Interview with Christy Reeves, Wildlife Rehabilitator

I interviewed Christy Reeves who is a Wildlife Rehabilitator. 

You are a wildlife rehabilitator. What does that mean?

 I am licensed in the State of Georgia to take in injured small animals. I raise them and when they are ready I release them back into the wild.

How many animals do you rescue in a year?

150 to 225.

What types of animals do you recue?

 Small mammals. Ground hogs, opossums, grey squirrels and flying squirrels. For rabies vector specie like skunks, foxes and raccoons you need another special license. With regard to birds, I pass them on to people licensed to rehabilitate birds.

What are the biggest challenges you have to deal with?

 Educating the public. Not all animals have to be rescued, like fawns. Their mothers usually appear for morning and evening feeding but people kidnap them. Baby birds that have fallen out of nests. People think they need help but their parents have an eye on them and are trying to teach them to fly. But people kidnap them.

 What is a story that you love to tell?

 Eleanor the Groundhog was found by some people under a porta-potty. She was just 6 inches long and about 5 days old. I raised and took care of her for 3 months. She was my first groundhog and taught me a lot about how highly intelligent and wonderful these creatures are.

When people see a helpless animal, what should they do with it?

 Call a Rehabilitator. Take it to Bells Ferry Animal Hospital (6410 Hwy 92, Acworth; 770-926-5311) and they will call someone. People should not try to feed them or give them water. If fluid goes into their lungs they will aspirate and die. The biggest thing you can do for the animal is keep it warm.

When a new born squirrel comes to you, what chances does it have to become an adult and what do you do to help it?

 With me it has a 90% chance of survival. With the general public is has a 10% chance. I keep it warm and feed it the correct diet. At 16 weeks I take it out into a large release cage and it needs to show me that it can perform all the functions that it needs to survive in the wild like crack wild nuts before it is released back into the wild.

What do you want people to think about when baby birds and squirrels are around?

 Leave animals alone unless they are patently injured. Appreciate the nature around you.

What do you like most about your job?

 I love returning animals to where they are supposed to be. Seeing them back in the wild.