Dory & the Orphans Blog

Food Inc

2012-01-06T18:07:00.005-06:00

This video will open a pop up window when you "x" out of the advertisement covering the screen. ... just x out of the ad ... it's advertising {nothing I can do to eliminate it}. But then the video will play.

Prank Played during Graduation Ceremony Aug 29, 2011

2011-09-02T09:22:00.007-05:00

A prank was played by the senior class during graduation services. All witnesses pleaded LBA immunity. The junior class attempted to cause a disruption to distract the ceremony supervisors. The freshman class was accused of hazing the student held back from her class graduation due to several successful late night panty raid escapades.
`

I am a Wildlife Rehabber

2011-09-02T09:16:00.002-05:00

I am a wildlife rehabber. I have bought animal food with my last penny, I have patted a bloody head with a bare hand. I have hugged those that are vicious and afraid. I have fallen in love a thousand times, and I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body too many times to count. I am a wildlife rehabber. My work is never done, my home is never quiet, my wallet is always empty - but my heart is always full. ♥

Graduation Day at the Northwoods Wildlife Orphanage Aug 29, 2011

2011-08-30T08:57:00.000-05:00

Miss Abby

2011-05-04T07:19:00.000-05:00

Wow. A New Year again

2011-01-06T08:26:00.002-06:00

Miss Abby has had her surgery and is doing quite well. To follow her updates just click on the Facebook link over on your right .... I do apologize for neglecting the blog since I was hypnotized by the social interaction on Facebook ...

Abby Needs Your Help

2010-08-08T10:38:00.001-05:00

Hammocks for Coonies for sale

2010-06-25T13:58:00.005-05:00

The wildlife orphanage has received a humongous roll of lightweight denim type fabric. It is gray with paint splashes all over it for a design. So I have made several dozen hammocks for carriers and cages for critters. The specialty item, of course, is sturdy enough for raccoons. They are machine washable and last years with proper care.

Visit Hammocks for Coonies for more info.

There are also matching carrier pads fitted to most sized carriers as well as a pillow type of bedding. Custom order sizes that you need by contacting me at Hammies

`

Officially Spring

2010-03-21T09:34:00.009-05:00

I do apologize for being so seemingly absent to my blog followers.

Last season the poisoning of my creatures took me down to the last thread in my soul. The over wintering at full capacity drained my physical portion as well. I will eventually adapt to that experience... although adapt is inadequate of a description.... I might heal .... might not fully recover ever .... remains to be seen.

Many things happening here at the Orphanage. Much activity both statewide and nationwide as far as getting wildlife awareness vocalized. RR6Public has been quiet with everyone trying to recoup from last season while preparing for new neonates and orphaned wildlings. Our amazing Kathryn is now writing articles for Milwaukee's Examiner. How proud I am to have her part of our mission! Read what she says so eloquently as the Urban Wildlife Examiner We are very excited in the reforms we can help institute. Please read her articles, subscribe, comment, be part of our wildlife reform! Especially you urbanites and city folk. Help us make great changes for our communities and the wildlife in our backyards. It's a win-win double win situation.

I have a series of educational posts coming up. Hopefully this will assist you urbanites that are now or soon will be finding/seeing wildlife near you. Hope you'll consider helping us get the info out on how to find your local wildlife rehabber when you need one.

"Some estimate that every year over 700 small children and over 10,000 animals are poisoned by antifreeze, drawn by its sweet taste. Antifreeze poisoning likely causes many more illnesses and deaths that are never identified as such." network.bestfriends.org/golocal/newhampshire

Urge YOUR Congressional Rep to support H.R. 615, The Antifreeze Bittering Act of 2009
Click here to find if your representative is on the committee or contact your representative ... contact your congress members ... encourage him or her to support this when it gets to Congress.

