Please also see our other blog at

http://nywildliferescue.blogspot.com/

It is more active than this one. Always check there for updates, too.



Northeast Llama Rescue was started by Wes and Darcy Laraway of Middleburgh, NY.

Several years ago they rescued their first llama out of a tiny horse pen. Since that day, Northeast Llama Rescue has helped dozens of Camelids from several different states.
The primary mission of Northeast Llama Rescue is to educate owners on how to properly care for their animals.

We also offer assistance with a traveling chute to shear, worm, and trim toenails on hard to handle animals. A 'TRUE REPUTABLE BREEDER" should help out the llama down the road that is not being cared for by owners that understand the needs of llamas.

If you know of a llama owner who is no longer able to care for their animals, there is help available. Members of Northeast Llama Rescue will adopt any unwanted animals. Rescue animals will be relocated to farms of members for training and necessary vet work.

If a llama is able to be rehabilitated, he will be available after a careful screening process. All rescues are placed in homes with a contract that says they shall be provided for and can not be sold. In the event a rescue animal becomes unwanted, the llama MUST be returned to Northeast Llama Rescue.

If you share our philosophy and love for the animals, you are more than welcome to join us! There are lots of llamas that need a person to love.

We also rescue farm animals, and are licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

This site is copyrighted by Wes Laraway.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

I'm Speechless

For those of you that attended our Open House this past Saturday, July 18th, you probably wished that I was speechless. It was a perfect day, my High School volunteers, my 20 somethings and my "older" volunteers helped me get everything together and it was a great day. I would have never been ready without your help. I am so flattered that over 200 people thought that what we are doing was cool enough to come to the dedication of the Phase One half of the Raptor Center. We have worked so hard to have one of the best facilities in the Northeast, it is very important to do what we are doing and do it first class.

I have been flattered by all of you, your donations, validating what we do. I had an older lady from Middleburgh attend the Open House. She emailed me and said that she never understood until she heard me talk at the Open House. ... I do love what I do, there is such a HUGE demand for wildlife rehabbers. If you are considering it, do it but do it right. Get a mentor and do an apprenticeship.

I will let Gayle put links up for photos and videos of the event. I'm not going to rehash the whole thing but I do want to say thanks to my Board Of Directors, you are great. Our Volunteers and our donors are what keep us expanding. As I said during the dedication we are helping a lot of kids and animals here at this facility. Most people didn't even realize as they walked around the grounds that we had 7 animals come in DURING the Open House. We had a broadwing hawk, a painted turtle, robins, a cedar waxwing and 2 kittens come in. Our BOD members quickly got them into the nursery for assessment and treatment; the public never knew.

I am speechless, and very tired. I will get blogging again, going on 2am, I need to look over 370 emails and get some zzzzzzzz.

Till tomorrow,
Wes

Pictures and Video!


Here is a music video one of our volunteers, Jess, put together, starring the animals of NY Wildlife Rescue, Northeast Llama Rescue, and Red Maple Farm. Enjoy!


Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Busy, Busy, Busy


The hairless bunny didn't like the bottle very well
So Hannah's pet rabbit, who had babies three weeks
ago, cooperated beautifully so the baby could nurse.





I love days like today. I started in the morning with animal calls and feedings with BOD members Kelly and Gayle. Ran around like a lunatic all day, basically from one injured or hungry critter to another. Didn't get much time to work with my high school workforce today; thank God for Andy. Got a lot of paperwork and computer work done this morning, until I sent too many emails letting everyone know about our Open House and got tossed off line by my web provider....

Very few people can out work me. I start early and go to bed around 2am every day. These young adults (I hate calling teenagers kids and they are not all my students) are getting things done around here. The college supervisor Andy is awesome, keeps things going and covers for me when I am answering the phone (which never stops) or trying to figure out how I am going to save the next box that arrives. Kind of like Xmas but you can't forget about it when you are done playing with it.

