Last summer, I interned at a fabulous wildlife shelter in Washington State and spent my weeks caring for orphaned and injured wild animals. Though the hours of chopping up frozen crickets and folding laundry seemed to drag on for eternity sometimes, the experiences I had were unparalleled. There’s something magical about holding a baby bird or mammal, just days old, in your gloved hand as you feed it.
As soon as I found out that I was going to be home for a month and a half over winter break, I immediately contacted the shelter to see if I could come back. Now, I’m spending four days a week caring for the same furry and feathered friends I grew to love over the summer. As a wildlife rehabilitation facility, our main goals are rescue, care, release, and education. We do our best to return every animal we have in our care back to the wild once they’re healthy. I was surprised to find some of the babies I’d worked with all summer still living in the care of the shelter. They seemed perfectly healthy- they were all plump, active, and wary of my approach.
Washington State has been experiencing unusually cold temperatures this winter, with highs in the low 30s and lows down in the 20s. Though my particular area isn’t buried in snow, it seems very possible that we’ll receive some any day now. With this cold snap comes challenges for the wildlife. It started early in the season. As fall nights took on a distinct crisp, plants and vegetation began dying off. Insects went dormant or died, unable to withstand the temperatures, and birds began their migrations. Wild squirrels began stashing caches of food and preparing warm nests for themselves so they’d have something to sustain them through the long haul. Our wild patients at the shelter had no chance to migrate or prepare, so they’ll stay until they can safely venture forth come spring time.
However, the unusually cold temperatures aren’t dangerous just for our captive patients. Wild animals don’t have cozy heaters to snuggle up against after a hard day of work. Winter is a miserable, lean time and it often drives animals to act in ways they might not usually resort to. Predators become bolder. They take chances, diving between cars in pursuit of bugs or mice. Prey seek heat in the sun, making them more vulnerable and exposed. Since Christmas, we’ve had an impressive intake rate for these tiny birds no larger than a couple of walnuts. They grow stunned from the cold at night. They land on the warm road and find themselves unable to take off again, which is particularly dangerous when cars start up again the following morning.
During these cold snaps, you can do wildlife a favor by keeping your eyes on the road while driving. Obviously your safety is most important, but with the increased numbers of animals using the roads to try and survive, try to swerve or brake whenever you see them in your path. If you do happen to hit an animal or notice one that’s been hit but is still alive on the road, call a wildlife rehabilitation facility near you. Please help out the beautiful creatures we’re fortunate to share our planet with, and give them a chance to live as they would someplace truly wild.