Sign the petition here:
www.washingtonwatch.com

~~~~~~~~~~
If this were already a law, I would not have lost the wildlife that suffered from glycol poisoning here at the Orphanage last season. Please help by supporting H.R. 615 ... Having seen first hand the horrible death this poisoning produces? And knowing a wild animal only needs to walk through it to become poisoned? This means feral cats, squirrels, stray dogs, all creatures are at risk of this to happen.

`

Survey input Needed

2010-02-08T09:43:00.004-06:00

If you have ever helped a raccoon we would appreciate it if you fill out our Raccoon Survey. This will help us help the urban raccoon issues. You may remain anonymous if you choose to do so.

Raccoon Survey

`

Birthing season is coming

2010-01-18T09:41:00.002-06:00

2009-11-22T01:23:00.000-06:00

Changes in the Air

2009-11-13T01:23:00.009-06:00

Changes. Can you feel them in the air? The spirit song of the Indian Princess to her creatures of the forest echoes in the eves of houses and the leaves that are left of the trees. The wind cries back to her in return, wailing for justice, mercy, help. Mass indignation of the wildlings that were driven from their long time homes and forced to live amongst the hoomans to survive. Now being mercilessly killed and forced to endure lives of bondage and dependence living in the sewers of the cities. Even the very creatures domesticated have been thrown away to become a new and devastating problem for Mother Earth and her wild ones. Feral cats being considered for hunting season? Hunting seasons already killing so many of our wild creatures that need to be preserved? Allowing the man to kill for thrill and justify enjoyment of torturing these creatures.

Yes. The Indian Princess is singing her long ago song to the creatures of the wild. And on the wind you can hear their return wailings, they are telling her that one species cannot hear her and they are destroying us all. Changes. Changes need to happen and are indeed on the verge of beginning. Can you feel it in the air? Be prepared and listen for the Princess's song. You will not see her outside of your window ... but you will hear her .... and be sure to listen for the replies in the wind. For it is then that you will understand.
`

You GOTTA be kidding me ...

2009-10-26T14:08:00.000-05:00

I ran into Dick & Mona at the Piggly Wiggly about an hour ago. They have 80 acres of Northwoods about 8 miles out of the Village. A big part of it is a maple tree stand. They tap the maple trees in early spring season. About 4 acres of it and ponds in the spring, a creek later in season. We built Dory & the orphans release mini-coondo out there in an old gnarly woodpecker tree. Little Arthur, Porky, Little Mini, & YouSoStanky inhabit that section of those woods. Behind their property {about a mile away} many others went on their Big Adventure up the hill into the holler. Watch the youtube videos if you want to see which beautiful coonies that neck of the woods belongs to. It borders DNR land. Dick is having a problem with trappers back in there and the DNR won't come out. They said we have to get the license plate numbers and then call back because he doesn't have enough field help. I'm livid. They are putting up traps on posted private property and the game warden won't come out. We have to catch them first. I can't believe this. I don't feel well. Have had this 'swine flu' for over a week now. Sitting vigil watching for poachers is going to do me in in this rain & bad weather. Wish me luck. Even when there is a safe place there are hoomans that choose to do as they wish no matter who gets hurt. please send me strength ... why can't the hoomans just leave us alone if we are on private property? And why on God's green Earth will the DNR just let them do it?

Say prayers for my orphans will you please?

thank you.

-matz
`

Coleman FFA

2009-10-01T09:40:00.000-05:00

The Coleman FFA has a terrific opportunity to be a part of the
Campbell's Soup and the National FFA Alumni Association's Barn Reviving
Project. With the support of everyone we hope to win this contest and
help a local citizen out with rebuilding their family barn. Please read
the following information on this contest and barn.

The Barn Reviving Project is made possible through a partnership
with the Campbell Soup Company and the National FFA Alumni Association.
Together they are raising awareness about the importance of supporting
the future of American farming and the agriculture industry, our
nation's largest employer. Campbell's pledge of $250,000 to FFA is
intended to help ensure that future generations will continue growing
the quality ingredients that go into our food. This special project
provides service-learning opportunities and connects FFA Alumni and
Chapters, Campbell's Soup Company and communities through a common
initiative: sustaining the future of our food sources. One of the ways
they are doing this is by restoring five old barns a year. The barn
Coleman FFA would be involved with, would be the Augie Fudala Farm in
Bark River, Michigan. This barn is one of ten finalists which is
featured on the Campbell Soup website www.helpgrowyoursoup.com
http://www.helpgrowyoursoup.com Beginning October 1st, 2009 the
whole country will be able to vote for their favorite barn. You can vote
once a day everyday through November 30th, 2009. The five winners will
be chosen in December. The barns will be given a complete facelift with
the work being done by the Coleman and Stephenson, Michigan FFA
Chapters, FFA Alumni, family, friends and other volunteers. This is all
made possible with a grant from the Campbell Soup Company. Also, when
you vote, $1 is donated to the Nation FFA Organization.

Your votes will be greatly appreciated, so please help to spread the
word and remember to vote everyday at www.helpgroupyoursoup.com
http://www.helpgroupyoursoup.com for the Augie Fudala Barn in Bark
River Michigan.

Thanks!

`

Phylbert

2009-09-07T20:54:00.000-05:00

Here's a little video of Phylbert the baby squirrel that came in the fourth of July weekend with a broken leg. He'd spent the entire weekend alone under the bird feeder trying to eat bird seed. Their dog had brought him home. He was about 5 weeks old. The vet couldn't help his leg so I just nursed him myself. He seems to have recovered quite nicely.

His first day of school was September 2nd like everybody else in the Northwoods Village. He came home that night, but spent the next two where ever little squirrels go. He comes home in the afternoon now, but doesn't sleep in his little pre-release cage anymore.

Have a great adventure Phylbert! And thanks for staying around so I know you're safe.
`

Big Adventure Day August 31, 2009

2009-08-31T22:31:00.000-05:00

These three raccoons were released today in the Northwoods. They are smaller than normal for this time of year to begin with {only 17 pounds}. Around the fourth of July, as you know if you've been following the blog, someone decided to throw poison of some type into the enclosure perimeters. 16 became seriously ill. It was buy them daily medication at over $36 per day or get a freezer to replace the defunct one. They got medication freezer can be on the wish list for a bit longer I guess. Some were too small to fight it. Some were not so small but it took them too. This will haunt me forever. Why would someone do such a horrible thing to such precious creatures? You can help by sending gently used items from our Wish List on Dory & the Orphans website -- many items you would probably throw away anyway. Your donations not only help the Raccoon Orphanage in the Northwoods, they help LBA members rehabbing in all the States and Canada.

You know? For the past nine weeks I have been taking care of everything by myself when it comes to chores and taking care of the wildlife here. There are more than coonie babies. There are turles [yes more than one these days], squirrels, rabbit, ferret, ferals, unwanted parakeets and a zebra finch, and of course, the guard dog. I am also a single mother trying to raise fine upstanding children. Tomorrow school starts in the Northwoods and my #1 volunteer helper baby girl will be in her senior year. She's taking three college courses this semester as well. President of Coleman's FFA Chapter, State FFA Honors Band, Marinette County Badger Girl and first flute in the Coleman High School Band.

Tommorrow school will also start for the dozen babies and juvies in Blarnia [my outbuilding]. They will get to move into the Coondo now and hopefully the CoonCam will be back online. I took it offline when it was tampered with and left it down as it was not good to have public viewing sick and dying creatures. It really was [and still is] unbearable to find I couldn't protect them on my own private property.

Some of you local citizens that read my blog should consider organizing a collection drive for baby blankets, paper towels, stuffed animals, toddler toys, things on the wish list that I have to purchase for these wildlife orphans. Baby raccoons need these for developing their sense of touch. In the wild they have trees and leaves, bark and moss. Help me help these creatures PLEASE. What I don't use here is distributed to wildlife rehabbers in all the states. Please help the LBA Maybe you can't hold these wild ones and feed them, but you can help them survive by donating your unwanted gently used items instead of giving them to Goodwill or throwing them away -- even just once is a big help!
`

Mid-July 2009 Rehab Season

2009-08-28T09:27:00.000-05:00

In this video you will see me carrying my Hiway. She wasn't well. She had withered away to half her body size due to someone poisoning the perimeter areas of my enclosures. You will see they are all forced to be locked inside the Coondo itself and not be able to dig & climb in the perimeter. Of the juvies in this video that Hiway & I are checking on only 4 have survived the attack.

Northwoods weather

2009-08-24T07:43:00.000-05:00

Well. It appears winter is setting in up here in the Northwoods -- or so it
seems. OK call it autumn if you want but it's too freakin COLD! Up to 53 [11.66C] now but it's 6 a.m. and August. It should be HOT. Or at least above 70 [21C] ....

Release day in the Northwoods this week for the ones that escaped the poisoning. Grand total of 3. Kinda makes my stomach sick -- should be an even dozen.

Hiway, Shazbot & Shirley appear to have made a nice recovery. However, since Hiway & Shazbot were separated for so long during their poisoning recovery? They are now arch enemies and cannot be housed together anymore. How sad. After 2 1/2 years of being constant companions, a stupid evil hooman poison has caused them to not know each other anymore.

There is another even dozen little coonies in Blarnia [the out building] that are still very small. Quite unusual for this time of year in the Northwoods -- they may be able to become inhabitants of the big Coondo by this week sometime. They will need several weeks of good weather to prepare for our Northwoods winters. Let's hope Mother Nature allows us that.

Phylbert [the baby gray squirrel who had a broken leg] has made a full recovery and gets to run around outside of his pre-release cage sometimes. He's about ready to go on his Big Adventure any day -- actually -- he can go already if he wants to but he likes to stick around closer to the orphanage. Like on top of my head or in my arms. :^)

Texas please send heat.
`

Raffle tickets

2009-08-05T07:41:00.000-05:00

This month William at TruckenTraffic is holding a raffle drawing for Dory & the Orphan. He has some awesome prizes for August and you don't have to be a member of TruckenTraffic to participate. Click Here to get your raffle ticket!

Thanks William! You're the best!!

-Matzo

Poem to the LBA

2009-07-25T08:34:00.000-05:00

These creatures in our care?
They may be found most anywhere
Some are wild some are pets
Some won't even be seen by vets
You might see some that are so small
They appear to be nothing at all
Or others immense and very scary
If you look the sizes vary
They purr, they fight, they even bite
some nocturnal, up all night

When you walk into my home
It's only me but I'm never alone
Walk slowly if the dog lets you in
Speak softly, do not wake the ones within
There are rescued ferals, unwanted birds
baby coonies, squirrels, turds
All unwanted by the hooman race
all disadvantaged because of that fast pace
Mothers killed, kidnapped or trapped
left to die -- who cared about that?
"Let Mother Nature take it's course"?
You built the road and drove the cars
Now these creatures are one of ours.

These creatures in our care?
They belong most anywhere
When you walk in my home
you'll find the creatures not alone
Our spirits intermingle we give each other strength
we have today and that is all, we'll do what we must do
for tomorrow never gets here, this morning is half gone
We will go through here and now because that isn't long.

-matz

2009 orphans

2009-07-23T01:50:00.001-05:00

View some of the 26 orphans that have come in since Father's Day at
http://doryandtheorphans.com/coonies09.htm

,

Reward offered

2009-07-22T11:22:00.000-05:00

Anyone with information regarding the poisoning of the raccoons at my orphanage, attempted arson of my building and horrific death of my daughter's pet rabbit will be offered a reward for the arrest and conviction of the perp.

.

Hiway

2009-07-17T19:11:00.000-05:00

My big fat girlfriend Hiway became seriously ill last week. Her 'normal' never ceasing frantic pacing due to her brain damage as an infant ceased. She began just laying in whatever mud she could find to keep cool and quit eating. Hiway is my educational keeper coonie of 2+ years now. She is my bestest girlfriend and the love of my life. I have been devastated for over a week feeling stupid not knowing what to do for her. I can advise just about anyone with a coonie what the problem is and what to do. But .... apparently could not think clearly enough to diagnose my own best girlfriend's issues. Until about an hour ago I thought she was going to cross over Rainbow Bridge and leave me. I have been a basket case. Many many people have been praying for her as they know what she means to me.