It has been a slow fawn year (not that I am complaining). I love bats. I hate to admit it but I am really getting attached to my little pup (baby bat). I didn't think that he would live when I looked at him in the box a week ago. He now rules my life with his feeding schedule. They are so naughty, have a high pitched voice and try to bite you even when you are feeding them. Bats get a bad rap. 20% of all the earth's mammals are bats. You would be paying a lot more for food if it weren't for bats eating lots of bugs all night. I don't like what is going on with the white nose disease in bats right now. What is going on with honey bees bothers me also. Bats just have a bad rap because of all of the stupid vampire movies. They don't fly in your hair, few species will suck your blood and they are not the rabies infested demons that people think that they are. I've done lots of bats. I have 2 in the bat-cave right now. One is an older brown bat, don't know why it was found on the ground yet but it is eating and coming back from death. I still have to get some mites off of it but the maggots are gone. Capstar is an amazing drug. It is expensive but I use it all the time and it is awesome. The pills are tiny. When given orally or rectally they get rid of maggots, fleas and ticks within about 30 minutes. I actually put one in a ziplock bag, and slipped a little piece in this bats mouth ... no maggots.

Speaking of maggots, I got a baby coon tonight transported by North Country, came from DEC, what a mess. I've seen just about everything with a baby coon. This little guy is a mess. He had a paw caught in a foot hold trap. He has an infection in his foot, the maggots are bad. I should be the poster child for Capstar. Will someone call the folks that make those pills and ask them to send me a lot of the 2-25 pound pills. I am almost ashamed when I go to the vet, like a junkie, begging to buy more. I don't know if I can save this little coon, but I will give him 100% effort. Wish that he wasn't so cranky.

I got a Bluejay in that hit a house, I really don't know what he was thinking when he did that. Kelly got his wing wrapped up while we fed the orphans this morning. He will probably be ok. Just need some R and R which isn't easy for a Bluejay that has things to do.

I got a cottontail baby rabbit in tonight that is lucky to be alive. He got half of his ears and part of the top of his head taken off by a lawn mower. I've seen a lot but this was a first. He should have hidden a little lower. I give him a 50/50 but we are working on him. I hope the other rabbits don't make fun of him for being earless.

Had another rabbit come in tonight ... a little one. Hairless. I'm tempted to try to sneak it in with one of my daughter's rabbits new litters. I've done it before. It has worked but the risk is the mother could kill him if she realizes that we have snuck one past her. We will see tomorrow. The same person (and same bad dog) brought me a Garter Snake that looked like he had been hit by a lawn mower. I couldn't help that little snake, it was nearly in half ... I helped him get to sleep.

Speaking of getting to sleep (no not me), the sheriff's department called me today. There was a call for a cat at my bank dragging its legs on their lawn. I hate these calls. Like the dog that Kelly and I watched die a couple of days ago (hit by a car). It won't be killing my sheep anymore but I didn't want to see it dead, I just wanted it to stay home. Got in the truck with Nicole (former student, present volunteer) and got down there in a jiffy. I've caught a lot of road hit animals. This cat was feral, angry and the fastest thing that I've ever seen move on half of its legs. All I could think of was Oscar the Bobcat. I grabbed my shoulder length padded gloves from under the seat, my catch-pole, and we eventually caught the poor thing. The deputy had arranged transport to Howes Cave Animal Hospital, it never went....

Back to happy things.

As if the cosmos weren't already testing me. Another person holding a box showed up with "baby birds". I like birds a lot. They want it, want it now and don't really care about you for another 30-45 minutes (if you are lucky). A quick peek and I blurted out-loud.... "Ohhhh no, Chimney Swifts". They are tough enough to live in nest inside a chimney but a real challenge to do. They vertically perch, like to hang on sides of their container. They scream until you go to feed them then clamp their beaks shut with super glue. I tried to get them to put them back, they are here and I am going to give them 100%.

Last but not least (today) I got in a baby dove. Doves are a totally different type of feeder: different food, different equipment.... It's eating great, I like this fledgling.

Wow, really busy day. Lot to do tomorrow. Time for some Craig Ferguson Late, Late Show and a nap.

Till tomorrow,
Wes

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Front Page News, Sunday Gazette

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/jul/12/0712_rehab/

The Daily Gazette did a wonderful story on NY Wildlife Rescue Center and gave us front page coverage in their Sunday edition.  We'd like to thank Sara Foss of the Gazette for such a marvelous story!

