My car was full in mid-September when I drove some lost critters from the Raptor Center of Tampa Bay to Penny, a rehabber, in south St. Pete. Baby squirrel season was in full swing and I had 2 boxes of lost babies as well as 2 hawks and a baby dove.
A few days later more baby squirrels made the trip to Penny. This time I had 2 baby flying squirrels in the car. They were so tiny and much smaller than regular squirrels. They can’t actually fly around like birds and bats but are able to glide from tree to tree with those tiny “wings” on their sides. They are nocturnal so they are hard to spot. I’ve heard they are in the area but I’ve never seen one in the wild until this day.
A few “regular” baby squirrels also made the trip.
Penny rehabs all kinds of critters and lives in south St. Pete. Her neighborhood had a few free roaming peacocks and this one was able to walk in front of my car so I stopped and snapped the above as she crossed the street. She’s pretty with a mix of white and blue.
At the beginning of October a young red shoulder hawk had just come back from a visit to the vet for an injured eye and was making the trip back to the Raptor Center to finish his rehabilitation.
Look at that face! This great horned owl had been rescued and was well enough to be released so I was driving him to the Raptor Center from a Barbara, the rehabber near my home. He will go into the big flight cage at the center to build back up his strength.
A turkey vulture and another great horned owl also made the trip.
A few weeks later I stopped at an emergency vet to pick up a baby squirrel that had been brought in that was found in someone’s yard. Then I drove it to the Raptor Center.
He joined another big box of lost squirrels and I drove them all to Penny.
An injured crow also made the trip.
In early December I picked up a caracara from the Raptor Center that had an injured wing and leg. We don’t see caracaras near my home and this one was brought in from central Florida. I took him to Barbara, the rehabber, who was taking him to the vet the next morning to have him looked and at possibly reset the wing and leg. This was the 2nd caracara I had as a passenger in the year and half of driving injured critters. He looks like a prettier vulture and acts like a vulture (mostly eating roadkill) but he’s actually a type of falcon.
It is wonderful that you and the rehabbers are able to help all these critters.
Great photos and closeups of the owls, the Caracara, the vulture and those cute baby squirrels. The Peacock is a beauty! Thank you so much for your critter post and sharing your link. Take care, have a great weekend.
Oh my goodness, I can’t believe how tiny those baby squirrels are. Such precious animals.
What an amazing thing you do! I’m so glad there are people like you that care so much. And LOOK at the eyes on those Great Horned owls! WOW!
Keep this up and you’ll need a bigger car. Kudos on doing very important work!
Happy New Year, Dina.
Thank you for being the person you are helping animals. Happy trails!
Oh! Such a lot of unlucky critters – getting lucky after all.
Remember I rescued a couple of squirrel babies long time ago, when I lived in the middle of a city.
Hello 🙂
You are a lovely lady to help these creatures the way you do. They are all in need of saving and taking those that are either lost or injured to places where they will be safe, cured, and eventually rehabilitated must be very rewarding. The photos of the various creatures are fabulous. I am in awe of the great work you do, thank you.
I’ve never heard of a caracara. Very pretty bird. The owls are so majestic looking. Glad this sweet animals are getting the care they need. You do a good deed in transporting them here and there. Take care and have a great day.