This was posted in my group by a dear friend and colleague and thought I'd share with you, as I had truly forgotten.

"Hiway, a few personal thoughts"

Gotta say a coupla things here, or try to. Matters of cosmic reciprocity and such are hard to put in human language, but that has never stopped me from trying before, so i will post this and then i will shut up and wait out the weekend in hope and prayer, too.

For those of you who were not here yet, or were and have forgotten the Hiway beginning a couple of years ago...(i hope Matz will forgive me for sharing this):

Avermectins are a class of drugs with similar properties, Ivermectin being one of the most common...BUT the dose the vet gave Matz to administer, as Doc Sandy said later that night "was about what you'd give a horse. It will kill her," she said. And that pronouncement nearly killed our Matzo; Matzo had mindmelded with this pathetic little bunch of fur and bones, sat through the entire night (or was it two?)picking and flushing maggots from her eyes, held and hummed her in and out of consciousness, clung on to faith in coonies' "amazing recuperative powers", marvelled at her fight to live when she rallied, cradled her when the very Essence ebbed, and suddenly in a stabbing moment saw herself as the instrument of the little thing's demise. She had given the shot that was going to kill Hiway.

I believe she would have willingly followed Hiway right into coma just so the little waif wouldn't have to go there alone. But Hiway didn't die. She knew the Presence was there for her and together they battled back through the dehydration, kidney failure, liver overload, neuro trauma, brain damage...and finally Hiway awoke, somewhat changed, but forever grateful to her Matzomom. And Matzo awoke, also somewhat changed. She had always had "the touch" with wildlife, always had healing hands, but each rehab was a challenge of symptoms, a partnered battle against whatever elements were trying to bring down that particular individual. Some were more endearing and memorable, but for each one the healing and release was the thing. They all got to her, as we all know coonies do, and each release brought days of melancholy and the crabbies, then softened as new needs arose. But Matz said, in the middle of one of the nights of Hiway, "This one's different. There's something about this one". And there is. They reached a place within each other that is usually closed to members of the same species, let alone another. Matz's healing will bolstered Hiway's, and Hiway took that weary little hannie and touched a place in Matzo's heart that even she didn't know needed healing.

So. That is how The Guru of all Things Coonie, who had always, "until that very week, day, hour and moment" lived and breathed rehab and release, and who had consistently proclaimed against "keeper coonies" (believing what Jani did was wonderful, but housecoonies are generally not the thing to do) suddenly had one.

The group responded with great glee and much teasing as phrases like "my best Girlfriend" issued forth from the erudite and clinically correct Ms.Matzo. Well, Hiway didn't truly become a housecoonie, but is, i believe the term is "permitted education animal"...a small(?!) fur ambassador who has moved school kids, day campers and even sportsmen to a different way of seeing wildlife. And she has remained Matz's "best girlfriend".

Perhaps what she is undergoing now is a metamorphosis from her impaired self to a new level of wellness; maybe it took her brain this long and a little fever to remap itself so she could stop pacing and worrying. Or maybe she is just aging (alas, don't many of us move a little slower these days?). Or maybe she is fixin' to move on altogether. Whatever she does or wherever she goes, "Essence" there will be the better for it because she will take a part of Matzo with her. And Matzo will be the better for it, despite her very human angst, because she will carry always, Hiway.

schulz

About an hour ago she "came back" to me from her near comatose state, and is now eating and perhaps with a little more prayers, patience and faith in the amazing healing abilities of the raccoon will grace me with more years of freindship and love.

Thank you to all for your prayers for my precious Hiway!

Poem for my babies

2009-07-07T08:10:00.000-05:00

My babies aren't perfect
They all have some little flaw
Some are only orphans
others with a hurt little paw
It matters not they are imperfect
They are little loves you see
They come in sometimes broken
But it matters not to me
I love them and they love me back
We are a sight to see
If ever in the Northwoods
Come visit imperfection and me

Pics in order:
Crooked Lake babies (4): Hauled up in a boat from a storage locker in Green Bay. Mother was trapped in the boat for a week, finally made an escape hole and found poison to eat. Babies were put in a HavAHart trap in a small cardboard box in an attempt to trap mama. 36 hours later a game warden brought them to the orphanage seriously heat exhausted and dehydrated. 3 weeks of age.

Lac Butte de Morts babies (5}: 7 weeks of age. Highway runs along the water close to the edge and mother was hit by a car and killed.

Phylbert a 6 week old grey squirrel: Brought home by a black lab and left to eat bird seed over the weekend. Arrived 4 days later at the orphanage with a broken back leg. Vet could not fix him but physical therapy is getting him back in shape. He's at a growth spurt due to his age and his chances of survival in the wild in about 6 weeks is looking good.

Arajah the Western Painted turtle. Permanent resident of the orphanage. Arrived a year ago [brought home by a dog - tooth marks still visible on her shell] painted red with hot tar on her head and shell. Serious injury to the head. This has affected her eyesight on one side and she lives in the garden during summer months. She is currently hanging out in one of her favorite positions checking out what's left in the planter.

Wisconsin Citizens & Wildlife Rehabbers -- Urgent

2009-04-01T01:14:00.000-05:00

“We, the senior member of the world’s scientific community warn all humanity of what lies ahead. A great change in our stewardship of the earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided, and our global home on this planet is not to be irretrievably mutilated….Our massive tampering with the world’s interdependent web of life, coupled with the environmental damage inflicted by deforestation, species loss and climate change, could trigger widespread adverse effects, including unpredictable collapses of critical biological systems whose interactions and dynamics we only imperfectly understand.” Henry Kendall, Union of Concerned Scientists, issued in 1992

Do you care?

On April 13, 2009 at 7 p.m. in your county will be a meeting held for the past 75 years and kept away from the knowledge of all the Wildlife Rehabbers and non hunting public. If you want to help regulate what the DNR regulations are for YOUR state wildlife, be at this meeting in your county. If we don't do it who will? Stand up and be counted. Make a difference or suffer the environmental consequences without complaining!!

Info can be found at http://lawbreakersanonymous.com/Wisconsin-Rehabbers.htm

WAKE UP WISCONSIN AND TAKE YOUR RIGHTFUL PLACE FOR OUR WILDLIFE!!! IF YOU DON'T WHO WILL?

Citizens & Wildlife Rehabbers

2009-03-30T11:18:00.000-05:00

This email came in to the group this morning. It is rather lengthy but worth the read if you have time. It is a situation that is faced by all right now and really needs to be understood and "fixed". We need the help of citizens and rehabbers together if anything is going to be accomplished for our wildlife.

Katherine wrote:

Matzo - did you get my email a couple weeks ago about the raccoon prohibition I am fighting in Colorado?

This ignorant animal discrimination and persecution must be exposed when and where it can be. With the public, we know it requires education to counteract the harm brainwashed into them by the media and governmental wildlife agencies. Rehabbers are the most interested and qualified to do this, but the majority in no way have the time - a real catch-22. The wildlife agencies idea of 'education' is as extensive as saying "secure your trash and do not approach wildlife that is likely diseased". This is completely inadequate, fear based education.

The public only hears that advice, and any further knowledge given to them is to "leave wildlife alone, the mother will come back". They do not know how, or that more than a few hours at most is a death sentence, or they would not do it (most of them). And so many out there still do not know what a rehabber IS, how to find one, or that they even exist.

Rehabbers, justifiably I will add, have become so frustrated by humans trying to help and hurting that they have lost trust in any one not trained and licensed to enable an orphan. They fear any knowledge in such a persons hands will be a knife in a monkeys hand. Sometimes, this is true. But not always.

I know many people that, like myself, found an orphan and did not know what to do. They contacted rehabbers, and SOME (not all!) were so insulting and unwilling to let the person help, that they hung up and refused to bring the orphan to the rehabber. I get the problems with doling out any advice. My situation resulted in mega-googling. It was my first wildlife experience and it changed my life, led me to rehabbing... I think many of us started like that, but we forget. It is SO easy in this industry to begin to lose respect for the public, so many stupid humans... how I understand...!!

It is also a fact that it is too risky to stand up to our state agencies against their actions and reg's when they are the very agency that licenses us to rehab. We know 'black-balling' is real, and for the sake of future animals, we can't risk it. Another catch-22.

State wildlife agencies? Rehab only exists because it must and the agencies only tolerate it because they have to. Their true support, in states like CO, is very weak. They strangled the licensing process this past year and went from over 100 rehabbers to now 46. In this economy this means less donations - and more expenses spread among 46 instead of 100. The amount of animals needing help does not decrease due to economy!! Not good.

My points in all this are... we need to find people who CAN risk standing up to agencies for changes, we need more rehabbers coming along or at least more volunteers to help share the load and expenses, and we need these people to begin more intense educational programs out there for rehabbers and the animals.

If we who love these animals so much become of the same mind-set as the state agencies in believing that the public seeing the cute, intelligent side of these animals will lead to more "Joe Blow's wanting one for a pet" we engage into the biggest catch-22 of all... we are guilty of enabling the persecution and unjust reputations these animals are being given at an exponentially fast pace now.

In the 1980's a couple attended over 300 assemblies teaching wildlife appreciation and living in harmony... at the end of their lecture they brought out their beloved Stanleigh raccoon for a couple minutes and children (now adults) today still tell this couple how HE influenced them so much... not one of them went and got a pet, that they know of. Same for myself and the hundreds of people who loved my Zorra and thus came to see their backyard wildlife and became of the "live and let live" mindset we are losing so quickly as urban life grows and habitat shrinks.

My soapbox is showing, huh? Sorry about that. I have been thinking about all this a LOT this past year and 'interviewing' a lot of public on what they know and don't know... all in preparation for a program that I hope will work and can be shared among others out there. I am coming to the conclusion that a tiny risk of a Joe Blow wanting a pet raccoon is worth it if rehab is to become better supported and demanded, and our growing urban population is expected to have a "live and let live" mindset, as our grandparents once had.

I believe this can be done in a way to reduce the Joe Blow risk. Eliminating that risk? Well, we will always have those who make the mistakes. Judging by our overflowing pet shelters, there are just humans who will never "get it".
We can spew mega info in lectures, books and film slides... nothing works as well as live interaction with a charming (unreleasable!!) young raccoon (or such) ambassador. And years later, like me, they become more like us. As I often say: To love one raccoon, is to love them all - forever.

Exploiters have sadly existed, but -- In all good, there is bad. Letting the bad spoil the good is what happens too often in our society. I feel this has happened and the joy of wild animals among us is losing ground. This is just the tip of that iceberg. There is SO much to teach 'the public', and putting it on a web-site or in a brochure isn't cutting it.

Katherine McGill
[More info about the petition (and Zorra) on]
www.SunChaserWildlife.com

"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
- Mohandas Gandhi

LBA Update

2009-03-26T14:16:00.000-05:00

New Orleans neonate {approximately 2.5 weeks old} fell from above ceiling down between walls at a car dealership. The wall was cut open, baby rescued. Mother is still in ceiling & siblings can be heard. Advised to place baby in box tonight where mother has been seen & call if any issues.

Terrell, TX juvie remained on road side & in road for 3 days, was removed from road last night, observed maintaining a circular motion pattern {symptoms of nuerological damage from being hit by car or distemper/parvo}. Was kenneled by citizen & isolated from domestic pets. Result: destroyed by vet for possible distemper.

Central FL: family losing home needs to place 10 year old male pet raccoon. {This issue has been resolved.}

YouSoStanky's Big Adventure

2009-03-19T01:56:00.000-05:00

YouSoStanky has gone on his Big Adventure and was quite happy to do so. You can see other release footage at youtube.com/matzosnet

Animal Placement Needed

2009-03-11T04:05:00.000-05:00

This issue has been resolved. Thanks for all the responses!

-Matzo

{removed}
_____________________________
Please contact me if you can help!!