Sara also shared in her blog:

http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/foss/2009/jul/13/71309_animals/

Thank you!

We hope to see many of you at our open house this Saturday, July 18th, at 4pm!




Monday, July 13, 2009

New developments


Photos in this blog entry
courtesy of Paul Taylor

I don't know really where to begin this blog, it is 2am, I'm exhausted, have to share....

We have been working really hard to get everything done for our Open House this Saturday. Chris, Justin and Bob have been working hard to get the new skunk, possum, and coon caging in before our Open House. Since all of our existing enclosures have trees in them, Oscar is getting a brand new enclosure (without anything to injure himself on yet) to get some more exercise while continuing to heal. Lets hope the concrete company can come tomorrow.






We've had some great baby Possums and another fawn come in from another wildlife rehabber that we love to work with from Oneonta. We've had a lot of great animals come in that are fixable and will go back into the wild.

This past Sunday, the Sunday Gazette featured us as a front page cover story. The photographer and reporter did a first class job. We have gotten a lot of great feedback on it and I hope that it gets the word out about what we are doing. This past Thursday the Mountain Eagle also did a great story on us, I am flattered. I don't do what I do for PR, I do it because I love it and it is the right thing to do. I don't give or take compliments well, I feel relieved that people validate and appreciate what we do here at New York Wildlife Rescue Center. After around 20 years of saving animals, we are getting some recognition ... which I hope will help us continue to expand our facility so that we can help/house more animals in first class style. This has always been important to us. I will ask Gayle to get the stories up as a link so that you can read both articles.

Thanks, I really appreciate everyone's support; besides the checks, you can help our cause by telling everyone that you know about what we do. Encourage your address book to check out our website.

On Saturday, we had a great visit by some folks looking to adopt some rescue animals for their farm. I liked the couple and their farm manager a lot; they picked out some of the llamas that I rescued earlier this year from the big rescue. They decided to adopt several llamas, a goat and the old donkey that came in a few weeks back. I am purposely keeping their identity and privacy guarded. When I delivered the critters, I was pleased to see that these animals will be leading the good life (not like I would let anyone adopt anything that wouldn't be). It wasn't about the farm (which is something out of a magazine) -- money doesn't impress me unless it is used for good: used to help kids or animals. The animals will have a great life with them. What I liked most was the people. I meet some really bad people doing what I do. These folks love their animals as much as I do. They have the means to make sure these animals never have another care in the world. They are adopting some more animals from us this Sunday. It isn't about the money with me, although I need it to keep our rescue facility expanding, you don't need to have money to take great care of your animals. The people are what makes animals happy with love. Their housing, food, care will be second to none ... I'm thrilled and they can adopt whatever they want, I just hope that they don't adopt too many animals to enjoy them or get to know them. But I know that they will be very involved in the lives of their animals. The animals that we've rescued here are very fortunate to be with them. I love a story with a happy ending. I really couldn't be happier about where the animals are living. They are going to adopt a few more animals and I cant wait to take them to their great new home.

Today all of our high school students started work at New York Wildlife Rescue Center. It was like a fairground here with parents dropping off kids; we have a total of 20 volunteers under the age of 20 years old. After an orientation meeting with me, I gave them a tour of the farm. Workforce Solution is a great program. They get these kids working, making money, stay out of trouble and they worked hard today. We got two pasture sheds painted today, chores, cleaning and even had time to start painting the fences. Many hands can make light work and I look forward to working with all of these students daily until the end of the summer.

To our helpers: I will teach you a lot about animals, hard work, ethics and we will have a lot of fun also. We'll have 3 different shifts at the Center this summer. One group will work 8-1, the next group will work 1 to 6, the last group are the construction guys (mostly former students that worked at the facility in high school) who often volunteer after their jobs until midnight. I will work along side of all of you, I will always be the last one to sit down ... unless I have to feed something.

Going on 3 am. Time to feed the baby bat and get some shut eye....
Till tomorrow, another day,
Wes

Friday, July 10, 2009

New Caging

No new animals came in today, that is good I guess. I ran over to our BOD member Linda's house tonight to pick up a mink. Turns out that the mink didn't need rescuing, it had a licensed home with another wildlife rehabber so I didn't need to bring it home. It was a great chance to see some new crias (baby llamas) that Linda had at her farm. Very cute, I miss the crias since we are a no-breed facility but I am pretty sure that a few of the llamas that I rescued earlier this spring are pregnant and going to have crias soon.

