Lucky Survivors

Weather reeks havoc on native wildlife in the Houston area. 
If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it will change.  This seems very true here in the Houston area the last few weeks.  We have seen snow, freezing temperatures, sunshine, wind and rain.  Our native wildlife as been seen trying to adjust [...]

Letter from the Director – Fall 2008

  Thank you!
 Sharon Schmalz, Executive Director
The devastation that Ike wreaked is difficult to comprehend. Many animals and birds were displaced and injured, but because Ike struck at the beginning of the squirrel’s second litter of the year, that population has been hit the hardest. Hurricane Ike brought us over 1500 squirrels! During the three week period [...]

Busy as a Beaver

Busy as a Beaver  
Cyndi Bohannon
Beavers (Castor canadensis) alter their environment to fit their needs to a greater degree than any other animal besides man. Their conversion of densely wooded streambeds to wetlands and finally to nutrient  rich meadows is an ecologic miracle.  Whether you consider the beaver to be an engineering genius or a tenacious [...]

Raccoon rescue

One of the greatest joys for a wildlife animal rehabilator is the successful reunion of a mother and her babies.  Lots of books have been written about living in peace with the local wildlife. Even how to foster an environment to encourage wildlife without having them wreck YOUR home and eating all of your landscaping.
However, [...]

Squirrels, Squirrels Everywhere Squirrels

By Cyndi Bohannon
 
Squirrelly –adjective; eccentric, cunningly unforthcoming, reticent, odd, crazy, unpredictable, jumpy, restless or nervous…….a pretty unflattering description all things considered.  However, the adjective actually describes behaviors that with respect to evolution are extremely advanced.
 
The squirrel’s bizarre zigzag / double back flight from danger seems random and indecisive, but is brilliant  in light of [...]

Raccoon – Too Smart by Half

Raccoons are my problem children. They are just “too” – too cute, too curious, too brave, too strong, too aggressive, too smart, too adaptable, too devious, too agile … well, you get the picture. As my Dad would say they are “too smart by half”. The problem is that God gave them too much dexterity [...]

Awesome Opossum

By Cyndi Bohannon
Anyone who has moved a wheelbarrow and found a hissing and spitting opossum underneath understands the jolt of adrenaline such an encounter produces. When faced with such an aggressive display, it is hard to remember that the opossum is more frightened that you. Think that opossums are disgustingly ugly? Tempted to chase them [...]

9 Banded Armadillo – The Texas Tank

Nine Banded Armadillo – The Texas Tank
by Cyndi Bohannon
Until I became a wildlife rehabilitator, my experience with armadillos was limited to squished little bodies on country roads, one bouncing through a soccer field and my great-grandmother’s macabre but fascinating armadillo skin basket.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew they were mammals, but [...]