March Madness still

2009-03-10T08:17:00.000-05:00

Some of you know I made front page of the Eagle Herald in Marinette a week or two ago. {Schulz I saved you a copy just haven't mailed it}. Okay. One email and I have a new soft release site outside of Marinette. 5 acres of land and a volunteer who wants to get licensed. Blessing of the best kind.

Another email from Virginia rehabbers. yes. more LBA folks.

Last night? A phone call from Madison. gulp. Schulz.... Dane County protectionists ... a 10 year political group ... is trying to control the killing business of the DNR and get the Wisconsin laws changed so that citizens who care about the wildlife and killing them can get involved. I'm shaking. They want me to get involved with this campaign. This is LBA being invited to join the fight against the laws allowing the killing of our wildlife. All my Wisconsin LBA members please email me your mailing addy so I have it current and can get you posters if you want them.

Ok. I'm shaking. School is 2 hours delay for the ice. Imagine school delayed in the Northwoods. Okay. The clincher? Early release at 1:50 besides. sheesh. So. Will be calling Madison back when komd's slow down and school is in session. Will be getting Posters, fliers to hand out, there will be voting in all counties of Wisconsin on April 13 at 6:30 p.m. for election of this position. Patricia Randolph is the lady who has contacted me.

Need spring baby pics please LBA

-Matz

Computer Problems?

2009-03-05T01:33:00.000-06:00

Thanks for the helpful tips Jerry!

Hanna from Sweden

2009-02-25T06:53:00.000-06:00

Coonie story

Hello
I am Hanna. I am 9 years old.
My grandma knows a lady called Matzo cooniemum.
She has coonies that she looks after. When they are sick.
Have seen pictures of cooniebabies and watched a cooniecam where you can look at them.
We don't have coonies in sweden, they live where Matzo lives and on another place. Think it was Canada.
Very good that there is a cooniemum that takes care of them.
But they are not pets. When they get well they are going out and play later.
Maybe they will have new coonies. If they fall in love.
Grandma says that you can't touch wild animals.
I saw a roe deer baby.
Oh by the way coonies are racoon if you didn't know that..I love them.
I hope they will come here but I don't think they will.
They want to live in their homecountry.
And the sick goes to aunt Matzo so she can make them healthy.
I'm gonna learn english so I can ask auntie Matzo later.

Hugs to all coonies and Matzo

written by Hanna at Grandma's

Hanna lives in in Nacka - suburb to Stockholm Sweden. The pic is Hanna blowing me kisses because I threw her kisses on the CoonCam. What a wonderful story she has written for her class! Thanks Hanna!! Big coonie hugs to you from cooniemum.

Thank you Ewa for translating this to English for me!!

Eagle in Montana

2009-02-21T04:49:00.000-06:00

These photos came in from an LBA member [thanks Deb] and it's simply something you should see.

Click on any one to see it larger, click the back button to come back to the blog.

And days just blurr into one sometimes

2009-02-20T05:59:00.000-06:00

The day started out early as usual. Off to teach my newbies how to use computers at NWTC in Oconto Falls, roads pretty well plowed from the surprise snow we got. YouSoStanky anxiously waiting his trip to the forest that was delayed by the 6" of snow on top of the cages. He needs about 3 days of decent weather to find his way & new sleeping arrangements in the forest. And no wind. Coonies don't like wind. They don't like to be touched and they are really afraid to be touched by something they can't see or touch back. So they hide from high winds.

I have some wonderful students in my class. One happens to own Maple Valley Orchards in Maple Valley and was discussing the donation of apples to the food pantry there in the Falls, you know? A delivery date for them [another student helps at one of the local food pantries]. So asking what apples were not human edible, he donated many bushels of apples to the Wildlife Orphanage. What a special treat to be able to feed apples to the coonies with a foot of snow on the ground!! When the roads up that way are driveable we'll take the ghetto van and go get those apples. Maybe on YouSoStanky's release day, who knows?

Around 2 p.m. the Eagle Herald came to do an interview for the newspaper and take photos of the Coondo & inhabitants. The photographer [Rick Gebhard] was like a kid in a candy store. Writing notes on his notebook and holding them up to the CoonCam for all the viewers to see. He was so funny. His poor colleague [Don Williams -- whom I hear is retiring] wasn't quite dressed for the outside weather and kept going to warm up while the photographer & I played with Shazbot. lol. YouSoStanky & the LilDood couldn't even be seen. Seriously, I looked in the mini-coondo and couldn't see where they were hiding!! They never even peeked out. This is wonderful as it means they are avoiding strangers! Definitely what we want to see before release of a wild one. As soon as they left, the boys were right back out as was Hiway, but she was still pretty upset about visitors. The article should appear in the Eagle Herald next week. What a wonderful opportunity to tell the community that spring birthing season is upon us and to please check Dory & the Orphans website BEFORE you try to help any wild animal. Your help could kill them and they may not need help in the first place. Babies with mother not right there does NOT mean mother has abandoned them. She needs to eat to produce milk to feed them.

At approximately 7:44 pm central time news was received from a Missouri LBA member that his brother Keith William Nolan (43) had succumbed to lung, stomach and brain cancer. Keith was a nationally famous researcher, historian and author, he had one daughter Britt (9). Keith was a wonderful and kind man. He was a volunteer and worked with raccoons exclusively about 10 years ago at the old Ballwin shelter. Erik says "He really helped me with my coonie litter last summer, until his doctors told him not to interact with them because he was so ill." The photo is one of the last times Keith was able to hold a coonie. Our prayers are with you Erik and your family.

Koala saved from Australia's wildfires doing well

2009-02-13T05:15:00.000-06:00

SYDNEY "Sam" the koala, the most famous furry survivor of Australia's worst-ever wildfires, is healing well thanks to the efforts of caretakers at a rescue shelter - and she even has a new boyfriend, "Bob."

Sam, who captured hearts around the world after she was photographed drinking from a firefighter's water bottle, has also won the affection of "Bob," another koala whose paws were scorched in the weekend's inferno, caretaker Lynn Raymond said Thursday.

"Bob is her protector - as soon as she is moved, he's on the move, too. It really looks like he's making sure she's OK," Raymond said from the Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson, 100 miles (170 kilometers) east of Melbourne in Victoria state, where the deadly fires continue to burn. "They're good company for each other."

Neither koala is likely to be healthy enough for release for at least four months, and are being comforted by caretakers who salve their scorched paws every few hours.

read more See the video of the firefighter rescuing this burned koala

By KRISTEN GELINEAU
Associated Press Writer

Posted: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009

A Koala nicknamed Sam, saved from the bushfires in Gippsland, is cared at the Mountain Ash Wildlife Center in Rawson, 100 miles (170 kilometers) east of Melbourne, Australia, where workers were scrambling to salve the wounds of possums, kangaroos and lizards Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. More than 180 people were killed in the weekend's fires, and on Wednesday, the scope of the devastation to Australia's wildlife began to emerge, with officials estimating that millions of animals also perished in the inferno.

Australia's Record Heatwave

2009-02-09T08:02:00.000-06:00

This was received from a fellow LBA member ..

"This is Australia... .......................!!!!! Victoria has just suffered a record heat wave and...

A friend of a friend lives at Maude. His wife sent him these photos of a little Koala which just walked into the back porch looking for a bit of heat relief. She filled up a bucket and this is what happened!"

See Photos

Raccoons Invade White House Grounds

2009-02-05T15:54:00.000-06:00

A small band of masked intruders has broken into the secure White House grounds and has evaded capture by agents of the new Obama administration, officials said today.

The National Park Service is in pursuit of one very large raccoon and several medium-sized raccoons, who have been spotted roaming the grounds around the Executive Mansion and the West Wing, a spokesman said.

"The idea of raccoons on the White House grounds give us great pause," spokesman Bill Burton said.

So far, the raccoons have evaded capture despite the presence of several "live traps," which are essentially cages with a one-way doors to keep the animals inside.

The traps are baited with apples, cat food and peanut butter, Burton said, but so far to little avail.

None of the raccoons have been seen in the past week, but officials said they still believe the wild animals are roaming the premises. The hunt continues, Burton said.

Click here to read more

By Michael D. Shear

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 5, 2009; 10:46 AM

Happy Groundhog's Day 2009

2009-02-02T09:32:00.000-06:00

In Memory of Winnie the woodchuck
As usual, the coonies in the Coondo have their own thoughts about what any groundhog around the Northwoods might think. Seems checking the archives? The coonies have been correct more often than the 'famous' groundhogs. At any rate? This morning the coonies in the Coondo [on the CoonCam] have predicted an early spring for the Northwoods.Last year's over winters didn't even peek out of the cubby on groundhog's day. Today's overwinters are ready to go dig and climb and explore. Probably to find mates if they could as well.

Males and females don't stay together after breeding season. Males aren't allowed to remain part of the litter after they reach approximately a year of age. They are chased off and form bachelor groups. The older boar males prefer to be loners. But many times the families will reunite to den up over winter if it's a particularly cold one. Didn't see that happening this winter, as most didn't even go into their psuedo-hibernation [called torpor].

There have also been way too many rescue calls for this time of year. Porcupines are abundant in the Northwoods right now. Enjoy your sunny day today and be kind to our wildlife. Watch for them when you drive, many don't see very well.

Question to the Rehab Community

2009-01-28T23:21:00.000-06:00

From: "Haverty, Jennifer L - DNR Wisconsin.gov"
Subject: 'possum, was GHOW available for placement

on a related topic -

I have a young opossum with a traumatic amputation of a front foot. I
suspect a trap.

Do you, or anyone you know, have experience with a successful
re-introduction to the wild, under those circumstances? Just how critical
for survival would that front foot be? She can move around, and climb to
at least some degree, although the stump is not fully healed yet.

Thanks,
P.P.

If you have thoughts on this, please click "comment" below this post.
GHOW was a Great Horned Owl that needed placement just fyi.
Thanks!
Matzo

Do you know?

2009-01-22T05:03:00.000-06:00

Today is squirrel appreciation day. Lots of tail twitching and chasing girlie friends in the wild right now. Be extra careful on the roads because the wildlife have other things on their minds right now and watching for vehicles is not on the top of the list.

It's breeding season for our wild ones everywhere right now. Spring birthing will begin in a few short weeks. Please respect our wildlife's needs and be extra cautious. Watch them, enjoy them, but please leave them alone so they can do their wild life things. The LBA wants their birth mothers to raise them, not to see them in our hands.

Thanks.

Matz

Deep Freeze in the Northwoods

2009-01-15T11:18:00.000-06:00

Yesterday the kids were told not to come to school today due to the deep freeze. Currently it is -23F with the windchill {that's -30.5C for my world wide friends}. The CoonCam window has been difficult to get the ice off to view the cam so was offline most of the morning. Nobody's moving around out in the Coondo this morning anyway.

Was watching some Ellen videos this morning and the word for the Raccoon Orphanage today is: just say no to putting lipstick on pigs.

New CoonCam!!

2009-01-09T02:59:00.000-06:00

Photos are Arajah on intake & after care

And today the CoonCam arrived from the "Operation CoonCam" project at SX. Inside informants tell me the responsible parties are: Diana, Steph55, Soroya, Bonnie, Ewa, Cookie, Donna, Kim, and our fearless leader Adam. Thanks so much to all of you!!

This CoonCam can be mounted on a helmet and runs on batteries. What this means is that future release videos can be the complete release as I view it! I don't think Operation CoonCam knew how handy this little feature is!!

Meanwhile, we are still trying to get live streaming video out to everyone. For some reason only some can get the live feed, and others cannot. This is not broswer specific either so am running out of things to look at as the problem. Any input would be helpful. Just post a comment on this post and it'll get to me.

Thanks everybody for what you do to help our wildlife!!

So much happens ... so little time

2009-01-08T03:10:00.000-06:00

Please excuse the fly-by post today. I am doing some serious multi-tasking here.

By the way -- this is Bonzai in the pic on the right. I mentioned he was not going to make it in the Coondo over wintering. Spent all his time making little snowballs and eating them just shivering. Never did put any autumn fat on his tail. Anyway, now he is hibernating somewhat and has put on a few pounds since New Year's Eve.

The CoonCam bit the dust. Started smoking and stinking and switched a breaker fuse even. Kaput went the CoonCam.

