Pros and Cons of Letting a Young WC Toad Go Free

[yoshimi]

I don't like the idea of nature taking over where I leave off. Scary brutal nature, I mean. She survived being a tadpole and a toadlet on her own so she's already one of the lucky ones. But captive, I know she's safe. Even tho she doesn't get it. Maybe it is a little selfish, but she looks so small and vulnerable when she's outside. Right now she's resting in her log hide but I see her through one of the lookout holes. She's using the other one to keep an eye on food dish.
A steady supply of food and love in a safe environment lined up if needed just makes me feel better.

[yoshimi]

I get to hang onto her!! The two cats, too. VERY happy, tho it came out of something sad. Found a newborn bat at the bottom of hallway stairs on wednesday. Actually I found two, but the 2nd was dead when I spotted it. The little bat looked dead but he wasn't, still had umbilical cord attached, so I tried to get his mom to take him back. She didn't, so I brought him in and called bat rehabbers who still have not returned my calls. Cleaned him up, kept him warm, fed him (goat milk) off a clean paintbrush. Made him go poo before or after every meal like the websites I read instructed. He was squeaky and curious and adorable, but very premature. He passed, in his sleep, Sat evening while I was at work. 3 days old.

I was such a pathetic wreck over it that boyfriend caved about my crew. Had to argue a little on Banjo's behalf, but the argument had enough merit that she's going to be my buddy til we're both old and gray (or old-er and gray-er, as my hair is skipping the gray and going white already). Other than a cleared off surface for her house, she's the most unobtrusive roommate there ever was. Sure, she keeps her earthworms in the fridge, but I'll be keeping mayo in there (he hates mayo) and you can see mayo through the jar. I think that's actually much more disgusting in his eyes.

I would love to have Fiendly (the bat) back, cuz I miss him and I'd hoped he'd get the chance to grow up and be a bat somewhere, but we had three very good days and I got some cute video and pics to remember him by. I'd like to think he's at peace now, with his mom and twin sibling maybe. Out of tragedy (dramatic, but to me it was) comes the consolation prize that I get to keep three other critters safe and healthy with me. I'll take it! I didn't trust anybody else with them anyway.

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Love that you get to keep furry and froggy loved ones, Sad that you lost the littlest furry one but you did what you could. and very glad tat you did do the correct thing by calling a wildlife rehab.

[yoshimi]

Love that you get to keep furry and froggy loved ones, Sad that you lost the littlest furry one but you did what you could. and very glad tat you did do the correct thing by calling a wildlife rehab.

Oh, me too! Zoey's a senior kitty and the one lady that expressed an interest in her ended up going for a kitten instead. That happens a lot, and a shelter is a hard place for any critter to be. Glad nobody has to deal with that. Fiendly was completely bald (they're usually born with fine hair) but he was soooo soft, and so fragile.

I called 5 rehabbers, and the one in Maine was the only group to phone me back. Called the numbers she gave me and left msgs, but no replies. They might know what momma bat knew, that he wasn't going to be viable. They're not known for leaving their newborn babies around. Wouldn't have touched him, but he was at the very bottom of my hallway stairs and I thought I was moving something my neighbor stepped on... later he did step on what I believe was Fiendly's mom. Some people don't like bats. They scare me flying around in the house, but I've caught and released two, tho the 2nd I punched in the face 1st (it was an accident!). Only a small percent carry rabies, and even if his mom had been infected, it's not passed on that way, from mother to child. I'd like to believe there was good reason for the rehabbers not to call me back, and that calling them is still the thing to do if a truly orphaned or injured bat (or other wild animal) is found. Bats get a bad rap, sort of like toads, but they're really pretty awesome creatures. Like toads!