A Few Earth Day Thoughts…
Four years ago, while we were living in New Orleans, the Deepwater Horizon rig blew poisoning the Gulf waters and all of its inhabitants forever. Rather than feel helpless about the horror of it I was able to work with the clean up of over 1,000 oiled birds, the large majority rehabbed and released elsewhere.
In addition to rehab successes another good thing that came of that summer of disaster was that the Vet students from LSU that worked with the rehabbers learned to treat and appreciate wildlife. Almost all had said they planned to go into the care of cats and dogs because, “That’s where the money is.”
You will notice there are not a lot of Vets doing the work of wildlife. That is because unlike dogs and cats, each type animal is unique and a field of study in itself. There is also no money in it.
Most wildlife centers are self funded and the work dirty, fraught with frustration and endless, with little or no pay. If the directors do receive salaries we should be grateful. And if they appear somewhat eccentric it is because of their intense passion and lifelong dedication to the care of helpless birds and animals that in our culture have no where else to turn. I think of Laura Quinn, Becky Baron, Kelly and Maya as historic figures in the field in the Keys, just to name a few.
The other thing about wildlife, unlike pets, is that regardless of how cute a baby or animal is you cannot befriend it, because the imprinting hurts it for life. Returning to the wild is both the goal and joy of wildlife rehabilitation.
Applaud those who work with rescued, injured, sick or abused animals both wild and domesticated. Get your pet fixed and thank the Vets who donate their time to clinics. Don’t get a pet if you cannot keep it for its lifespan and please don’t contribute to the problem by buying from a breeder or buying any species that belongs in another country.
Just a few more Earth Day thoughts…
Please forget the herbicides and poisons. (Agent Orange is an herbicide) Get out there and pull the weeds. Look at who is pushing you to buy this crap. It ends up in our plants, animals, water and food. It kills those that rely on bugs and flowers. Spraying for mosquitoes immediately kills butterflies, dragonflies and bees, and other creatures that are our friends and pollinators. It is also harmful to us.
If you live outside Key West urge mosquito control to continue to focus on preventive larvicides vs. pesticides. Instead of calling when you feel a mosquito ask the service to survey your property for potential breeding sites and use natural methods which are all over the internet. Finally if you don’t want your food or butterfly garden or home to be sprayed, get on the MC no spray list.
Lynda Schuh
Upper Sugarloaf Key