or bones. It was just a large stool. Following it was days of diarrhea and lack of appetite. His behavior slowly improved but it took several weeks for him to get his appetite back fully. Now, he’s on a regime of cod liver oil one day and laxative two days later. So, every two days he gets one or the other. I have also decreased his chicken legs from 12 a week to 8 rotating them with his red meat in-between. Although Max was not 100%, we still participated in an outdoor event. He didn’t seem to mind as it was dark and cold but I was cold! Only October but still chilly for this old gal. By the end of October Max was back to normal and I was worry-free.
November starts off well with fun and games with Max. I found an opossum sitting in the middle of the road on my way home from an awards ceremony on the 9th. It was dark but I stopped turning on my flashers praying no other cars came along. She was injured. I grab the towel in my car, picked her up and placed her on the floor. When I got home, I put straw in a kennel and placed her in it. I then called a wildlife rehab organization and they connected me with a rehabber who was willing to take her in. I drove 30 minutes to deliver her. She suffered trauma to her face but no brain damage. She had to have her eye removed and her jaw was broken. Her teeth were too small and not spaced appropriate, so pinning her jaw was not possible but the vet did what he could using stitches. She, Salem, will never be released due to being blind on the one side. So, the rehabber, Linda, will take care of her for the rest of her life. I hear she’s a sweet opossum and is doing quite well. I’m so happy that I saved her.
My cousin, Genevieve came down from Canada to help me finish Max’s wire roofing the weekend of the 11th. We trimmed and trimmed and got it finished… mostly. I worked on the rest by myself and still have the security entry to finish but it’s a huge weight off my shoulder knowing the snow will pass effortlessly through the wire without collecting & collapsing it.
About the same time I discovered good news. Poppy bunny had been licking her knees bald since summer but by increasing her medication, the fur started to grow. She is back to her cranky self! Hey, that’s good news.
We got a little snow on the 21st and Max got to play in it but it melted in no time.
Thanksgiving was nice. I spent a few hours with my best friend. Max got salmon, as always. It’s my special dinner treat for him. To view our video – Happy Thanksgiving
December started off with a bang! Max needed a new freezer. Ugh! I had just gotten 150 pounds of meat several weeks before. Well, I ordered and it was delivered the first Saturday but I had to wait around for 4 hours. However, we are all set now! The rest of the month was busy organizing my last after-school class at the museum, getting cards out and decorating the house. I was not in a festive mood. I really can’t pinpoint why. I was just not feeling it this year. Christmas was quiet. I did chores. I baked cookies and watched movies. Christmas Eve I gave Max his toys – Christmas 2023. Most recently, we received a gift of a new loading ramp. I liked the old but it had bumps at the top of the ramp and Max’s wheels would get caught on them. Such challenges! I put on our Amazon wish list a new one which didn’t have the bumps and was wide enough but I didn’t realize that it’s fabric covered. Luckily, it works fine and you can see for yourself with Max’s new loading ramp video.
Now we are up to date with our New Year Eve 2023 video. Max has one resolution… to lose 10 pounds by summer. I have two… to lose 10 pounds this year and to get better organized which includes tossing paperwork, selling collectibles and better use of my time.
10-30-23 – I apologize for being absent but it’s been extremely busy for us (me & the animals). I have news & videos but will share that when I get a few things straightened up around here.
Right now, I wanted to tell you about Lulu’s 20% discount off books and calendars. BTW, I was thinking about doing a calendar on Max but you would pay just as much for a calendar as you would for his paperback book. 400 photos verses 12 is a much better value. Don’t you think? However, I might add notebooks as a product since everyone uses them. We’ll see. Anyways….
The Early Bird Gets 20% Off! Seize this moment and save big on books and calendars! Use the code PREVIEW20 to save 20% on all print products at checkout. This code is only good until November 3rd. Don’t let it wiggle away!
To order a Max book, click on… I am MAX book versions
For our upstate NY followers, on August 5th, Max & I will be educating & exhibiting at the Maintain the Chain Eco-Arts Festival in Old Forge, NY from 10am to 2pm. This is a free festival at the View Arts Center, 3273 State Route 28. This festival will launch the week-long MTC event and will feature a variety of hands-on arts and science projects for all ages. Food trucks will be on-site for those who work-up an appetite.
