A Day in the Life...

Juvenile raccoon

      I know a lot of people probably wonder, "What is a typical day like at Greenwood?" The answer to that is, "No day is typical, but every day has some joy, some sorrow and a lot of satisfaction." 
    During my visits I often hear the latest gossip. The good stuff might sound like, "Hurray, we released the ground squirrel today." The sad might be that a treasured resident recently died. On my last visit I learned that the beaver, who was highlighted in my last blog, didn't make it. Several weeks ago he was found at the base of Boulder Falls with a large facial laceration and two chipped teeth. It is hard to keep a beaver's wounds clean and dry, and he ended up dying from a systemic infection that even antibiotics couldn't cure. Volunteers work tirelessly to save the animals that come into Greenwood but, unfortunately, some are too sick or injured to be released. 
     Every visit involves some eavesdropping around the front desk. There is never a dull moment for the person at this job, and she or he must be a  master of investigation. "Where did you find the bird? Is there a nest nearby? Do you see any other birds in the area? Is there a cat in the neighborhood? Does the bird have all his/her adult feathers?" These questions help the Greenwood staffer make a recommendation - bring the animal to Greenwood, take the animal to another facility or vet, or leave the animal alone and watch it for a few hours.  It is heart-warming to hear about the great people who take time out of their day to inquire about what to do for orphaned, sick or injured wildlife.
    In between the happy, sad and busy is lots of hard work. Volunteers make so many meals, clean so many animal enclosures, and tend to so many animals that each day feels like a job well done.  In fact, Greenwood has already taken care of 400 more animals than they had by this time last year. Thanks Greenwood! Below are some pictures of some of the current residents. Click on an image below to enlarge and view as a slideshow. Thanks for reading. 'Til next time!

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