Nicole and Ally have been great volunteers this week. They have helped me get caught up and I really appreciated their help. Ally volunteered at NYWRC last summer, she gets paid through a program that puts HS kids to work in the summer (Workforce Solutions). I will be getting 15 high school students for the rest of the summer starting next week and I am really looking forward to it. All business owners should participate in this program, they are still looking for work-sites for kids in "Scary County". I love to teach the kids about how to raise animals right. Many hands make light work, we will get a lot done around here that I would never be able to get off the need to do list by myself. It is hard work but they will leave here after a summer knowing a lot that they will never forget. Nicole is a former student who volunteers here every afternoon. She is learning her way around the farm well and is a great asset. Chris and Justin are the main force behind our construction projects. Both have jobs that they go work at every day and then they come up after work to help me with the construction; nothing would be built here without their help and great carpenter skills. I don't know how we would expand without them. All four of these volunteers could easily run this place because they have all been here so long.... Thanks.

Got Claire the cow's feet trimmed yesterday. That was cool. I've had Clydesdales for years, I am very familiar with what the farrier does but had never seen a cow get done. It was impressive. Claire is one of the cows that I took out of the farm on the big sheep rescue this spring. She had extremely long hooves due to standing in a horse stall in muck for so long. Ed got her in a hydraulic chute, picked her up off the ground. Trimmed and filed her feet--she is walking like a new cow. A friend that has a large dairy farm stopped by tonight to see what we were doing and he was amazed at how great Claire looks ... actually said she was fat ... I think I would like to see another 100-200 pounds on her yet. I think that she has earned a home, her job is to make lots of noise with her cow bell, give my kids rides, and follow us around like a dog ... she is a keeper.

Chris, Bob and I worked out the details of the new cage that arrived yesterday compliments of our friend John at Unadilla Game Farm. We have to pour some concrete, get the cage set on the pad and build a roof over it. I want to get all of that done by our Open House. Maybe that is optimistic but it is possible. All it takes is time and money, which is slow coming in. It is a great cage, I am going to dedicate it to raccoons and skunks so that we can keep our big corn cribs for foxes and the bobcats. I do have an empty corn crib that I designed for Black Bear cubs but we didn't get any in this year so I could always let Oscar use that when he is healed enough to go out in something bigger.

I have a long range vision for our facilities, right now I want to finish what we've started. Your donations are crucial to keeping the construction going, I don't like to beg ... dig deep and please send a donation ... anything will buy some boards. The concrete will cost around $1000- , we are doing it right but money is tight. I can afford to feed the animals, pay my bills and keep things going. I can not afford to continue to expand our facilities nonstop to properly house all of the animals that are coming in. Your help is needed.

The Open House on Saturday, July 18th from 4-6 pm, would be a great opportunity for you to visit New York Wildlife Rescue Center. I am very proud what our BOD, Our Volunteers and our limited budget has accomplished thus far. We have to find the funding through your donations to finish the Raptor Flight. I have already contacted Bush Lumber (our local lumber supplier), Morton builders and Fingerlake Construction. Once we get enough donations to buy $5000- worth of materials, I am hoping that the local Telephone Company will help me set the poles. I am hoping that we can do an Amish-style building blitzkrieg. I bet 20 volunteers could build the entire flight in a day if we set our minds to it. We have the resources within us to get it done. I am hoping that Brooke will come through for us on Utility Poles and have her husband help us put in a pond for our waterfowl as well but that will be another bridge to cross.

Two blogs in one day, it is almost 2am ... I have a bat to feed. Tell everyone in your address book about us. Tell them about our website and our blog. We also have a nice selection of domestic animals looking for great long term homes. We have llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens, and lots of rabbits that all would love a new home. I really can't wait to wake up every morning, even when I go to bed at 2am every night: I want to share my excitement about what we do here with everyone.