Here are some links – Maintain the Chain Facebook page . Website – Maintain the Chain website and MTC Eco-Arts Festival information. The most beautiful View Arts Center.
Remember Leave No Trace!
I don’t know about you but my life gets busy during the summer when I work full time as a museum educator/curator and part-time wildlife educator and then I get to come home to lawn mowing and it’s not a small yard in the suburbs. It’s 1.5 acres. There’s weed-whacking, gardening upkeep and house chores. Let’s not forget the 14 animals I need to love, feed, and clean caging (for some). There are projects, lots of projects. Well, all that didn’t stop me from acquiring a new little ambassador named Porkchop from Baker Street Hedgehogs (Instagram Baker_street_hedgehogs) last week on July 10. Porkchop was born April 2 and weighed 13.4 ounces when I received her! The little girl is only 14 weeks old and a little porker. She’s a sweet but shy hedgie. At times, she’ll peek her nose out of the spiny little ball and give me a look and then sometimes, not. I’m trying to litter train her. Haha, that’s not going to happen. She went the bathroom in her snuggle sack and so I’ve removed it to give her a little hut with a piece of soft material in it for her to crawl under. I tried a heating pad which Smudge and Velvet liked but none of my hedgies over the past 20 years needed one. She didn’t want it. Go figure. Perhaps in the winter when the house is 68 degrees, she might like a little warmth under her. I do know she loves her wheel. She runs all night and poops & pees in it. By the way, every hedgehog I’ve ever had has done this. They are primitive little creatures that haven’t changed much in 15 million years. I’m always amazed when people have trained them to use the bathroom in one spot. Baker Street Hedgehog says hers are trained. I’ve never been that lucky. Porkchop went to work with me on the 11th and snapped the cutest little photo. I brought her outside yesterday but the weather has been so awful. It was sunny but steamy with humidity that kept fogging up my lenses. She was a spiny little ball but on occasion would stick her nose out. She was easier to see when I put her on the walkway but then she started darting towards under the porch. Oh no! Watch Porkchop the video. Here are some photos.
7/17/23 – I forgot to add her baby photos courtesy of Baker Street Hedgehogs. As you can see from the photo of three, she was the biggest of the babies. I love her name… it fits! LOL
Lulu Press is offering a 15% discount off your order of their printed products. That’s right, you can save 15% off Max’s book. Shop the bookstore and save 15% when you use promo code PORTFOLIO15 at checkout. Offer is good through July 14.
Our page for Max’s books – I am MAX book versions
When my cousin, Genevieve was here last month, she brought a Jolly Egg ball for Max. Her dog, Cleo, didn’t want it. I finally got around to giving it to Max on June 4th and posted the video on the 11th. He was interested in it at first rubbing his scent on the ball but preferred to interact with me instead. I tried to play with him and he played a bit. I have found it in different places within his enclosure but I think Max prefers a toy he can carry around. He loves his fuzzy balls. Here are a few photos and you can watch Max’s Egg Ball video on YT.
6/5/2023 – Will life ever get any easier? Spring has been crazy and we haven’t gotten to summer yet! Nothing too serious, just busy! Here’s some back news…
The weather turned warm with sunshine on April 8 and I was able to begin working on Max’s new wire roofing using 1×4 rough-sawn pine wood for braces. First, I needed to paint them and I used every partial can of rustoleum I had which is why some are black, white and almond. 🤣 Do I care? NO! Burt Parrot supervised. It was brief as she got bored and headed for the steps to be let inside.
April 10 marked my one-year with Lil Bun Holland Lop. He turned a year old on February 14th but this was the day I drove 4 hours to pick him up. He is a very sweet bun!
A hot day on April 13 and the security camera caught Max chilling on the floor.
On April 16 I was able to complete the first of many sections to Max’s wire roofing. This 5×15 section had plastic conduit piping, chicken wire and 2×4 welded wire. I removed the piping and chicken wire and added the board braces. My main goal is to have a secure wire roofing with large enough openings that will allow snow to fall through without accumulating and collapsing the roof.
