Back in the 1950s-70s, my parents’ cottage up north of Huntsville, was on Bear Lake, with not great number of cottages and one entire side of the 3 mile lake total wilderness. The wilderness educated us with the miracles of flora and fauna. We played in it and always found find something amazing to bring home and learn more about.
About 45 years ago here in Tillsonburg, I found two orphaned, eyes closed, baby squirrels in the middle of the road. No nest was visible. I gathered them up and had no idea what to do. No internet, no computers, no idea who to call and no money to go to a veterinarian. I muddled through using common sense. They lived and were released. This was the beginning of not only a love of wildlife but a volunteer career of rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing orphaned wildlife. Squirrels, raccoons, opossums, and finally due to health problems, an easier animal for me to care for, skunks! Yes, I have been the Skunk Lady of Tillsonburg, Ontario for decades, and love it. Although today I can no longer physically care for wildlife, I still do presentations on wildlife, ecology, climate change, etc, with Slider Comfort, our permitted [under the MNR],educational, paraplegic, four year old skunk. Audience pay much more attention when you present them with a live skunk! I like to wait to tell them she is descended….teehee. That always keeps the kids quiet! Teaching the public how to share the wildlife neighbourhoods we build our homes helps both humans and wildlife. Once people learn about the life and limitations of skunks they are stunned how easy it is to learn to live with them in the neighbourhood. The love of wildlife has been an ongoing journey of love that will never end. It has been a great honour and privilege to be a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator.
A Skunk Lady’s Tale