Till tomorrow,
Wes

Thursday, July 9, 2009

I'm Back

I know that a lot of people read my blogs daily and I try to keep up with one daily but it is hard to do when you don't have a computer for a couple of days. Figured out the problem and we are back online again. I had a great 4th of July, I actually left the facility long enough to go to a friends house for a BBQ and to watch the fireworks. It was actually nice to hangout with the wife, kids and friends without the phone or an animal hanging off of me.

The beginning of the week we had a reporter from the Mountain Eagle here to do a story on Oscar and New York Wildlife Rescue Center. I've met some really nice reporters lately and it has been great sharing the story of Oscar the Bobcat and what we do for the animals here at our facility. I really think that we are a very unique place. We are licensed, inspected and regulated, many "rescue facilities" are not . Ive been thinking a lot about it lately. I really think that some State Agency (such as Ag and Markets) should give accreditation and license facilities that want to call themselves an animal rescue place. There have been a lot of well intentioned people that have saved animals, called themselves a rescue and are basically animal hoarders that can't afford to feed what they have. I have been personally involved with several "big" rescues at other facilities that have more animals than they can feed and end up becoming a rescue case themselves.

People send donations and give their support here because they can see what we do. I think all rescue facilities should be open for inspection. Should be licensed by DEC, Ag and Markets, USDA or the US Fish and Wildlife Service. All facilities should be Open to the public, even if on an appointment basis. There should be a budget, program of veterinary care, sufficient facilities for an appropriate number of animals ... I have a list . I would be more than happy to sit down with anyone from any government agency to come up with a way to do a voluntary licensing program to become an accredited "Rescue Facility". It would make it more difficult for just anyone with a good heart and a lot of animals to call themselves a rescue facility (enough of that vent).

Been very busy here. We had another great photographer and reporter from the Daily Gazette come yesterday to do an article for the Sunday Gazette. I will put links up for these articles and news reports as I get them. They were both awesome reporters, I am really looking forward to seeing these articles and really appreciate the attention that a lot of reporters have given Oscar and our Open House on July 18th. Enough of my complaining about animal hoarders calling themselves rescues. Lets talk about animals. That is what we are all about.

Since my last blog on July 6th, we have had several cottontail rabbits come in. They were all good sized so they have been relatively painless to feed and wean soon. I also had a fawn come in from another wildlife rehabilitator. Something has bitten her up pretty good. I think that she will be ok. Last night, I had another little baby bat come in. So far, so good. The bat was very dehydrated but has started to come back to life great. I have to run, have to go to Barber's to get veggies for my animals. I will try to do another blog later.

Justin, Chris and I have been working late trying to do the finishing work on the Raptor Center (phase one) for our Open House. Tell everyone you know about the Open House.... I hope the weather cooperates and we have a good turnout.

Wes

Monday, July 6, 2009

Oscar on Local News Program

Capital News 9 | 24 Hour Local News | TOP STORIES | Oscar the bobcat recovering at Wildlife Rescue Center

Channel 9 News were at the Center recently, filming a story on Oscar the Bobcat.  The above link will take you to the story page and a brief news clip.

Enjoy!





Sunday, July 5, 2009

NYWRC on News 9 - Albany

Hi Everyone, I am going to write a short blog about a News 9 (Albany) visit that we had today to do a segment about Oscar our Bobcat and our facility in general. Hopefully they also mention our Open House on July 18th from 4-6 pm also. I look forward to seeing the segment and will link it to here as soon as they send it to me.

Been relatively slow here today, not that I'm complaining. Friday I had a nice visit with Patty and her folks. She is the woman that brought me the starling. She sent me some great photos and also wants to try to find some grants for us. A past student that located me through our Facebook page, also offered to look for some Grant money for us.... Thanks Fields, we are "crusin' along" as she likes to joke I used to say all of the time in my Social Studies class.



Besides for 3 baby cottontail rabbits yesterday that came in all is well. I have to run to Barber's Road-stand and get the veggies that they didn't sell today for our animals. Jim and Cindy barber have been great about letting us have all of the day old veggies, it really helps cut down some of the grain costs. Hopefully by the time I get back, the news 9 segment will be available for all of you to click on and watch.

