Home Remodel

Well, its spring time and for many wild critters that means time to build your nest. Even our captive critters are getting in the act! Delilah is busy rearranging her home :)

Stawberries!

Here are some cute pictures of the education gray squirrel Delilah. We often get produce from our local grocery store that they can't sell to give to the animals. This last time, we got a TON of strawberries. I gave one to Delilah just to see what she would do - it seemed like a hit!

Hey There Delilah!

What I have been up to this week at work? 

I have been playing with a squirrel.

Yep! Delilah has arrived at the Audubon Center.

See. Here we are doing office work.

I betcha my job is cooler than yours.

Hawk Ridge

Yesterday we got to go up to Hawk Ridge. This was my third year going up there - it is one of the top raptor migration spots in North America and if you hit on the right day you can see thousands and thousands of raptors. Keeping with the bad weather theme this week, the conditions were less than ideal yesterday. It was cold and rainy but we did manage to see a couple birds.

All 3 species of accipter - Goshawk, coopers and sharp-shinned

The view from the ridge

 Despite the weather, we saw a fair number of species. My favorite was Merlin that came in and dive bombed a plastic owl. We also saw: goshwak, broad winged hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, coopers hawks, osprey, merlin, and american kestrels. Not too shabby. I even got to release a sharp-shinned!

After the ridge, we headed over to Delilah's house. She is currently living at the house of a wildlife rehabber and should be moving to the Audubon Center in the next couple weeks to start her life as an education animal.

Delilah having a snack

Yep, this is my job. What a great way to spend a work day!! :)

New Education Staff

Introducing Delilah and Spike

Delilah is a gray squirrel that has some health issues. She isn't as active as normal squirrels and needs to get her teeth trimmed on a regular basis. Spike is a porcupine who was found by the side of the road next to his dead mom. He has spent the past year traveling the country in a truck. 

Meeting Delilah!

Unfortunately, neither wouldn't survive in the wild. Delilah will be joining the Audubon staff this fall, once we build her an enclosure and gets the permits. Spike will likely join the team as well, we are just waiting for the final go ahead.

Snack time for spike

Today, I was in Duluth at a place called Wildwoods Rehabilitation where both animals are currently. The wildlife staff got to meet and hang out with the 2 mammals. It was loads of fun and definitely one of the best work days I had all summer! More pictures to follow but here are just a few of the cute mammals we met :)

Delilah enjoying a grape

Hanging out with a squirrel in my pocket :)