So I made mention of it on the CoonCam page. Also complained on StartXChange in the chat room - they were all helping get the live streaming working. A few days later when I let Kamir outside at around 1:30 a.m. here is a box on the porch. UPS delivery. It's a new CoonCam from Bill in the Adirondaks!! So I go post that in the SX Chat and come to find out that there was a covert operation going on in the ranks of Team Clean Living. So it appears we will have two views of the Raccoon Orphanage soon.

So of course, as soon as daylight was here I set up the new CoonCam and Soroya in Australia saw her first live snow. She has also seen her very first coonies ever. What do you think of that LBA?

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-01T23:11:00.000-06:00

Well. Things are interesting at the orphanage.

Bonzai finally had to be removed from the Coondo so he didn't freeze himself to death. He was spending all of his waking hours making little snowballs and eating them. Since removing him from the Coondo, the others are staying in torpor -- it would appear Bonzai has been keeping them all awake by his inability to hibernate. He's where he can see mama now and is sleeping like a baby most of the time. Manages maybe one temper tantrum in the morning, but it's the komd's fault -- they don't know each other [yet].

Happy Birthday Jesus

2008-12-25T02:00:00.000-06:00

When the presents are wrapped in paper and bows
And You don’t see Your name on any of those
And they’re carefully tucked under fake or dead trees
Help us all to remember to get on our knees
And thank You for giving us all the gifts
You wrapped them in fur and they just need a lift
To get back to the real trees, their forests and streams
Help our hearts to stay strong to follow these dreams
Let our hands be Your tool that help them survive
Help us know what to do to keep them alive
And know when we can’t, it was always Your plan
And You gave us the strength to do what we can
Please help us give You this as our gift every day of the year
And thank You Lord Jesus, for Your Angels so near

Psalm 91:11 (Amplified Bible)
For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

Another below zero day

2008-12-16T16:29:00.000-06:00

Just getting colder and colder up here. Ice on top of snow and now more snow headed this way tonight. Perhaps it will be enough to make our wild ones actually get into their proper mode of hibernating and prevent early births.

After putting out a post to the LBA? Seems the coonies are doing this pretty much collectively everywhere and we are having record temperature lows not seen since 1990.

Reports have been coming in of babies frozen in the snow, pregnant raccoons already -- in December!! Things just not looking good for normal spring season. All you rehabbers be prepared for the neonates far earlier this coming spring.

Houston reporting distemper cases, Missouri reporting pregnant females, bears not in hibernation. As the old chief has stated, animals are beginning to prepare for a revolt that is due to come about. Mother Nature is not happy with what hoomans have done to her precious planet and may just take it upon herself to fix the problem -- the virus we call mankind.

Please -- if you haven't already started doing your part to help our Mother Earth? Please start now. Even a small step is better than none. Reuse, recycle, go green.

-15 in the Northwoods

2008-12-15T09:59:00.000-06:00

Well. After all that snow it decided to rain. -15F with the wind chill today. Coondo locks, hasps, doors, everything frozen shut. But coonies all out and about. How strange is that? Coonies out in -15 in mid December? My poor babies all just a shakin asking mom what's going on here?

Unfortunately, since they aren't in torpor like they should have been for the past 6 weeks or so? They are going through 20lbs of dog food a day. Most expensive winter over I've ever run across.

Little Hercules muffin had his tail amputated. He still has a 4" nubbie and he looks absolutely adorable with it. Long haired kitten and just a little fluff of a tail. He's doing quite well and will be going home to his family for Christmas. What better gift could I give than to give him his own home and kids to love him? But alas. The time we've spent together? I fell in love and will cry when he goes home. But. If you love something give it freedom and the best you have to offer. I will be able to visit him so it'll be okay.

Little Bonzai is still just a little mama's boy. Would rather mama cuddle him than eat. Kind of concerns me though. His sibs are twice his size [but he rules the Coondo -- go figger]. Today they are all just shivering. One day we will have an inside space for the Coondos so they can go inside if they want to. But that's down the road a ways.

Keep warm and be safe.

early a.m. in the Northwoods

2008-12-09T05:21:00.000-06:00

Snow's still falling, schools are getting cancelled [but not here yet]. Temps have been down in the single digits for days. The main water pipes broke in the Village a few days ago. We didn't have any water off and on for 3 days. Had it back on overnight at least.

From having no snow late in the year to it snowing every day is quite a rude change. Coonies finally decided to stay all tucked in the cubbies in their hay and fall into torpor until the weather warms up a bit. Particularly watching little Bonzai this year. He is pretty small and wants mama instead of sleeping with the littermates. He was just a shiverin up a storm calling mama to come love him ... so I did and then he went to cubby up with the others.

No water in this deep freeze. They must eat snow or ice for liquids -- it freezes too fast and they wouldn't be finding any pools of water on the Big Adventure right now. Any wet on their paws and they'd be sticking to the chain link and hardware cloth harming their foot pads. And if coonies see water? Automatic get in it and get all four paws wet time.

OK days'a wastin and much to do....

Araja

2008-12-03T05:32:00.000-06:00

The beautiful Western Painted turtle that came in last summer all spray painted red and full of hot tar has lost the last scute with red on it today. It's taken her many months to grow enough that she shed her scutes and relieved her shell of all the paint. I saved all of the scutes as they came off one by one. And now she looks like a turtle. Her head is almost healed and perhaps this spring we can find her a nice pond in the forest far away from those who would do her harm so she can live a long life and prosper.

I have been getting rave reviews about Diary of a Coonie. Good news is, I may have found the little red schoolhouse that was the hold up for the soft cover version so that should be available very soon. Thanks to those who purchased the story, it is feeding the coonies today.

Diary of a Coonie

2008-12-01T21:40:00.001-06:00

I'm happy to announce that Diary of a Coonie is finally finished and available for immediate download. Still working on the cover for the soft cover book, but you can download the pdf version of it now.

It's the story of Dory & the Orphans from the perspective of one of the orphans, Little Mini

All proceeds from sales will feed the orphans at the orphanage.

Rave reviews have been coming in about this story written so a child can read it and enjoy the pictures and entertaining enough that adults are passing it on to their friends to read.

Mr. Henry Zecher Author of: The Masque of Sherlock Holmes, The Extraordinary Life of William Gillette said "It is delightful! I could not put it down until I finished it."

"Meltcat" after watching the youtube video Dory & the Orphans Christmas song has said

"Oh, Matzo,
That was just precious. And I felt like I knew each one of them personally, just from reading your book, 'Diary of a Coonie'.
Thank you for what you do for all those critters that cross your path.
Cat "

New Addition

2008-11-29T02:12:00.000-06:00

This morning around midnite, I got a call. My daughter was on her way to the hospital. It appears my grandson decided to come meet grandma a little early this morning. Her water broke and she had to get to the hospital for her C-section ahead of schedule. He is #8 grandchild in the family.

Short and sweet today as grandma is going to have her hands full with the other 7 while mom & dad are welcoming their little brother into our beautiful Mother Earth.

A Day to Give Thanks

2008-11-27T09:41:00.000-06:00

Well. It's here again! My favorite holiday of the year! The day I give thanks for everything in my life. The good, the bad and the ugly. Why? Because it all pulls together to make life a perfect circle.

I am thankful for the LBA. The marvelous wonderful hoomans who rescue both the wild ones and the citizens afraid to have them. Those who remain always in the background, under cover, waiting for the next contact to jump in and save the day. Those wonderful marvelous caring hoomans whom I would be ever so lost without.

I'm thankful for life itself and the opportunity to serve those who need. Einstein once said we do not begin to live until we serve others.

Here at the orphanage we will be having our annual give thanks feast. To be able to provide this meal shows me that there is nothing lacking at the orphanage. Food, shelter, comfort and peace for all who reside here.

Every one please remember to tell others what you are thankful for today. But don't just do that once a year. Every day you are given that you don't wake up and find yourself dead is a gift.

Be safe today. And PLEASE -- don't drink and drive.

May

2008-11-23T15:23:00.000-06:00

May came and so did a call to come rescue a little fawn. Well. With the price of gas and being laid off I couldn't drive 75 miles one way unfortunately. They got quite upset with me yelling I get paid good money to do this. Didn't matter what I tried to explain, they seemed to think I make a hefty income rescuing these wild ones. Fact is, I pay good money to do it. Call it a hobby if you think I'm nuts for working my butt off for no monetary advancement. I do get paid though. The unconditional love and trust of a wild animal can't be bought with money.

Just so happened another vet tech was in the area and brought me the fawn. The people wouldn't give it up at first. Why I don't know. They had three different stories of where he was found so I could only assume he had been kidnapped while waiting for mother to return from feeding.

He was stabilized and taken to Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary where they had just gotten in another fawn his age. On the way down I got my first ever driving ticket. I didn't pull into the left lane when there was a state patrol sitting on the shoulder. $160.00 ticket. Oh well. The fawn was safe.

Please people .... if you see a fawn all by itself laying down and mother is nowhere to be seen? Just leave it there. Stay away from it, fawns become humanized in less than one minute of seeing you. Mother is eating so she can produce milk to feed her fawn. Those that come into rehab? They learn to love humans and that's not good at hunting season. If you see it alone in the same spot and getting weak for several days? Yes. Call a rehabber, call a vet, call the DNR, but don't take it away.

sometime in mid-June

2008-11-21T18:28:00.000-06:00

Mid June brought a few difficult cases. The arrival of Eliza and Bethanne was heartbreaking. Such tiny dehydrated little creatures. They had such pleading looks in those little sunken eyes. Their little bodies had lain in the elements for a day too long. It was difficult for them to move and they were covered with parasites. Their siblings had crossed over the night before.

The story I was told on their intake came from an outraged vet tech. She'd heard about some kids killing a mother raccoon, injuring the babies and leaving them lay in the woods. She found where they were and brought them to the orphanage. She got supplies for those girls, came back the next day with syringes and needles. She helped subQ when they arrived. She was a blessing.

Treatment rid them of their parasites. SubQ fluids eased their suffering. They tried to fight the senseless abuse, starvation and dehydration off. But it just wasn't to be. Their hides had become thick and stiff like tanned leather, much like a thick leather belt feels. Imagine trying to move in skin so badly abused having been tanned alive like that. Their eyes were sunken in so it was as if little black holes in space were trying to focus at the world once again. Eliza gave up to cross rainbow bridge and left Bethanne behind for a few days. They were buried next to each other and each given their own purple pansy plant to mark their fleeting existence.

We need to teach kids that it is NOT fun to harm wild animals. It is NOT okay. It is wrong and it is against Mother Nature. Please! Teach your kids and grandkids to be kind. That animals really do have feelings and families too. Good citizens? My heart is broken for the lack of knowledge your children have about our wild animals.

and then there were three

2008-11-20T21:58:00.000-06:00

Well. The president of the Wisconsin Wildlife Rehabber's Association caught wind of my trip to the sanctuary. It was a few days later she called and said they had a litter in and weren't even going to take them out of the kennel they arrived in, were bringing them right up to the orphanage. She said 'want to just work with them a few days and see if they integrate okay?' I said "you know full well you bring them up here you can kiss em goodbye -- they won't be sent back anywhere". She said "good, because I'm already on my way". lol. So. About forty five minutes later the triplets arrived. Gorgeous little 6 week old girls. From a barn in Algoma. Still too little for Lil Dood though. He'd have chewed em up and spit em out. He had anger issues resulting from his ordeal.

By now Lil Dood had adopted Kamir [my guard dog]. Kamir fell madly in love with the Lil Dood, which was odd as she doesn't really want to play with any other critter around here. But her and the Lil Dood were pretty much inseparable. They absolutely adored each other. Kamir doesn't allow anybody else to enter her kennel. But the Lil Dood had full carte blanche from her. She even allowed Lil Dood to eat her dog food when he felt like it.