The last of April is a blur as I was finishing up my weekly after-school programs at the museum with the last one on May 4. My focus was educating youth about the local plants and animals. I had a really good group of kids!
May 4 – Happy 12th Birthday Max! We celebrated with salmon, cardboard and a toy! See his video – Happy 12th Birthday! The photo on the left is Max at 12 and right is at 6. So handsome!
The next day we visited the vets for an all-out checkup. Max did well. It was quick and professional. He even came out of sedation in a timely manner so I could go to work. The results? Improved values and he’s quite healthy. I will try to work on getting some of that weight off along with his fur. Still combing! Here’s a photo of Max and his vet, Dr. Bo and you can visit the Health Check 2023 video for more information & photos. BTW, yes Max is sedated and his eyes are opened!
Another section of wiring done on May 6. This time at the other end of Max’s 60-foot enclosure. Yay!
I had been doing a lot of thinking about the grass in Max’s enclosure. The small push mower blows too much grass around because of the plexiglass shields, although it’s quick and efficient. The rotary mower was not efficient at all. The grass had to be bone dry and you had to have enough push speed to rotate the blades. So, I sold it really cheap. I purchased an electric weedwhacker with wheels. I pop off the wheel assembly and can use it like a regular weeder. It’s also does edging. I love it and it does a really good job. Though it’s more work and takes additional time but at least it doesn’t freak out Max or get me filthy dirty.
May 19-20 I had Starling issues. I found two out of the nest prematurely and another two dead in a nest. I believe more than one family was nesting in my porch eave. It was very sad but the two alive finally fledged with their mothers. I got a few good shots of mom feeding baby and a closeup of the baby as he was waiting for mom.
Other happenings were donating extra caging and attending a wildlife rehabbers gala. I donated one of Max’s books for their silent auction. I also decided to “give back” by attending an Eco-Arts Festival in August to help promote the protection of our local environment and wildlife. Max will be there as ambassador, of course.
Mid-May, Max received fresh catnip from my friend Deb. Oh boy, he loved it! On the same day, Ruby Chinchilla surprised me by standing on the scale motionless and allowed me to snap a photo! She even let me put a hat on her. 😂 I have been weighing her monthly because she was losing weight. However, she seems to have settled in and is gaining. Her and Pearl are not much better about being picked up and held. It’s a challenge and sometimes a flight around the cage. I don’t like stressing them out, so I haven’t been persistent. They have good days and bad when it comes to being friendly.
So here we are to the end of May with my cousin Genevieve visiting from Canada. We had some outings and also worked on Max’s roofing. I had finished installing the board braces by the 22nd, the weekend before. Of course, it turned out to be in the 90’s on the 27 & 28 and I had to buy 3 a/c’s! However, in spite of the depression about air conditioner costs, I was happy to have finished all the wiring. (Yay!) That’s creating a roofing with 8×8 openings. Max sees the wire to eliminate his curiosity and the openings are large enough to prevent snow/ice buildup. Up and down the ladder and working over my head with the sore shoulders took a toll on this old girl. My cousin is 20 years younger, so it was a easier for her! I also painted his two cat walk boards. What’s left to do? I need to cut the 2×4 welded wire into larger openings in the three enclosures and re-wire the 10×15 area. The 2×4’s in that area and the double-entry safety area will need to be rotated to their sides which will allow the boards to be stronger with heavy snow. It’s always something and I hope that this solution will allow me to enjoy winter more instead of being out in it pushing snow off his roofing and repairing it. I have all summer and fall to get this done. If I take an hour every weekend, it should be a piece of cake. Oh, I would love some cake right now! LOL
Stay tuned for some pics and a video of Max and his red egg ball.
3/20/23 – Lulu Press is offering a 15% discount off your order from their bookstore. That means you can save on Max’s book or anything from their bookstore. Everyone orders from Lulu which saves trees and I don’t have to stock his book, ship or deal with packaging. It’s a win-win situation. To order Max’s book click here – I am MAX. Don’t forget to use the code – SPRINGREADS15 at checkout. (This promotion is for 15% off when ordering printed products at Lulu.com. Offer is valid through March 24, 2023.)
Wildlife Education by Bernie 
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