When snow storms blanketed much of Boulder in late February and early March, I assumed that there would be many orphaned squirrels at Greenwood.  I don't know how squirrel parents keep their tiny, hairless babies warm and dry in the nest when the weather outside is so harsh!  They must do a great job, however, since there was only one  squirrel in residence at Greenwood in the first week of March!  His name was Boy or George but he was just cutie to me!  He and his brother were found in a tire wheel well of an old  car and brought in at about 3 weeks of age.  One of them died shortly after arriving but the other one was doing well and is pictured here.  Since Greenwood runs on reduced staff/volunteers and hours in the winter months, this baby went home with one of the wildlife rehabilitators every evening so that care could continue around the clock.  Here are a few more pictures of this photogenic 3-4 week old baby Fox Squirrel .  Notice how his feet are built for tree climbing!

3/18/2015
On my next visit to Greenwood, spring was definitely making an entrance but the squirrel deluge had yet to make a presence.  There were two squirrels in residence and a baby rat -- probably a baby Mexican Wood Rat -- but he'll need to grow into his shape a bit more for rehabilitators to make a positive ID.  His mom was most likely killed by a dog and he had a little chunk taken out of his backside but he ate well and slept like a baby...rat.  There were two new squirrels who had arrived to Greenwood.  Their eyes were open so they were probably 5-6 weeks old.  I learned that these squirrels will be ready to release in late May or even early June.  That's a lot of work for Greenwood!   On the day of my visit, staffers were also busy trying to determine why a pigeon wasn't doing very well.  I was impressed by the amount of information they could obtain!  They ran blood work, took a throat culture and were quite thorough in their analysis so that he/she could get the best possible treatment.  I didn't take a picture of him/her but here you see the blood work chart.  Thanks for reading!

It has been pretty slow at Greenwood the past few weeks but that doesn't mean it will stay that way!   Colorado had a relatively warm and dry beginning of February and I've noticed lots of animals preparing for spring.  Great Horned Owls are nesting,  Fox Squirrels are hungry (and females should be pregnant), male House Finches have been singing at the top of every tree top and chickadees have been checking out a bird house that sits under the awning of my patio.  Clearly, babies are on their way!  Spring is, perhaps, the busiest time of the year at Greenwood and that is  because lots of babies mean lots of work!  So, while there aren't a lot of resident animals at Greenwood right now, there will be soon!  The above photo shows some healthy meal worms who are waiting for the  birds to arrive.  I was also able to photograph an Evening Grosbeak (with a broken foot) who was quite eager to fly  but settled down when we gave him some bird seed.  I also photographed  an Eastern Cottontail rabbit who had, most likely, escaped the jaws of a predator and was nursing a raw bottom. 
    Right now it is snowing and we are expecting more than a foot of snow.  My thoughts are with all the expectant moms and dads out there and I hope that they weather the storm.  It is comforting to know that if they need help, Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is there to give them a second chance!

Mid-winter is an interesting time at Greenwood.  While there are fewer animals needing assistance, staff and volunteers are still required to help the animals around the clock.  Not everyone can take a holiday and come back in the spring!  While many volunteers do cut back on their volunteer hours, winter is a regenerating time at Greenwood and the atmosphere is relaxed.  On my latest visit, the majority of the patients at Greenwood were birds.  I was lucky to be able to photograph a Cedar Waxwing, a Canada Goose and its smaller cousin, the Cackling Goose.  I wanted to get a picture of the Northern Flicker but because he was in a black netted enclosure I  needed him to fly into a sunny (lower) spot and he didn't want to do that while I was around!  He came to Greenwood after getting stuck in a window well.  He was a healthy eater, though, and reportedly ate 75 meal worms at the last feeding!  I also saw a Blue Jay but he was a bit too stressed for me to photograph him.  I heard about a squirrel that was also at Greenwood but he/she was in ICU so I didn't want to bother him/her.  Rehabilitating  animals at Greenwood involves practicing the delicate balance of caring for the animals (even though it can be stressful on them) and giving them a peaceful space and environment that they need to recover naturally.  At Greenwood, staff and volunteers go to great lengths to create a minimally stressful environment so that animals have the best opportunity for recovery and a second chance at independence. (Click on images below to enlarge).

Happy New Year!  I hope you and your friends and family had a good holiday season and that you are ready for the new year!  I wasn't able to visit Greenwood during the month of December and was thrilled to be able to visit again in January.  The animal species change throughout the seasons at Greenwood, but the hard work and dedication of the staff and volunteers do not.  On the day I visited, January 2nd, everyone was busy preparing for the patients and season ahead. After taking pictures, I even helped out by stacking paper products in the storeroom! 

