On Saturday morning, October 7, at about 8:30 am, I set out from our home to go to the farmers’ market and to run my weekend errands. I had solely pushed a couple of quarter-mile down our small nation lane after I noticed a turtle – a Woodland Field Turtle – crossing the highway, from proper to left. The Wildlife Heart had taught me what to do – I obtained out of the automotive, gave the turtle a fast inspection [all clear!], and moved it throughout the highway, within the route through which it was heading. Job properly executed.

I had solely gone one other quarter-mile or so after I as soon as once more noticed one thing out of the nook of my eye. Was that only a leaf … or one other turtle? I fastidiously backed up, obtained out of the automotive.  It was one other turtle – a fairly small one … and it clearly had been hit by a automotive.

As soon as once more, I knew what to do. I knew that I might take that turtle to the Wildlife Heart, that the Heart can be open on a Saturday morning, and that there can be succesful and caring wildlife veterinarians, vet techs, and rehabilitators working in a clinic that was well-equipped to deal with these sorts of emergencies. I put the turtle in a small field at the back of the automotive and whisked it over the mountains to the Heart. 

After I obtained to the Heart, I checked in my turtle – Affected person #23-3632.  Because it seems, this turtle was considered one of a dozen sufferers admitted on that Saturday – fairly near a median caseload.  That day, the Heart admitted 4 Woodland Field Turtles, two Japanese Grey Squirrels, an American Crow, a Barred Owl, an Japanese American Toad, a Pink-tailed Hawk, an Japanese Chipmunk, and a Bobolink.

That rescue on October 7 jogged my memory, as soon as once more, of the important want for the Heart.  What would I’ve executed if there hadn’t been a Heart? How would I’ve handled that injured turtle? And what about that household that discovered the toad, or the chipmunk, or the Bobolink?

On that Saturday morning, I used to be grateful for the workforce that makes the Wildlife Heart run, day in and day trip. And I used to be grateful for these monetary companions who make potential the life-saving and life-changing work of the Wildlife Heart. 

I’m grateful once more at the moment.  Thanks.

– Randy Huwa, Senior Advisor to the President 

Take a look at all of our year-in-review posts!