Till then,
Wes

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Open House July 18th

That is right folks, the moment that you have all been waiting for. You are all invited to our Raptor Center (phase one) Dedication on Saturday, July 18th between 4-6 pm. Bring your family and friends to see what your support and donations have helped build. Meet the animals and tour the facility. We might even have some cookies and punch. I am really proud and excited what a bunch of friends have done after work and on weekends.

Your continued generosity will keep the construction going on our Raptor Flight (phase two) addition to our 100 feet of individual species aviaries. None of this would have been possible without you. I am just a guy with a dream of building one of the largest not for profit animal rescue facilities in the Northeast. I've dedicated my life to achieving that goal, if you have been here you know what I'm doing. If you haven't seen it for yourself, now is the time. I also have another favor to ask: forward this blog to everyone in your address book. Tell your friends and family to check out our website www.redmaplefarm.net. This doesn't cost a dime and getting the word out about us is key to our mission.

What a great day at NY Wildlife Rescue . I had a Starling come in this am. They are fun to rehab. I also had another baby Kestrel falcon come in, this fledgling ate 3 mice almost instantly and went right out to join the other Kestrels in the Raptor Center. We had lots of BOD members stop by. Our great friend and Times Union blogger Teri Conroy stopped by to see the alpacas that I brought in a couple of weeks ago. Teri and her daughter Hannah took one of the alpacas home in the back seat of her truck. Teri and Hannah have been long time supporters of my animal rescue efforts, all the way back to when they got their first llamas from us ... back when we were just saving domestics and exotics. Teri is a great friend and it was great to put her first alpaca in her barn.

I am going to cut it short tonight. It is already pushing 1 am and I still need to try to figure out how to get on Facebook and send out a blanket email to everyone in my address book. I wish that I wasn't so computer illiterate.

Till tomorrow,
Wes

Friday, July 3, 2009

I'm Still Alive

I'm still alive, I know that a lot of my blog readers get nervous when I vanish for a week at a time. All who know me realize that I have probably fallen to sleep in the chair with some small critter.

It is AWESOME being out of school for the summer. July and August are definitely a great perk of being a teacher. New York Wildlife Rescue Center hasn't slowed down much in the last week. Since last time I blogged a lot of new animals have found their way here.

Cornell contacted me this am. They are going to release the story about the bobcat Oscar to the media. I think that it is a great human interest story. It isn't every day that a bobcat gets hit, lays along the road and gets a second chance on life. Oscar continues the slow rehabbing process. He doesn't like me any more than he ever has but I think he has started to realize that when I check on him a couple of times a day, there is always food associated with my visits. I try not to make eye contact with him. Most "cats" don't like that, he is a lucky kitty.... I feel honored to be his caretaker and one of the dozens of people who have cooperated to rescue him.

Since last blog (sorry), we have taken in baby robins, fawns, skunks, kestrels, hawks, cottontail rabbits, raccoons, a kingfisher, pigeons, and a squirrel. Ray Baitsholts sheared the alpacas that I picked up. As soon as they get gelded, they will be ready for adoption. I am having a lot of fun with the baby robins, they are a relatively easy bird to rehab. I normally do not rehab baby birds while I am teaching at school. It is too hard to teach and feed them every 15-25 minutes. :) I do like to do a few during the summer when I am home.

I have had a couple of fawns come in this past week. One was horribly torn apart by some dogs. I notified some great DEC Officers about that situation. I've already given you the lecture about domestic cats in a prior blog. Supervise your dog(s); when left to amuse themselves unsupervised, dogs often develop a pack mentality. They are capable of some horrible things to wildlife. Wildlife gets killed, your dog can be shot and you can get some expensive tickets. No lecture, just use common sense. Do the right thing.

I had some more skunks come in. I love skunks, they have such a Napoleonic attitude. They act fearless and it is always fun watching them grow up into little stink pots. I love it on release day. They usually just wander off and rarely look back or acknowledge anything that you have done for them at all. That is the best part of rehabbing wildlife: if done well, they can't wait to get away from you and do what they do to survive day to day in the wild. If you know what you are doing, you don't usually get sprayed.... :)

I've had a few Kestrels come in. People often call them Sparrow Hawks but they are actually one of the smallest members of the Falcon family of raptors. It is VERY Important that you do not try to feed animals while in your custody unless properly trained. I had a Kestrel come in that I lost and I believe that feeding it a bunch of gypsy moth caterpillars didn't help it any. I got fluids/a lactated ringer into it but it was too far gone by the time it got to me.