Birds are often the most prevalent wildlife at Greenwood during the winter.  There were several Pine Grosbeaks and I was able to photograph one while it played with its food.  Here it is shown with a meal worm casing.  There were also several types of waterfowl at Greenwood.  Geese can become victims of errant buckshot during the hunting season and ducks often come in with feathers that have lost their water repellant properties.  Below are pictures of a Western Grebe,  a  Northern Shoveler (a duck with a wide brimmed bill) and a Canada Goose. The ducks had received a special bath to rid their feathers of toxic oils and other substances that harm their feathers and now they are waiting for their feathers to re-oil and become water resistant again so they can be released.  Look closely at the Northern Shoveler's feathers and you can see how useless they would be at staying warm and dry!

Just a quick update to let you know that we've just finished working on the 2015 Greenwood Calendar!  It is going to be incredible this year!  Each month has 2-3 pictures  of animals who have been helped by Greenwood in 2014,  notes and reminders about upcoming events at Greenwood and interesting statistics.  I was so glad to be able to help create it and hope you enjoy it!

Many photographers on the Front Range have expressed concern that they don't see as many foxes in the wild as they used to.  This year I've only seen one in Boulder County and I photographed it only because it ran in front of me while I was taking a picture of the Flatirons!  So, when I heard there was a fox at Greenwood, I was excited to take its picture.  I was eager to see this fox who was recovering from mange. Mange is caused by parasitic mites and symptoms include skin irritation, itching, secondary skin infection and possible anemia.  The disease can make it difficult for the animal to hunt, eat and regulate its temperature. This fox had crusting on her face when she arrived at Greenwood but, as you can see from my pictures, she is much better now and was being scheduled for release.  Thank you, Greenwood, for giving this fox a second chance!

As summer winds down, I've gotten to chance to see more of the inner workings of Greenwood.  I know I've said it before but "it takes a village" to run Greenwood Wildlife Rehab.  When sick, injured or orphaned animals first come to Greenwood, they are greeted by intake staff who gather necessary information and then assess each animal's situation and create a plan for his/her rehabilitation.  I forget why this Common Poorwill was brought in but the staff was told he couldn't fly.  Imagine everyone surprise when he flew a bit during evaluation!  Later in my visit, I heard about a volunteer extraordinaire who was collecting flies for the Barn Swallows!  He was catching so many the Barn Swallows were surrounded by them -- fascinated, but not quite yet sure how to catch them.  Apparently, once a Barn Swallow demonstrates he/she can catch a fly, then it's time to be released.  A necessary and not so glamorous, but much appreciated,  job is cleaning!  Volunteers clean the common areas such as the bathrooms, volunteer break room and hall ways as well as the cages and outdoor pens for squirrels, birds, raccoons and waterfowl.  Another never ending job is that of the cook and dishwasher, too.  Anyone who as raised a child knows they eat and make messes.  Animals are no different and the staff at Greenwood keeps busy making sure the facilities are safe and comfortable for everyone.  Thank you to all the behind the scenes volunteers that help Greenwood care for so many animals!

I wasn't able to visit Greenwood for the entire month of July and missed it!  Lots of animals have been released since I last visited and many more are close to being wild again! There are, however, plenty of songbirds still coming and needing help.  Each songbird gets fed about every 40 minutes so they keep the staff quite busy!  This picture was my favorite of the day.  These barn swallows were in a large enclosure surrounded by dark mesh.  They typically live in dark places (barns, caves and under bridges) so these birds were quite content to hang out.  I was amazed that my camera was able to focus on them through the mesh and that my flash (pointed away from them) gave enough light for the picture!  It was so neat to see them so close up!  The other birds are House Sparrows, a House Finch,  an American Goldfinch, a pair of Rock Doves, and a Violet-green Sparrow eating a Greenwood raised meal-worm!

Outside, the large enclosures were brimming with raccoons!  They are almost ready to be released and they were quite content to play in the kiddie water pools and with each other.  There are covers over the enclosures to keep them out of the sun and to help them become wild (and not habituated to humans).  I hid behind a tree to get a quick glimpse but as you can see, I got caught!

This Western Kingbird was also in one of the big outdoor enclosures with netting.  I tried to take a picture of it through the netting, like the barn swallows, but quickly realized it was trying to dive-bomb me!  I took it as a great sign that it was a WILD bird and I was too close to its space (even though I was outside the enclosure).  I quickly left and  was thrilled that it kept its instincts through its stay at Greenwood!

Last but not least I got to meet the  Golden-manteled Ground Squirrel.  She was growing up fast and was also getting ready for release. 

Greenwood is now preparing for the next round of baby squirrels!  Just a reminder that even though the summer is winding down, the work at Greenwood continues.  Thanks Greenwood for all of your efforts to give these animals a second chance!