I had an amazing experience today, and it made me think of my childhood with Otho Nogo and Kathleen Madole, and all the time we spent in the woods camping and hiking. I dont think there is an animal on earth (except for humans) that my parents dont love, and I am grateful for that. I was hiking at McLinden trails, and spotted a little snapping turtle on the path. Picked him up and took him off path to the side near the water. I was walking near the pine forest area, and decided to go off path and follow a deer trail through the pines. I stopped in a spot where the trees form a circle, and looked down. There was a small furry bat lying right at my feet. I touched him gently with a stick and he lifted his head, opened his mouth wide and hissed at me. I called the amazing Kimberly Whalen for advice--she has rescued and rehabbed countless birds and beasts. No answer. I left a message. Called Jonathon and he went online and found the number for the Nature Center. I called (inexplicably, my cellphone was working--it usually doesnt back on the trails.) Nature Center was closed. The message said to call the DNR for any injured or ill wildlife. I called the DNR. Closed. No info about injured wildlife. My cell rang--Kim! She said bats cant get up off the ground on their own, and to try to get it to a tree with bark and holes so it could hopefully climb up and get warm. I didnt want to take it home in case of rabies and I didnt want to leave him there. I gently picked him up on a branch and carried him over to a circle of trees--the sun was shining down into the clearing and the trees were very warm. I held the branch up to the tree with him right next to the bark and kept encouraging him to grab the tree. He kept turning and looking at me over his shoulder--little round black eyes, pointy nose. He would open and close his mouth at me like he was talking. After 5 or 6 minutes he suddenly lifted off the branch and flew up and around and away though the trees!!! I burst out crying...he was fine!! I was so thrilled...what if I hadnt gone off trail and found him? I am so grateful. On my way back to the trail head, I came upon a long thin snake sunning on the path...another beautiful creature. Such a good fall hike...
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 20:18:32 +0000
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