Giving Back to Local Wildlife

At the time of this writing, I'm living in Canada's largest city, and it just so happens to have its own bustling wildlife population. I'm not just talking about those cute masked critters that rummage through your garbage bins (though raccoons are so plentiful in Toronto, it's often referred to as Raccoon City). This area has a host of various wildlife that are thriving here. Being so accustomed to urban life, our wild animals wouldn't know what to do if they suddenly found themselves in a rural setting. However, from time to time they get themselves into human-facilitated predicaments, and they need a hand to get back on track.

When I began volunteering with the Toronto Wildlife Centre, I had no idea how much I would learn and grow with the experience. I initially signed on to feed baby squirrels in the TWC nursery, which is as delightful as it sounds. I've always had a soft spot for rodents, so getting the opportunity to hold a baby squirrel in my hands and feed them from a syringe was so heartwarming. The hardest part for me was having to exercise the discipline to not fawn over them or talk to them. A very important part of my training was the reminder that these are wild animals, and we don't want to do anything to tame them. Once a wild animal is taken in by humans, there is a significant risk of rehabilitation failure when returning them to the wild. This is why we shouldn't feed squirrels and birds in the park or from our balconies, as it can cause dependence and disrupt their natural patterns.

When baby squirrels come into the centre, they're usually in a group. The mother might be prevented from returning to the nest (squirrel moms are very attentive and don't typically just abandon their babies), or be taken by a predator, and someone calls the TWC hotline to advise they found some nestlings that need help. The squirrels are small, but not pink and helpless. They've got a full coat of fur and their eyes are open, but they are still very young and need nutritional supplementation to thrive. They are kept in covered cages (again to limit their exposure to humans) and fed inside a pillowcase to keep them warm, catch any droppings, and also to keep their eyes covered so they don't see us feeding them. We don't want them to start associating humans with food. The amount of formula they receive is carefully tracked, and they are regularly weighed and inspected by the TWC vets. 

I like to invoke Reiki before I begin my shift. The babies are nervous enough as it is, so I want to ensure I'm not adding to that stress. I ground myself with a brief whole body awareness meditation, and send Reiki healing ahead to my shift to ensure any animals that want or need it can access it. I create a Reiki trail around the area to calm any restless energy that may be present, and I make sure to clear my own energy before I enter the nursery. As I feed each animal, I'm fully engaged with them and send them calming thoughts that they are safe and will soon be back home. I send them visual images of them outdoors with their siblings when they are a bit bigger. I also send them love and gratitude to them for letting me help them out.

Once they're old enough they can start weaning onto nuts and seeds. When they are fully weaned they are transitioned out of the nursery into specially built outdoor cages with recreated natural settings so they can re-acclimate to the elements. When the vets feel they're ready, they are taken back to the general area where they were initially found, and they are ceremoniously released.

If you live in the GTA and love animals as much as I do, learn more about the Toronto Wildlife Centre, and consider donating to this incredibly worthy cause.✨

Banner photo courtesy Sebastian Latorre on Unsplash