Critter release

We support Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (RVWS). This is where our Squirrel came from, still named #75. We drove to RVWS in May, took the box, with #75 inside, and put it on the tree. [Crumbly Acres Rehab: #75] I've spotted him from time-to-time. He's been closer to his box as the cold moved in.

We've release some over the years, all rehabilitated after getting hurt or abandoned:

• Sept., 2016, there was a 4-raccoon release . 
• Sept. 21, 2017, we released 8 raccoons and 3 skunks!  
• In October, 2019, we released 4 raccoons, Mary Kate & Ashley, as well as Taco & Burrito. 

I learned a lot from their video! Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

They arrived:

Three of them came up to the house, after they'd led two back down, 3 came back up! 

We haven't seen them since! Dispersed to the forest to find grub, berries, and sanctuary from ice, rain, wind, and snow. 

I've three more: Video #2, and Video #3 (one had a short tail) and Video #4, videos from them exploring the forest.

Saturday's Critters # 618 < = visit more critters at Eileen's blog.

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Release

This was the highlight of my week. We had two people from Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary come to release 4 rehabbed raccoons. The raccoons were found in Perth, and needed to be released within 25 km.

This is a bit late to be releasing them, but one of them had to put on a bit more weight. The boys and girls are from separate litters, BTW. Apparently, with Taco and Burrito: the bigger one was protecting the smaller one by the side of the road. Mary Kate and Ashley took their time to gain enough weight to be released.

They arrived, anxious to get going.
release from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Not so anxious to leave the crate after all!



Eventually...
raccoon release from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.




Eventually, they all climbed the same tree.



This is where they hung out for at least an hour.
raccoon release 1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We were done for the day!



Joe went back in an hour and they were still there. I hope they do well.

There was a fisher at the trailcam in the night!

fisher from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Skunk and Raccoon Release Photos

UPDATE: we lost a skunk on the road last week (Oct. 1). Also, a raccoon a week after they were released.
We were happy to give Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary the opportunity to release some critters on Friday, Sept. 15th. The videos are here! The protocols say that they have to be released within a certain distance of the capture area. We qualified! This is our second year doing this.

I hope the photos are OK. My glasses broke, and we are awaiting a part. I'm finding it hard to read, wearing a pair that are 3 years old. I donated the old ones to charities, you see. sigh.

They arrived just after 1 p.m. and we loaded the two crates onto the wagon and into the wheelbarrow. It's a tough world, and there are a lot of people who care for one another. It takes another kind of person to care for vulnerable, ill, and wounded critters. Melissa is terrific. You can tell she loves the work she does.

Skunks

The skunks needed encouragement to leave. Melisss broke apart the carrier. They got the idea and just ambled off.

 

Raccoons

I love how the raccooons puttered away, eating dirt, moss, everything they could. Then, playing in the mud of the frog pond! The last 4 needed a bit of encouragement to leave the safe crate.