Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary Inc.
If you think wildlife rescue is all serene moments and Disney-style animal gratitude, let me lovingly burst that bubble for you. Most days are a cocktail of adrenaline, sweat, compassion, and the occasional poop-in-pocket surprise. And no two are ever the same – just how we like it, right?
Take one recent whirlwind of a day: an orphaned raccoon call in the morning, a duckling relocation in the afternoon, and a heartbreaking opossum case tucked right in the middle. It was chaotic, heartwarming, heartbreaking, exhausting, and honestly? Kind of perfect. These aren’t just stories about animals in distress. They’re reflections of how entangled our lives are with the wild world around us – and how badly that world needs more protectors.
Wildlife rescue doesn’t come with a script, and that’s half the magic (and madness). What started as a quiet patrol quickly turned into a full-blown multi-species rescue relay. Each situation required quick thinking, gentle hands, and just enough caffeine to keep my boots moving.
Every creature we pull from a tough spot, whether it’s raccoon kits left behind, ducklings trapped in a courtyard, or opossum babies dropped mid-flight, is a tiny heartbeat in the larger rhythm of conservation. These moments remind me daily that while we may be rescuing animals, we’re also preserving something bigger: the fragile thread of coexistence.
The Raccoon Rumble: Orphaned Kits & Heavy Moments
Morning coffee had barely hit the bloodstream when I got the call: a deceased raccoon had been found in a suburban yard, and the homeowners were worried she might have left babies behind. Unfortunately, they were right.
The mama had made her way into the attic before she was killed, hit by a car, most likely. The homeowners, bless them, climbed up and found the kits tucked deep in the insulation, crying and confused. They brought them down carefully and called for help. That’s where I stepped in.
Raccoon rescues are always tender, but orphaned ones? They hit different. These babies were scared, dehydrated, and still searching for the mom who wasn’t coming back. As I tucked them into a warm carrier and started stabilizing them, that familiar ache set in, the one that comes from seeing how hard wild animals fight to survive in a world not built for them.
They’re in rehab now, getting bottle-fed and cared for until they’re strong enough to go wild again. It’s not the ending they deserved, but it’s the one we can give them, and that matters.
The Opossum Fallout: Tiny Losses, Quiet Wins
Right in the middle of all this, I got another call – this one quiet, but heavy.
A mother opossum had been startled somewhere in the neighborhood. Probably by a dog or a mower or just the everyday noise of humans being humans. And when she ran, a couple of her babies didn’t make the trip. It’s incredibly common – opossum moms carry their babies on their backs, and if one or two lose their grip, she may not even notice they’re gone.
The homeowners found one in the side yard, the other near a fence line. They did everything right, got them warm, called immediately. But even with fast response and all the right steps, one of the babies passed within a couple hours. The other? Still going strong. Still learning how to “opossum” at this very moment.
This is the part most people never see – the quiet heartbreaks between the big saves. But even saving one life from fading away matters. That baby is safe, warm, and has a second shot because someone cared enough to look.
Ducklings in the Courtyard: Mama Duck’s Annual Bad Decision
And then, of course, there’s my springtime regular: That One Duck. For four years now, she’s chosen the same picturesque-but-completely-impractical courtyard fountain to hatch her ducklings. No exit ramp. No water flow. No sense of logistics. Just vibes.
So when the call came”again” I didn’t need directions. I packed up the crate, threw in a towel, and muttered something loving but mildly exasperated under my breath. This is our tradition now.
She watched me like she always does – equal parts concern and recognition, as I gathered her newest fuzzy brigade. The courtyard is a sweet idea, really. Safe from predators, full of ambient spa sounds. Unfortunately, it’s also a dead end. So I relocated her and the babies to a nearby pond, where she can actually raise them without a rescue team on standby.
There’s something kind of beautiful about it, though. A wild animal with just enough consistency to feel like an old friend. Every year she reminds me that instincts aren’t always perfect, but with a little help, they can still lead somewhere safe.
Why We Do This (Even When It’s Hard)
By the end of the day, my arms were scratched, my back ached, and my boots had things on them I don’t want to talk about. But I was also full – emotionally, not just from the rescue-snacks stash in the glovebox.
Each animal saved is a reminder: we’re not just fixing problems. We’re protecting stories, ecosystems, relationships. We’re teaching people that wild lives matter – not just when they’re cute or endangered, but always.
So, yeah. One day it’s raccoons. The next, it’s a duck with poor real estate instincts. And in between, it’s a baby opossum clinging to life because someone noticed a rustle in the grass. Every creature brings a lesson, a laugh, and a little more reason to keep showing up. We don’t always get to see the long-term impact, but we know it’s there, in every paw print or webbed foot or tiny tail that finds its way home.
Wildlife rehabilitation basicsW
What to do if you find injured or orphaned wildlife…
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA)
More on opossum behavior
How mother opossums carry their young and what happens when they’re startled…
Why ducklings get trapped in urban areas
Urban hazards for ducklings…
Humane solutions for raccoons in attics
Humane raccoon removal and attic rescue tips…
Because we love them….
Broadbent Wildlife Sanctuary
Some of our related content:
Goose Injuries and Wildlife Tales: A Day to Remember…
Orphaned Baby Opossums Rescue…
Helpless Raccoon Lying in a Driveway Needed Urgent Care…
Opossum Attacked by Dogs Wants to Fight Still Lets See What His Future Holds…
Coping With Loss: Showing Compassion to Dying Wildlife…
Orphaned Baby Squirrels Lose Home and Mom What to do if You Find an Orphaned Baby Squirrel….
Where Hope Takes Flight
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