Day 68 - Rehabilitation

Today starts my 8 day work week. Meaning my next day off will not be until Thursday of next week. This is due to switching with someone and thus giving up my day off on Monday. Why I am saying this is, if I do not post for a few days in a row you can easily assume it was because of being busy. Of course I will do my best but the animals and job come first. Today also marks 28 days left for this internship which is scary to think about!!!

So far today I have practically done raccoon stuff. This morning I fed two raccoons in our Raccoon Isolation room; this included changing their bed and providing them new solids to eat. As I did dishes the other intern had finished squirrels and our new Deer Mouse patient so he made up two bowls for the outside raccoons. I thanked him and took said bowls out. Once I fed these guys and changed out their water I grabbed the wheel barrel and shovel out there and started shoveling wood chips into the barrel. Once this was full of fresh wood chips I then went into the enclosure and started shoveling out old wet wood chips used by the raccoons and started bagging. This summed up most of my morning for I shoveled out the front half of one mammal cage (the worst) and then put new woodchips in. I also medicated a raccoon while outside with antibiotics then head to the outside dumpster with the three bags in the wheel barrel. Of course the bags were tossed, all supplies were put back, and I head inside.

This was when I checked out the list and although I actually did not get around to doing anything else besides feeding inside raccoons and editing our whiteboard I at least was able to cross off the raccoon clean up. What I meant by editing the whiteboard is I erased old data specifying where our raccoons were located and who was getting fed what and when. I combined all raccoons now outside (14) into one raccoon total and specified what they eat (on here I can only say Solids). I then rewrote whether or not an animal was on 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% formula and what formula they required. This data is detailed in folders where we record our feedings and such daily/hourly which is how I knew who got what besides experience.

After the 12pm raccoon feeding the rehabilitation side took lunch till 1:30pm then continued the day of course. I recall starting dishes after lunch, or at least attempting to before one of our volunteers started chatting with both rehab interns until the rehabber returned from lunch. Once I chatted for a while I made more disinfectant and then ran to ACE hardware to return two bolts and then purchase some nail glue for our tub. Upon returning back I then did exam room dishes before we realized we forgot to make a produce run so I then went to Save More and Trigs. Trigs had 4 1/2 boxes while Save More accidentally threw theirs out 5 minutes before I arrived. All is well though.

When I returned back to the center we unloaded and then moved on to new tasks. I helped clean up the exam room a bit by putting some sheets in the raccoon isolation room and then at some point I finished off all the tub dishes. Had to to do 4pm feedings; inside raccoons and outside. Everyone helped me prepare the trays again for the outside guys so I am grateful for that. While outside I filled Rhea/Willow and Errol's water since they were accidentally forgotten. Upon returning inside I cleaned up / restocked some and then helped the other intern on rehab with mice cleaning/feeding. Once this was done he and the rehabber worked on the Snowy Owl's feet a bit while I took out compost with Jimmy (my GMC). Once this was taken out then I took over for the other intern with Snowy's other foot while he and an education intern fed squirrels. We received two new Red squirrels tonight. I helped clean out Snowy's temporary home too and then I think that was it for the day. We didn't finish everything on the list but we actually managed to finish some projects. I want to say we finished at least 80% of the list but the fact we actually did projects truly is awesome in my opinion because it seems like the last few weeks or so it's been non stop feeding and cleaning or occasional protocols. Finally things are starting to transition back into what they used to be since majority of the protocols are finished except for a few. I personally have two left but I am not 100% positive what else there is beyond that.

I then took an intern to Wal-mart and picked up food at McDonalds (yuck) while waiting on her. She doesn't have a car since she flew here and there's no way I would make her walk since she's been so nice to me, it's hot, and carrying a lot of groceries sucks! After returning back to the center I then crawled upstairs for a bit before heading back down about 30min later to do 8pm feedings. I fed a raccoon and then helped the other intern with one of the three baby squirrels and a chart. I also did kitchen dishes which included washing leftover dishes and putting majority of the rest away. I offered to take phones and do the 10pm feeding if the other intern did the 3am feeding. He agreed and I am eternally grateful!

I am back on rehab tomorrow which means possibly transporting a Blue Jay to REGI. We will see what the day brings.