Take a Walk on the Wild Side with Nelson’s 2011 Old HomeDays Guest Speakers
By Julio Razquin
No matter what the season, Nelson’s oldest residents, its wildlife, can be seen andheard. We often take for granted the presence of our furry and feathered neighbors, butthey are there. From bears, to bobcats, coyotes, and birds of all kinds; these are thelong-time residents whom have shared this land with humans for countless years.
Today, some of the encounters between wildlife and humans can prove to be quitetragic, as I am sure we all can attest to through the almost daily sight of animals on ourroads that have met undignified fates. As we continue to encroach on our neighbors’environment, and road traffic increases, such events are becoming more frequent.Already the odds are stacked against our wild neighbors as disease, climate change,and shrinking habitats deliver sometimes irreversible blows. But in spite of all that isagainst them, there are many people who are striving to make a difference.
I first met Deb Gode when my cat was struck by a car. Cracker, my orange tabbyand companion of 11 years, seemed to have used up all nine lives in one shot.Unconscious, his head swollen, and with an injury to his leg, I was told that it was along shot, and to be prepared for the worst. After a few days, Cracker snapped out of itand began to try and right himself after hearing his name. Deb’s expertise and love foranimals had made all the difference, and in the months and years to follow, I came tolearn more about Deb’s boundless devotion to animals.
It seemed that every time I drove an injured animal found by the side of the road to thevet, these always wound up in the same place…
Deb Gode and Irene Ruth run the Winchester Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Together,and with nothing more to rely on than their own resources and the generosity of others,they run a very impressive organization, right in their basements and backyards. Ivisited Deb not long ago, and after bottle-feeding three hungry tiny raccoons, she gaveme a tour of the center. Considering that the entire operation is run on a shoestringbudget, I was stunned by the obvious and incredible attention to detail and the care.Robins, chipmunks, possums, raccoons, skunks,and more… All receiving care andmedical attention, round the clock.
Deb once recounted the story to me of how she crawled in a small culvert to capture awounded bobcat, but I think it is best I let her tell you that story herself.
When I contacted Deb to invite her to be the guest speaker at our Old Home Daysevent, she agreed immediately. But what I didn’t expect was for her to invite along afellow wildlife rehabilitator and friend from New York. Wendy Hall is another incredible
example of dedication and commitment to wildlife. Wendy runs the Adirondack WildlifeRefuge and Rehabilitation Center in Wilmington, NY.
They have a website which is chockfull of images and information about their work:
Wendy will be bringing some wild guests with her to assist in her presentation, whichI am sure will prove to be quite the thrill for adults and children alike. Deb will also bethere, and together they will speak about our wild neighbors, their adventures andongoing efforts as wildlife rehabilitators.
What is a Wildlife Rehabilitator?
By Irene Ruth – Winchester Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
There seems to be some confusion about what wildlife rehabilitators are and what theyaren’t.
To the animals, we are caretakers, foster parents, doctors, cleaning crew, and roomservice. We’re the folks who feed them, medicate, teach them survival skills, andprovide them with the toys that teach them about life. We forage to find them worms,
bugs, branches, plants, roots and mosses to eat.
We provide a place for you to bring orphaned, injured or sick wild animals. We get themhealthy and strong and then release them into the wild. No, we don’t keep them for petsand no, we won’t give them to the public to keep as pets.
We’re a source of information about wildlife. If you want to know why a woodpecker isbanging on your drainpipe, what to do about woodchucks sharing your garden, how toget bats to leave your dining room, or what to do about a coyote in your yard, call us.
We’re trained, and permitted by the state of New Hampshire to care for orphaned andinjured wildlife. Some of us also have a federal license to care for migratory birds, aspecial permit to care for Rabies Vector Species, an exhibitor’s license or a deer permit.
We’re folks who care enough about wildlife to give up time, sleep, money, and space inour lives to devote to their care.
We aren’t nuisance control officers( NCO’s), or animal control officers (ACO’s). Theyare licensed to remove or exterminate wild animals that become problems to humans.They charge for their services. A rehabilitator can often give advice on how to solve thesame problems and there’s no charge. We can recommend a humane NCO who willexplain your options and help you make the right decision for yourself and the animal.
We aren’t a 24 hour service. We need sleep. We have families and responsibilities. Wemay not be able to return calls right away. We will not usually be able to come to you topick up animals and we will ask that you get them to us. Our lives are lived on a strictschedules determined by the number of animals and the amount of care they need.
We aren’t state employees. Wildlife rehabilitation is strictly voluntary. We receive nomoney or support from the state or any other agencies. We are allowed to receivedonations of money or goods, but don’t charge for our services. Most of us have jobsthat pay the bills for our work. Rehabilitation is expensive, and we’ll all end up havingspent a great deal of our own money at the end of the year.
Our job is hard and dirty, frustrating, expensive, and sometimes heartbreaking. We worklong hours and collect no pay.
Why do we do it? Because we love and respect animals. It makes a difference to eachanimal that we care for and to the people who bring us the animals.
Because it needs to be done. And because it feels right.