the season continued:

2008-11-20T16:09:00.000-06:00

Shabot and Hiway were quite content to be the only coonies at the orphanage. They didn't move in to the big coondo though. Hiway was okay with it for about three whole minutes but then started pacing like a basket case to get back to her mini-coondo. So I accomodated her.

The Lil Dood was the first intake to arrive. His chariot was the game warden's sports van. He was in a kitten kennel with a plastic bag of powdered lamb formula. He was caked from head to toe with powder. No water. So of course, first thing I did was get that plastic bag out of there and let him out. The game warden jumped back a bit and said "it's going to get away!!" I looked at him on the back of the love seat and said "he's not going anywhere". He asked if I was going to be able to fix the Lil Dood's foot. It was cut in half from being trapped in a pile of wood and hauled into the back of a semi. He'd apparently spent several days in that truck and chewed himself loose. No front teeth left on the little guy. Told the game warden it was going to take me longer to get the formula off him than fix his foot.

Good thing is, it healed beautifully. He has nothing more than a pink spot in the middle of the pad.

After a few weeks, a fawn came in. I decided to take him down to Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary as they had other fawns his age. Siblings or peers of same species are very important for wildlife. While at the Sanctuary I looked at their coonies to find a littermate for Lil Dood. Scruffing neonates, looking at em, and I heard 'oooooohhhh's and 'aaaahhhhh's. Turn and look over my shoulder and here's a big picture window of the visitors at the sanctuary watching. I felt like I was picking out a kitten or puppy, but realized I was probably the only one in the state picking out a litter of baby coonies at that moment. This calling has it's perks.

But alas. They were all too small for the Lil Dood. So he remained a single kit that day.

Where to begin?

2008-11-19T05:54:00.000-06:00

April was a busy season for the southern states [and as always, Ohio and NYC]. Nary a word about coonies in the Northwoods. No orphans. No injured. No road kill. It was as if they had been swooped out of the Northwoods. Ottowa Canada reported a huge litter -- ten in a single litter. Then the virus hit.

Several humane societies shut down due to this virus killing hundreds of dogs in days. It traveled from the western states to the coasts and down from Canada, eastern and western states simultaneously. Rehabbers began losing the intakes that had been in contact with those faciites. It was all very scary.

It is a matter of pride to be a member in "Coon Central" -- our Yahoo groups pulled together and got supplies to the rehabbers in need on an impressive scale. The LBA took on a life of it's own and many illegal raccoons were relocated to LBA members and all worked out quite well.

Email contacts to the orphanage went through the roof this year. Good thing there were no neonates early in the season because between 12-30 emails for rescues were arriving daily. I became exhausted and didn't even have to feed babies yet!!

This went on until I became concerned there really "weren't" any orphans up here this season. A break would have been awesome, but where were the wild animals other than all those getting this virus in all different states?

19 degrees in the Northwoods

2008-11-18T07:54:00.000-06:00

I've gotten several emails asking if everything was okay here at the wildlife orphanage.

Truth is, I must apologize!! I didn't know there were so many readers!!

It's been a very busy year here and for all rehabbers. We were hit with an unknown virus hitting the coonie populations from Ontario Canada to Florida and spread in between. Little ones succumbing to the virus within three days of onset. And now flu season is coming .... I wonder how many hoomans know coonies can catch the flu?

Dory & the Orphans Christmas video was featured on Waukesha Sewer Raccoon News a few weeks or months ago or something. This blog follows the lives of the coonies living in the sewers of Waukesha. And the owner David Dix is quite diverse in his posts.

There is much to tell if there are those listening. So I will get these fingers fired up and let you all in on the season's journey and get you up to date at the wildlife orphanage.

A Tribute to Moms

2008-05-05T09:32:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are great moms, those of you who plan to be great Moms and those who have great moms......

REAL MOTHERS
Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the Sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of shag Carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little
Voice says, 'Because I love you best.'
Real Mothers know that a child ' s growth is not measured by height or
Years or grade...It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE
My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE
My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE
My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE
Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE
Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE
That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE
Well, she might know a little bit about it.

35 YEARS OF AGE
Before we decide, let's get Mom ' s opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE
Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE
Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman Is not in the clothes she wears, The figure that
She carries, Or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, Because that is the
Doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, But true beauty in a
Woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, The passion that she shows,
And the beauty of a woman with passing years-only grows!

[Thanks for sending this Jim!]

The Love of a Rehabber

2008-04-23T04:54:00.001-05:00

The Circle of Life, Reunited with Nature

You came to me young and afraid.
It was then that I prayed.
Help me with this tiny one.
Help him grow up big and strong.
And you grew with every day.
Round and round and round you'd play.
Then stop to look as if to say,
"Oh, momma, aren't I sweet?"
"May I have a little treat?"

When the day comes that we part,
my heart will pause then seem to stop.
I know how it will be.
You will run, then climb a tree.
This is great and meant to be…

So, why does this tear me up inside,
even though I'm full of pride?

"If I could talk, here's what I'd say.
Thank you for taking me in that day.
For feeding, cleaning and cuddling too,
when I was young and so brand new.
All to prepare for this one awesome day,
so I could be free and do as I may."

So, where do these tears come from?
This was a job that was well done.

"No need for you to cry too long,
for I'm great big, healthy and strong.
Can climb a tree and swim a stream.
From day one, this was my dream.
I'm so very, ready to roam.
Please trust I'll find myself a nice home."

Oh, why does this make me ache inside,
now that our goal is satisfied?

"It's ok, your work is done!
Now let me go to have my fun!
I'll be fine, no need to fret.
Miss me some, but don't forget,
when I was a babe you cared for me.
Now I have grown to be wild and free!
Reunited with nature, it's suppose to be,
for the circle of life, is now up to me."

He needed a rehabber's helping hand,
All grown up, but still my little man.
Forever and ever, born to be free,
reunited with nature, as was meant to be.
For the circle of life, is what he will see.

by Linda J. Sweeney
Wildlife Rehabilitator

Rabies Scam Press Release

2008-03-31T09:57:00.000-05:00

Natural Resources rabies programme
scam uncovered by wildlife rehabilitators.

Deadly for wildlife!
Abusive of taxpayers dollars!
Puts human and wildlife health at risk!

Monday, February 14, 2005: For the last 4 years the Ministry of Natural Resources has persecuted wildlife rehabilitation organizations in Ontario allegedly to “…protect human health from the deadly disease of rabies” and the health of wildlife populations.

It makes no sense. Why would the Ministry attack a group of volunteers who rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife from their own funds and public donations? Why would the Ministry unfairly target rehabilitators who have the animals in their care immunized, seen by veterinarians, and released only at the optimal time? Why would the Ministry go after a group of dedicated people who will take in orphaned and injured wildlife from members of the public who find these animals, therefore assisting in the protection of human health?

Read more by clicking on the link above. Yes .... this is old news. Has anything changed? Has the rabies situation been addressed? Is mass panic of citizens in hysteria really necessary?

Sunshine finally!

2008-03-29T11:10:00.000-05:00

It's pretty balmy up here in the Northwoods. 36 degrees and sunny. Benjamin & Lillian are insisting it is Spring. They sooo want to go on their Big Adventure. Now if the snow will clear off the forest roads we can do that. They're pretty antsy pantsy on the CoonCam today.

Albino Moose near Fort Saint John ,BC

2008-03-27T12:10:00.001-05:00

News from Southern Wisconsin ....

2008-03-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

Yup - the Northwoods is still here ...

2008-03-10T10:20:00.000-05:00

An email came asking if all is okay and why hasn't the blog been blogged lately. Thanks so much for caring enough to ask 'chalson5472'.

With the extremes in weather, utility bills, mortgage and insurance payments all piling up, classes canceled due to the weather, it's taking all of my time to get ready for spring birthing. Many emails have come in for assistance in placing adult coonies not making it through the winter too well. And weather interfering again.

We are in need of financial funding asap or it's going to get ugly. lol. If anyone wants to send a few dollars visit Dory & the Orphans page toward the bottom for more info. [and thanks!]

I have been working on promoting the raccoon rescue almost non-stop for about six weeks. Currently assisting in this part of the quest is Hippie Surf, StartXChange and Royal Surf. If you have a website or affiliate link to promote, and need free traffic for surfing, visit those sites.

meanwhile...... remember ....
we are born free, now live to serve, we are the LBA, so mums the word

Hmmmm... Northwoods closed again this year?!

2008-02-18T08:01:00.000-06:00

After watching close to a foot of snow fall since yesterday at daylight, it's quite peaceful outside. Pleasant at 20 degrees with no wind chill. Although there are some pretty deep drifts everywhere. The snow is higher than the tail lights on the GeeWiZ van. Don't think GWZ is going anywhere anytime soon -- or even today it looks like. lol.

Hiway & Shazbot have what appears to be 'peek holes'. They're out on the CoonCam this morning checking out the snowfall -- way on the right side of the screen. Not much snow got inside of their enclosure so they're pulling handfulls of it inside to them.

Not sure why but some people are getting still shots of the CoonCam and others seem to get the live feed fine. So I don't know how to resolve the problem. I get a still shot on the computers I've tried.

The Northwoods is indeed closed again today. So unusual for that to happen, and now it's twice just this year! Anybody want to tell me if my coonies called it spot on or if those ground hogs two weeks ago had a clue getting people's hopes up?

It's Winter in Wisconsin

2008-02-16T06:29:00.000-06:00

It's winter in Wisconsin
And the gentle breezes blow,
70 miles per hour at 52 below!
Oh, how I love Wisconsin
When the snow's up to your butt.
You take a breath of winter air
And your nose is frozen shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful,
I guess I'll hang around.
I could never leave Wisconsin,
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground.

My Coonie's Ground Hog Day Prediction

2008-02-02T12:53:00.000-06:00

Every year on Ground Hog's day, I observe the activity of the coonies out in the Coondo. Raccoon Orphanage has had coonies wintering over in the Coondos every February 2nd for -- well -- I don't remember how long. But I find their predictions far more accurate than any Punxatawney Phil, etc. And the coonies are telling me this morning that we're in for the long haul with more winter weather. Probably more than we bargain for because not a one of the orphans has poked so much as even a whisker out of the Coondo or mini-coondos this morning -- and it's nearly 11 a.m.

Best batton down those hatches because the worst is yet to come according to these Northwoods Furbutts.

Winnie Saves the Day!

2008-02-02T10:44:00.000-06:00

I got this from a fellow rehabber {some of you may know Suz -- 'squirlwhirl'}. Had to share this with all of you.

Milwaukee wasn't going to have a groundhog day this year because "Walnut" the zoo's resident hog died. They had a Plan B, which consisted of sticking a taxidermed groundhog in the ground. Check out the photo of "Beverly" who was going to be used as a substitute...omigod, I can't believe they were going to use that thing! LOL. Only in Milwaukee...

http://www.wisn.com/news/14977774/detail.html

So the Wildlife in Need Center here decided to offer their educational animal "Winnie" as a replacement to save the day. You can read about our sweet Winnie the hero and see a photo of the little princess in her "throne" at

http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Jan_08/01192008_06.asp

Suz

The Northwoods is Closed Today

2008-01-30T06:11:00.000-06:00

Yesterday around noon it started. The drizzle, rain, fog, mist and other fine bits of moisture coated the roads before the sleet, hail and snow started. By 3 p.m. the roads were solid black ice with a few inches of slush and snow covering it, and treacherous. The GeeWiZ van did a complete donut trying to turn the corner to get home at a crawl. Last night we got hit with just a little blizzard -- which is still beating us up pretty good at the moment. Windows are all pretty well iced over with that gorgeous delicate crystal patterns of ice. Right now it's -34 degrees with the wind chill. Looks like the Northwoods is closed today.