The Kestrels are loving one of the 8 newly completed aviaries in our Raptor Center. Justin and Chris have been coming nights after they are done working to try to help me get it finished for our upcoming Open House and dedication of the Raptor Center. I will hopefully have all of the details of our Open House tomorrow. It will be a great chance to tour our facility. We do NOT let the public see animals that we are rehabbing that will go back into the wild but we do have some great non-releasable educational animals here that will love to see you.

Another new resident of the Raptor Center is a Red-tailed Hawk. I got a call early in the morning a few days ago. The man informed me that he had a baby juvenile Bald Eagle which got my attention quick. Upon pick up, I happily let him know that it was a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. Why it was sitting in the road I haven't been able to figure out. It will be going back into the wild as soon as it is ready.

Cottontail rabbits, hmmmmmm. Lots of them coming in. I am in a good mood: when your dog or cat brings one home for you -- don't wait until the whole litter is on your porch (or eaten) before realizing that you should keep your dog or cat inside for a while.

Coons, I cant wait until "Coon Season" is over. DON'T TOUCH THEM and I encourage everyone that is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to go to the Conference in Lake George this November. Take the courses, get your shots, build a facility, get it all inspected and GET YOUR RVS license! There are not enough licensed people doing Rabies Vector Species and those of us that are doing raccoons, skunks and bats are usually full to capacity.

The Kingfisher bird that came in was a first for me, awesome bird but unfortunately had a wing that was so badly broken that it needed to be euthanized. I took in some pigeons. One of them is hysterical. If you are outside here, it will dive bomb you and land on your head to ride around.

My kids have never spent so much time outdoors. People that come to our facility must think that we are all nuts, as my kids are walking around the yard with a pigeon on their head.

Speaking of crazy stories ... one more then I have to catch up with 147 emails ... I got a call from the Pastor of a local church. He had heard that if an animal needed to be caught to call me (wonder how I got that reputation). He said that they had a feral cat, it was living under the church and if I could humanely deal with it, I would get a donation. Now you are talking. I packed up the kids and live traps and off we went this am. Got to the church, saw the hole in the foundation and all sorts of great visions came to my head about all the cool animals that could be living under there..... I was making up a irresistible kitty platter to put in one of the several live traps when I noticed that there was a very cute blue eyed Siamese long haired cat sitting by the shrub several feet away watching the whole production. We had a short mental conversation about what was happening. I walked several feet away, the cat walked over and walked right into the live trap. I do not need another cat but she has taken up residence in my basement until she realizes that life with us isn't so bad -- that is unless I find a great home that wants her (hint, hint)....

Till tomorrow, act young, have fun.

Wes

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Oscar Makes the Newspapers

Injured bobcat 'Oscar' treated at Cornell | theithacajournal.com | The Ithaca Journal

Oscar the Bobcat, who was so wonderfully helped by Cornell University, has been given a story in the Ithaca Journal.  Please visit the article through the above link and enjoy!

Oscar thanks everyone for their good wishes and support!







Northeast Llama Rescue by Wes Laraway

The Northeast Llama Rescue was started by Wes and Darcy Laraway several years ago after they rescued their first llama out of a tiny horse pen. Since that day, the Northeast Llama Rescue has helped dozens of animals in 5 states. The primary mission of Northeast Llama Rescue is to educate owners on how to care for their animals properly. We also offer assistance with a traveling chute to shear, worm and trim toenails on hard to handle animals. If owners get "tired" of the daily maintenance of their herds, members of the Northeast Llama Rescue will adopt or buy, if possible, any unwanted animals. Rescue animals go to the farms or members of the organization.

The Northeast Llama Rescue does not wish to compete with other rescue organizations, although any llama or alpaca is welcome. We need to cooperate to help ALL camelids, not just registered or "nice-looking" ones. Everyone has the right to breed and sell llamas, but a true reputable breeder will "help out" the llama down the road that is not being cared for, regardless of its age, sex or conformation.

