Paws 'N Claws
News from All Things Wild Rehabilitation Inc.
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What's In This Issue:
Winter Party for Wildlife
Mortimer and Minerva Mouse
Those (Darned) Darling Donkeys
Owl Program Presentation
Swift as a Deer
2020 NWRA Symposium
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Winter Party for Wildlife
We are excited to announce our second annual Winter Party for Wildlife at our center from 10 am to 4 pm on December 7 and 8 (Saturday and Sunday). There will be lots to fun things to do including meeting animal ambassadors like Dave, the opossum, and Lucy, the screech owl, plus, there will be animal-themed and hand-crafted items for sale that will make great holiday gifts and stocking stuffers.
If you like, you can bring a holiday gift for the wild animals from the Wish List here.
Mark your calendars to come celebrate the holidays with wildlife. Our center is located at 300 Havelka Road, Georgetown 78626.
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Mortimer and Minerva Mouse
M&M Mouse snuggle up to a warm rice sock
One of the exciting things about wildlife rehabilitation is you never know what wild animal will come through the door in need of help. Recently, two tiny field mice arrived: orphaned, hungry, and scared. Once they are grown and ready for release, they will go to the wild and take their place in the ecosystem.
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Those (Darned) Darling Donkeys
Zelda, the ATW favorite, always hopes for a carrot.
Earlier this fall, ATW Board Director Vicki O’Connor, along with her husband and volunteers from Verizon Media, filled the empty, unattractive spaces in front of our Center with good dirt and planted healthy plants, including lantana, butterfly iris, yaupon holly, oleander and Texas sage. The area was blocked off with a temporary fence until the plants could get large enough to survive on their own.
Vicki, a Master Gardner, spent a lot of time researching which plants to use. She couldn’t find much information on what donkeys will and will not eat, so she relied primarily on what deer find distasteful.
ATW is fortunate to share space with Blue Moon Sanctuary, where donkeys and horses, frequently on their way to slaughter, are rescued and are given sanctuary. We are happy to have several donkeys roaming freely throughout the ATW space. Not only do they keep the grass trimmed, but they also protect our rehabilitation animals from coyotes and entertain our volunteers and visitors. In particular, we love Zelda, the 40-year-old matriarch donkey, who visits us each day for a carrot.
It seems that donkeys eat much more than deer when it comes to plants. One morning, all the young lantana plants were gone, despite the temporary plastic fencing. The donkeys also munched on what they could reach of the butterfly iris and the yaupon holly.
We think the Texas sage has survived because they can’t reach it, yet. We also planted a rosemary bush that volunteer Ella Krail had struggled to dig up and bring to us. The donkeys ate that too even though Ella initially offered them a taste, which was declined. We’ve concluded that we can’t plant anything else until we have a permanent fence that the donkeys can’t penetrate.
Volunteers from Verizon Media help to landscape the front of our building
The donkeys check out the finished product
Looks finished, huh?
Two weeks later, all the lantana is gone
If anyone out there would like to step up and advise us on what to plant or to help us put in an attractive fence, please email us here. Thank you!
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Owl Program Presentation
Roger and Lucy, an eastern screech owl, will present a 1-hour Owl Program at 9:30 AM at our center on October 20. Seating is limited. Please call ATW at 512-897-0806 for a reservation.
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Swift as a Deer
All of the released deer came to ATW last spring as small fawns who had either lost their moms or were injured
Saturday, November 9, was an exciting day at ATW because we released our first graduating class of white-tailed deer. Seven healthy and strong young bucks and does went forth into the wild. We wish them good health and long lives.
The almost-grown deer still had their spots in the middle of August!
Loaded in the trailer, the deer are on their way to release
The newly released deer assess their new surroundings |
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2020 NWRA Symposium
Early bird registration for the Feb 25-29, 2020, National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association Symposium will open November 18. A registration fee of $150 covers lectures on wildlife rehabilitation Wednesday through Saturday.
The symposium will be held at the Isla Grand Beach Resort on South Padre Island. Discounted room rates are available for registrants.
ATW Board Director Kim Fross has kindly agreed to coordinate roommates for anyone looking to share a room at the symposium. Please text her at 512-944-0304.
For more information, click here or call ATW at 512-897-0806. |
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