5:40 a.m. update:

Looking at the length of the school closings already this morning, it would appear the entire state of Wisconsin is closed, not just the Northwoods. lol.

Update on George

2008-01-28T20:02:00.000-06:00

Those of you who have been wondering about George -- here is the latest news. He will be with a licensed wildlife rehabber within the next few weeks. Both parties have connected, all involved are quite anxious and excited, the transport distance is as minimal as possible, and it's just a matter of working out the details. No doubt you will be kept up on George's journey through life via video clips and youtube. I just love a happy ending.

'Ol George here has had quite an outpouring of emotions from heartstrings being pulled. It's awesome to know how many choices George had to go. Many diehard rehabbers have recognized in George some very special qualities. And honestly? I personally, would love to have George here at the Raccoon Orphanage. But that is not the best place for him. I thank all of you for your help and support, and understanding that George will be in the most incredible home that a coonie could ever want to live in forever. Those of you who want to know where will find out soon enough and I'm sure you know where to look. :^)

For those of you who don't know George's story go to raccoon-rescue.blogspot.com

Packer Game

2008-01-20T06:56:00.000-06:00

Today is going to be interesting. We should get to see all the die hard Packer fans freezing their butts off at the game in thirty below weather. [In case you don't know, in weather like this, skin freezes within thirty seconds or less.] On the early morning news they report that the Green Bay police department is taking three hour shifts to make sure no Packer fans take their clothes off at the game and everyone is dressed appropriately for the weather. Seems me adults should already know this and why spend police dollars making sure idiots keep their clothes on in public because it's below zero weather? I say let the idiots that want to take their clothes off at the game just freeze to death. It would be rather quick and fairly painless if they have enough beer in em. If they don't have the brain to not go out and get half nekked in this weather then perhaps the gene pool could do without their genetic copies.

Deep Freeze

2008-01-19T05:32:00.000-06:00

It got pretty doggone chilly up here in the Northwoods. I started doing laundry around 3 a.m. just to keep the pipes from freezing. It's currently -29 with the wind chill factor and dropping. I sure hope all the coonies here at the orphanage and in the forests stay warm. CoonCam is frozen over right now - too bad you can't see the awesome crystal shapes of the ice -- only the blur.

Winter at the Raccoon Orphanage

2008-01-17T23:36:00.000-06:00

It snowed in the Northwoods -- finally. I mean it really snowed. Started early last night sometime and hasn't quit yet -- twenty four hours later. It's a very pleasant snow. Sparkly, glittery little floating entities slowly piling up everywhere. It looks like it's fragile little balancing pieces of glittering powder. I had to shovel an accumulation of about a foot off the top of Hiway & Shazbot's mini-coondo. The weatherman says we're in for sub-zero weather tomorrow and colder over the weekend. The kids got sent home from school today at lunch time. It's pretty rare to get a snow day in Coleman!

Lillian made a rare appearance - but if you watch the video you'll see she's very careful not to put her feet right in the snow. She spends some time eating a few icicles from the top of the Coondo perimeter though. But I think she's giving me a bit of a 'what ARE you doing' look when she sees me through the window moving the CoonCam trying to get her climbing antics.

Molly in Florida update

2008-01-16T08:09:00.000-06:00

Here's little Molly in her new home. She has successfully been relocated with a licensed rehabber and is currently referred to as "snot snot" because she thinks she runs the place. Sound like any coonie you know? Sounds like a good one to call that Shazbot of mine. lol I have no words to express the gratitude I feel for both those citizens willing to find a good home for a coonie they tried to help and those rehabbers and qualified humans who are able to give them new proper homes or rehab capabilities.

{Don't you think those southern cousins are just the cutest little replicas of our Northwoods coonies?}

Spirit Dance Ranch

2008-01-16T06:42:00.000-06:00

Winter Dressage Clinics with USDF Gold Medalist, Lois Heyerdahl (USEF Sr. Dressage Judge) Jan. 19th & 20th has been cancelled-due to the weather! For further info visit http://spirit-dance-ranch.com

Fresh Snowfall

2008-01-13T09:13:00.000-06:00

After several days of what could only be considered spring weather, it is finally snowing in the Northwoods. We have approx. six inches of new snow since last night. The photo on the right is the CoonCam view this morning. Don't think any coonies will be venturing out any time soon today.

Winter Tornado?

2008-01-09T05:34:00.001-06:00

Well. After the fog for several days turning into April rain showers, a tornado even managed to cause havoc in various areas. No damages that I've heard so far, but how odd to have this kind of weather in January!!

Birthing Season is Soon!!

2008-01-08T05:30:00.000-06:00

Yes. Even up here in the Northwoods, we're looking at mere weeks until babies arrive in the wild. Not only does this mean more sightings of wildlife looking for partners or birthing dens, it means rehab season is soon to be upon us.

A new page has been created for those who need help if they find wildlife they think needs help.
http://raccoon-rescue.blogspot.com

Mid Winter Meltdown

2008-01-06T05:37:00.000-06:00

Yup. You can hear the water dripping in little waterfalls outside already this morning. Sounds like a spring rain -- but it's just the snow and ice melting. Nearly 40 degrees and the sun isn't up yet. A 'normal' year we have icicles 6 feet long hanging everywhere.

Benjamin & Lillian were pretty rambunctious around 2 pm yesterday and if the weather holds, they probably will be today too. They rather enjoyed having water instead of ice to play with. There's a pretty good fog out there this morning though so the CoonCam may see that. When we get a meltdown like this, it causes steam to rise and make awesome fog cover.

Weather like this in early January is going to get a lot of furry critters out and about exploring and bouncing around. I even saw a patch of lawn yesterday!!

And Today a Heat Wave is on the way!!

2008-01-04T06:23:00.000-06:00

Well. After surviving that bitter below zero weather, the coonies should be quite happy as it's supposed to be in the high 20's today and maybe 30's. Over the weekend it's supposed to hit the 40's and break record temps for the Northwoods this time of year. Heck - it's already 12 degrees this morning! Doesn't sound too warm to our southern friends, but that's nearly thirty degrees warmer than yesterday!

That's good & bad news for the Northwoods. {Good news to 'me' though - I can thaw out!!} Up here when we have a fast melt of several feet of snow {which we DON'T have this year up here ---- yet} the storm drains need to be cleared. Not as much so the water can drain as for when it refreezes. It blocks the drains when it refreezes. Then there's a flooding problem for the next fast melt.

I may just go out and get a tan this weekend if it's in the 40's. LOL. {That comment is for Mary in Florida. LOL}

Brrrrrr ....

2008-01-03T06:56:00.000-06:00

The weatherman says it's minus sixteen degrees outside this morning. Was hoping the Wild and Wonderful Wildlife group would be able to catch a glimpse of the coonies this morning, but I seriously doubt that will happen with this extreme cold snap.

New Year's Eve

2007-12-31T04:34:00.000-06:00

Well. It appears this will be the last post of the year. Hoping everyone had a reasonable good year and that 2008 will be one of the best years ever.

I have another horse ranch site I'm designing. If anyone is interested in horses for sale {these are quarter horses} visit the blog that's just started last night at pykequarterhorses.blogspot.com

This winter weather has caused Hiway to wild up ever so slightly. She has bonded tightly with her Shazbot and is slowly growing away from her attachment issue to me. It's a bittersweet victory with my Hiway girlfriend. But alas, it IS what we want for her.

Please don't drink and drive tonight. If you are going to go party in the New Year, please have a designated driver. Be safe!! And Happy New Year.

Snowing in the Northwoods -- whoda thunk?

2007-12-27T06:11:00.000-06:00

Guess you could call it snow. Looks like maybe a whole inch might be covering the GeeWiZ van. Lots of 4 a.m. banging around in the Coondo but no faces peeking out anywhere. The mini-coondo sounds pretty quiet. Hiway & Shazbot must be sleeping. Lillian & Benjamin would rather be out in the forest now. But they'll have to be patient until the weather is more food foraging friendly.

Feels pretty balmy out there at 30 degrees. Might sound odd to some folks to hear 30 degrees feels warm -- guess you just have to experience Wisconsin weather for a while to understand that one. :^)

Strange Weather

2007-12-26T12:21:00.000-06:00

It's a balmy 32 degrees up in the Northwoods today. Sun trying to shine through the clouds. All the coonies were up pacing this morning. Pretty unusual to have it so warm this time of year. Things are melting again after a few nights of cold enough to freeze stuff.

Happy Birthday Jesus

2007-12-25T04:34:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Dear Jesus. Happy Birthday to You.

When the presents are wrapped in paper and bows
And You don’t see Your name on any of those
And they’re carefully tucked under fake or dead trees
Help us all to remember to get on our knees
And thank You for giving us all the gifts
You wrapped them in fur and they just need a lift
To get back to the real trees, their forests and streams
Help our hearts to stay strong to follow these dreams
Let our hands be Your tool that help them survive
Help us know what to do to keep them alive
And know when we can’t, it was always Your plan
And You gave us the strength to do what we can
Please help us give You this as our gift every day of the year
And thank You Lord Jesus, for Your Angels so near

Psalm 91:11 (Amplified Bible)
For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

Christmas Eve in the Northwoods

2007-12-24T06:56:00.000-06:00

We had a thick fog set in for two days that started melting about everything. Yesterday it was beautiful out and all the ice melted that was in the swimming pool and frozen to the ground pans. I gave the coonies some fresh warm water and Hiway & Shazbot particularly enjoyed playing in the water and standing in it. Benjamin & Lillian don't seem to care much. They don't even go in the pool. My Hiway has outgrown her halter. Haven't been able to find one quite like it her size yet. Then later on in the morning it started to freezing rain and snow. Doesn't look like too much on the ground -- a few inches maybe. I hear the snow plows so it must be icy under that little bit of snow.

A couple of 'the boys' -- Arthur's growing up buddies -- are home on leave. One from the Army & one from the Marines. Those rowdy little kindergarten boys got so big. Brandon's wife Danielle is a sweetheart. Stever is scheduled for deployment in a few months.

Have a safe and happy Christmas Eve.

Simpleology

2007-12-21T06:18:00.000-06:00

My website Matzo's Net has been online investigating earn at home programs, schemes & scams since 1998. I have had the opportunity to 'meet' many of the 'big dogs' that invented some of these now famous programs. You know? Those guys who invented e-books and 'websites in a box'?

Mark Joyner is rather well known in the netpreneur community {and is in truth a phenomenal mentor}. Perhaps you have run across his Simpleology courses? I received an email from him this morning asking me to post his blog experiment on Dory & the Orphans Blog. So here you have it:

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

The best blogging techniques.
How to get traffic to your blog.
How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Scientists Clone Cats that Glow in the Dark

2007-12-17T04:34:00.000-06:00

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korean scientists have cloned cats that glow red when exposed to ultraviolet rays, an achievement that could help develop cures for human genetic diseases, the Science and Technology Ministry said.

Three Turkish Angora cats were born in January and February through cloning with a gene that produces a red fluorescent protein that makes them glow in dark. One died at birth, but the two others survived, the ministry said.

The ministry claimed it was the first time cats with modified genes have been cloned.

Scientists from Gyeongsang National University and Sunchon National University took skin cells from a cat and inserted the fluorescent gene into them before transplanting the genetically modified cells into eggs.

The development means other genes can also be inserted in the course of cloning, paving the way for producing lab cats with genetic diseases, including those of humans, to help develop new treatments, the ministry said.

"Cats have similar genes to those of humans," said veterinary professor Kong Il-keun of Gyeongsang National University. "We can make genetically modified cats that can be used to develop new cures for genetic diseases."

Keitaro Kato, a geneticist at Kinki University in western Japan who has cloned fish, said the research could be significant if it eventually helps treat people with hereditary diseases.

"People with genetic disorders usually have to receive treatment throughout their lives that is very hard on them," Kato said. "If these results can help to make their lives easier, then I think it's a wonderful thing."

South Korea's scientific reputation suffered a heavy blow after much-hailed stem-cell breakthroughs by scientist Hwang Woo-suk were found to be faked in late 2005. He remains on trial on fraud and other charges.

