How Good To Be Safe…

There is a gem in the Adirondacks… an awesome group of people caring for vulnerable, mending or broken wild creatures. I made a visit to the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge last week and will here post some photos of a few of their residents. It was a difficult place to get the photographs I wanted since every creature is caged, but I hope it will motivate some of you to visit and to donate funds to this wonderful organization.

From the facebook page, “Adirondack Wildlife is a rehabilitation and education organization, whose mission is to take in, rehabilitate and, whenever possible, to return to the wild, injured or otherwise disabled wildlife, working with local veterinarians and volunteers.

In addition, we run educational programs and presentations, primarily working with non-releasable birds of prey and wolves, to foster compassion, tolerance and understanding of wildlife, particularly with respect to safely interacting with wildlife, and understanding the valuable role predators play in the over-all health of our eco-system. The three aspects of the educational role are: maintaining a mile–long, guided, interpretive trail at the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge and Rehab Center, and conducting interactive presentations at the Center, and at public venues, such as schools, colleges, fairs and churches.

We have no Federal, State or Local Funding, and are completely funded by donations, which are gratefully accepted.”

When you visit the refuge you are likely to meet Wendy and Steve Hall, or their son Alex. They are knowledgeable, dedicated guides and educators. Above Wendy holds a hawk that she was preparing to take to a school for an educational presentation.

Sylvia the Bald Eagle

a very relaxed Red Fox

American Kestrel

Dakota, a Western Coyote at the Wildlife Refuge… although I would love to think he was interested in me, I know he was looking behind me and drooling over chickens and guinea hens wandering in the yard.

A beautiful, restless creature

Shaun photographed this lovely, hissing Great Horned Owl! Steve told us that the owl is perhaps the most perfect hunting machine ever designed… And, according to wikipedia, “owls were already present as a distinct lineage some 60–57 million years ago, and, hence, possibly also some 5 million years earlier, at the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs.”

Also at the refuge are Zeebie, a wolf, and Cree, a wolf hybrid. You can go on a one mile walk around the refuge with Steve, Alex and the two wolves every day but Tuesday and Wednesday (when they are closed to the public) starting around 10 or 10:30am. There are many more birds, foxes and wild creatures to see on your visit. Adirondack Wildlife Refuge & Rehabilitation Center is located in Wilmington, New York http://adirondackwildlife.org/, visit their facebook page, or click here to make a donation.

The clouds their backs together laid,
The north begun to push,
The forests galloped till they fell,
The lightning skipped like mice;
The thunder crumbled like a stuff —
How good to be safe in tombs,
Where nature’s temper cannot reach,
Nor vengeance ever comes!

~ Emily Dickinson ‘Refuge’