Our last rescue came from Central New York. A farm had purchased 9 animals from a Midwest auction. Four of the animals had died from natural causes....starvation? The owner had health problems and no longer wanted the animals. After several other concerned people failed to negotiate their sale, I eventually called and within five minutes we had agreed on a price and the deal was done. The next night, Wes Laraway, Kim Scheurerman and P.J. Wagner went to pick up the animals. The owner informed us that the llamas were wild and could not be handled. Within five minutes all were calmly caught, on lead ropes and in the trailer, with us using a wand and some TEAM Training techniques. The owner thought I was the "llama whisperer" because I got those llamas to do things in five minutes that she couldn't do in a year. She unfortunately knew nothing about handling llamas.

Three hours later, we were back into quarantine at Red Maple Farm starting "damage control". The animals were immediately wormed, fed fresh hay and grain, and watered. All were body scored under three by sight and by feeling through their wool. This hands-on inspection revealed barbed wire that needed to be cut out of the fiber. We decided NOT to shear because it was too late in the year and they were too thin.

Another concern was an ingrown halter. One of the best ways to remove ingrown halters is to undo the buckle(s) and cut the nose band with sharp toenail clippers on each side of the nose. Then gradually, over time, the remaining pieces will fall out. With application of an antibiotic cream, any wounds from the ingrown halter will heal quickly. In this particular case, the halter came out of the nose and was added to the "wall of shame" in our barn (along with the barbed wire and ear tags still on them from the auction they were purchased from). The blood stream stopped within fifteen minutes and now, after a month, we can tell that scarring will be minimal. Please tell everyone you know that owns camelids, NEVER leave a halter on a llama! Even in a week, with wet conditions, a halter can embed itself in a llama's nose.

My biggest concern was the 10 month old female that was exposed to her father. If bred, we decided to abort the unborn cria for the safety and well-being of the young female. None of these five animals were over the age of three years. All of them, over the following months, would need intense care and proper nutrition. The animals were all updated on health requirements and gelded. All of these animals would need training before they could go up for adoption.

New problems continuously arose. Two weeks after they arrived, one of the females surprised us with a weak, constipated fourteen pound male cria. Within hours I knew it wasn't "normal" so mom and baby were moved to a quarantine pen in the barn. The decision was made to supplement the cria with goat colostrum and give him an enema. Although the cria was walking, he continued to strain to relieve himself. Around the clock surveillance did not reveal any nursing or defecation. At two days old, I found very small maggots between the cria's toes and by his umbilical cord. After consulting my vet again, the cria got a bath and dried out in the heated office before going back to mom in the barn. My vet explained that crias born on rainy days must be completely dry or flies will lay eggs in moist areas of umbilical fluid. I've never heard of this problem before but I know now to check my newborn crias for maggots every day. After five days of constant care, we lost "Trooper"....I guess it was not meant to be, but we tried.

The rest of the animals are doing well today. Concerned individuals found them, bought them and will protect them. Today is actually a special day, because the vet did fecals on them and all five of them are parasite free and can join our llama herd. After training and further rehabilitation, by Spring 2001 this group of animals will be available for adoption to carefully approved homes. All animals sold or placed by Northeast Llama Rescue will be adopted with a legal contract. The contract states that if the llama ever becomes unwanted or is not cared for properly, the animal will return to Red Maple Farm for a full refund. I used to think I could save every unwanted llama in the world...I know that I can't . It is too great an undertaking for one farm to rescue all the unwanted camelids out there. For this reason, several other farms have joined in the effort with Red Maple Farm to pool resources and save neglected and unwanted camelids.

Any farm that shares our philosophy that every llama deserves a life with proper care is welcome to join us. We are people who genuinely love all llamas and want to make a difference one llama at a time. Eventually we will print an educational brochure to hand out at events with member farms listed. Don't just tell people that you love your llamas; show people by making a difference and actually save one. Always quarantine new animals for at least one month while getting wormings, vaccines and nutritional needs in order. Always do a fecal exam and consult your vet about when new animals should go out with the herd. Geld all males and most of all BE PATIENT. Llamas are very forgiving animals and will learn to love and trust again with gentle care and training.