~~~~
submitted by:
Ann Rader
PremiumPetProducts.com

I pray that these animals are given some level of interest and stimulation and not just kept in small cages. I have my doubts...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Image from news.ninemsn.com.au news article {Click the link to view a video and the complete article.}

Well. Sounds to me like they want to use cats to experiment with to find genetic problems. I ran a search on Blingo {same as Google but you can win prizes} for "cats that glow in the dark" like Ann suggested. One article says the cloning procedure could be used to clone an individual that has problems to determine the genetic issues. It stated that cats are genetically similar to humans. Sounds to me like they intend to have two of the same genetic unit, with one being disposable? Anybody asked Spirit about who gets a soul and who doesn't? Who decrees what life is disposable and which life is not, regardless of how they were conceived?

Recent News Articles

2007-12-15T06:28:00.000-06:00

It's pretty disheartening when links to wild animal abuses are so widespread.

Students kill, cook, eat baby raccoon in class.

Is this even conceivable that children would not only be allowed to stomp a baby animal to death, but then eat it? Where is that fine line between serial killers murdering animals and it being encouraged by adults as a school activity? Seriously abusing such an intelligent trusting little creature is a horror in itself. Encouraging anyone to pluck a wild baby raccoon out of the wild and eat it? What do these children know about internal parasites that might kill them if eaten? Or microscopic Zoonotic that wild animal could be harboring? What do these children know about recognizing diseases in our wild animals or knowing by looking at organs there is danger in consumption?

And then we have that annual raccoon dinner in Arkansas supported by the very ones who want to rule out country. It's not too late to sign the petition to stop that inconsideration of the raccoons. Petition to stop the annual raccoon supper Do we want to be governed by anyone who has little or no regard to the feelings and plight of our own native wildlife?

Northwoods weather

2007-12-12T10:05:00.000-06:00

It's been pretty chilly up in the Northwoods. Only 11 degrees so far today. It was a pleasant 34 degrees for a while yesterday. Hiway and Shazbot are still getting up to eat morning and late afternoon. They don't like this cold much.

All the ice storms and severe weather graciously stayed south of us so we just have some hardened snow on the ground. Looks a little more 'normal' for this time of year.

This pic was sent by a friend in Alaska. Rich says it's "a picture of Homer from the hill coming into town."

Jan Cook

2007-12-05T14:34:00.000-06:00

To everyone,

I’m sending this email to all the people and lists I can think of.

I am sorry to say that my best friend and fellow rehabber, Jan Cook (aka the Raccoon Lady) passed away at the age of 57 on Monday, December 3, 2007, of what the coroner has ruled to be a heart attack. If anyone knows of other people she knew and lists Jan was on could you please pass this along?

Jan is on the left holding Shadow, Val is on the right holding Bubba Gump.

The Funeral Home information is:

SEALE Funeral Home
1720 South Range Avenue
Denham Springs, LA 70726
225-664-4143

The viewing is this evening, Wednesday December 5, 2007 from 5pm until 9pm and tomorrow morning from 9am until 11am. Funeral services will be at 11am tomorrow at the Funeral Home. I believe that Wayne, her husband, is going to have her cremated and her ashes will be scattered on their farm.

For you local folks, I will be going both tonight and tomorrow if you’d like to ride along. Just give me a call and let me know. *phone numbers removed*

I am consoled in knowing that she’s at the Rainbow Bridge with all her animals that preceded here and that I will see her again there at the Bridge one day as well.

Thanks,

Valerie (Jagneaux)
Possum Hollow Wildlife Center
Breaux Bridge, LA

Comments to Jan's family from friends and colleagues can be made by clicking the comment link below this post. If you don't have a Google account, don't check mark the email box. Put your name in the "nickname" box and check mark that one.

Val asked me what are they going to do with the coonies next season. I kind of suspect that Jan will keep many of them from having to come to us now that she's an Angel with wings. That's the only difference is that now she has wings, she's always been an Angel among us.

Jan Cook {Jcritterlover}

2007-12-04T18:39:00.000-06:00

It is with a heavy heart that I post this message received from the sister of a fellow rehabber:

To whom it may concern:

I just wanted to let you know that my sister, Jan, has passed away. I
am assuming you are an one of many who shared her passion for
raccoons. She will be a great loss to us all. Thank you for being
her friend.
Phaedra

I will post a picture of Jan or any further details when possible. Jan was a valued member of our rehab community. A caring and compassionate lady. She will be missed and not forgotten. Now we know an Angel by name and she will always be with us.

Question from Citizen

2007-12-04T06:17:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was surprised to get an email asking me why I had shoveled snow into Hiway & Shazbot's mini-coondo perimeter. Kind of caught me off guard as it hadn't dawned on me someone might be watching the CoonCam. {Blonde moment.}

Raccoons will lick snow or make little snowballs to eat in the winter for moisture. If I put water in their pans this time of year, they will get right in just like any other time of the year. If their paws are wet, they will get stuck to the chain link or other metal fencing and rip skin off the pad. Just like the skin on our fingers would do when wet. They don't even flinch when they do that, but they will bleed sometimes. It's best they get their moisture from a natural source like they'd be getting in the wild. So I shoveled in clean snow because I have a tarp on top preventing large amounts from covering the little yard they have. I also break up chunks of ice and put it on top of the frozen water in their pan.

Hiway rather enjoyed the snow and made a little mound in the corner. Patting it in different spots, bringing in more, just like she was building a snow coonie.

Bill's Babies

2007-12-03T07:57:00.000-06:00

Bill up in the Adirondacks sent me some pics of his coonies sleeping in the trees. These are some rare shots for anyone to see. Bill has been looking out for these little ones this year. He was a bit concerned he hadn't seen them for a while, and the snow allowed him to follow their tracks to locate them. Here they are up in the tree sleeping. Thought these were such unique shots that Bill gave me permission to post them.

Thanks for everything you do Bill!

Visit Bill's neck of the woods at Camp Hilary

"STOP the Annual Coon Supper" Petition

2007-12-01T12:07:00.000-06:00

I would humbly request that anyone reading this blog go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/885544126 to sign the petition to stop the annual coon dinner held for political agendas in Gillett Arkansas. Some of YOUR presidential candidates intent to attend this dinner and eat raccoons! {The Clinton and the Huckabee families to name a few.} Don't know about you, but I wouldn't vote for anyone who has such little respect for our wildlife that they would promote mass killing of one species to promote their political career and call it a social event. If they are so unaware of the situation our wildlife face, how can they be sensitive to any of the needs of our country?

Shamu

2007-12-01T12:05:00.000-06:00

How cool is this? Today Shamu came by to visit and he has a girlfriend with him! Shamu is a little grey squirrel that came in to the Orphanage two years ago with pnuemonia and the after effects of a dog playing with his litter of siblings. He was the only survivor that made it here. I am so happy for him and so proud that he has a girlfriend. It will be awesome to see baby Shamus running around the yard!

Blizzard on the way

2007-12-01T06:50:00.000-06:00

Well. According to the weather man, our first blizzard of the year should be reaching the Northwoods in just a few hours. They are predicting power outages, and bad driving conditions. Hope everybody is ready for this -- I never am but it still comes.

Stay warm and stay safe.

To Los Angeles residents

2007-11-26T06:32:00.000-06:00

I've been getting emails from Los Angeles area with coonie families making themselves at home. Some in the Jaccuzzi, some in attics, some with babies, some just "too friendly". They do not need help. They do not need to be relocated. They simply need the humans to quit leaving garbage and other things out to attract them.

Here is what I have had to explain to most humans concerned about a healthy family of coonies in their area:

Being friendly to humans is in their nature. They are a grateful creature
and need to learn to fear humans. They will approach humans just like a
little puppy when they need help. They will also choose only one or two
humans to let close and trust. All others will be kept at a distance or
warned with snarfs and growls to stay back. When really frightened they
bark like a dog, or arch and hiss like a cat. A wild coonie who is
friendly has either been fed by humans from a young age, or mother taught
it humans meant food sources and help.

They have discovered your area because you offer food and shelter. Most
likely there are humans leaving food out for the feral cats and their
domestic dogs outside at night. Bird feeders, BBQ equipment, kiddie pools,
Koi ponds, toddler toys, statues, trash in plastic bags [it should be in
containers with lids secured with bungee cords to keep them out] -- these
are all things that coonies like. A neighborhood needs to work together to
get coonies to move on. They need to lock these things up in sheds at
night for a few weeks, out of reach of the coonies.

Even if I help you move this 'one' coonie -- Mother Nature doesn't like a
void. She will replace it with two more. You need to make the area less of
a free meal and more secure. They will leave on their own in a short
period of time - about two weeks if the food is gone.

You are California. So much habitat has been destroyed just this year.
They have nowhere to go. It is birthing season in your area. Some are
young mothers looking for their first den. They don't know what's going
on, just they need a nice attic, chimney, crawlspace, or garage to give birth -- close to where there is food.

They also are a misunderstood creature. They actually benefit the humans
by catching snakes, rats and mice. If no human is putting out food, it's
quite possible it's a good hunting ground for them.

If you run across orphaned babies or injured coonies, please contact me. If you run into an emergency situation with this one you have concerns about, again, please contact me.

But to move this coonie? It has already lost it's home. Moving it would take away the home it has had to adapt to. Food & water sources would need to be found all over again. And they have been known to travel as far as twenty miles to get back to their babies. Most litters barely survive a week without mother. They can if they are strong - but it affects their growth and the quality of their life. It's okay if they are friendly -- as long as we don't try to touch them they don't want to hurt you. Don't try hand feeding them or picking them up, or think they are a domestic. But they will often want to touch your shoes and play with shoelaces, grab keys and run away, etc. especially the younger ones. All you have to do to scare them off is bang a wooden spoon on a large metal pan.

Thank you so much for caring about these coonies. Please help me to help
them survive where Mother Nature put them. There are so many injured and
orphaned each year, we rehabbers can barely keep up with their care.
Healthy ones just need a bit more understanding on the human end.