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- Water Birds
“Skunks are one of the most misunderstood of all species. Simply because they have but one form of self-defense—their scent—they are perceived as ‘dirty, smelly animals we don’t want in our neighborhood.’ The truth is that skunks, like all wildlife, are intelligent and beautiful beings who do their part to maintain balance in the environment and who have a right to a life of peace.”
“Opossums are the only North American marsupial. WRR receives hundreds of opossums each year in need of medical attention. Mother opossums are often killed in traffic leaving their babies alive within her pouch. They are hand-reared at WRR and once old enough to be independent, the young opossums are released in safe areas.”
“Both whitetail and axis fawns are often taken from their mothers by well-meaning humans. Mother deer will leave their young for as many as 14 hours while seeking food. Unless he is severely injured, it is best to leave a fawn alone; his mother will almost certainly return to care for him.”
“Blackbuck antelope are natives of India but in Texas are exploited on hunting ranches. They are a slender, graceful, and shy animal who lives in herds with one dominant male. At WRR there are two rescued blackbucks who share the pastures with resident goats.”
“Coatimundis are omnivorous mammals whose behavior closely resembles that of raccoons. At WRR, the resident coatis are all former victims of the wild animal ‘pet’ trade and now live in a densely wooded enclosure where they love lounging about in the treetops.”
“This building at our sanctuary is where our staff and apprentices work day and night preparing the complex diets for the hundreds of animals who call WRR home. It is also where we store dry food, refrigerate tons of fresh produce, freeze longer-term food items, clean animal food bowls, and store cleaning supplies and animal crates used in the hospital.”
“Though we protect, heal, and care for every animal who comes through our hospital doors, it is critical to remember that no animal wants to be here. Even when injured or ill, wild animals are terrified of humans and want only to be left alone. This is the constant challenge faced by our Animal Care staff—to treat, feed, and save patients who want no part of their help.”
“Rhesus macaques grace the WRR sanctuary as over the years we have rescued many from the ‘pet’ trade, laboratories and roadside zoos. Here they live peacefully in compatible groups who share open-topped spaces complete with tall grass, boulders, trees and the freedom to once again live the life of a monkey.”
“Lemurs at WRR have been rescued from laboratories, roadside zoos and private hands for many years. They require a diverse diet of fruits, vegetables, primate biscuits, leaves and variously healthy treats. Some of the lemurs at WRR are well over 20 years of age.”
“The primates who now call the WRR sanctuary home have all come from situations where they were never allowed to live in the outdoors. Most have been rescued from laboratories where they were subjected to various experiments and confined in lab cages. Others have been saved from the solitary life of the so-called ‘pet’ monkey or the horrors of roadside zoos where they were viewed as little more than ‘an attraction’ to bring in gate fees. Every primate in our care lives outdoors with other monkeys. Though their lives are not as free as they would be in the wild, here they are never named, tamed or exploited; instead they are allowed the company of their own kind in a tree-studded and spacious enclosure.”
“Grey foxes are often seen in rural settings and inhabit certain environs inside or near cities if there is adequate food and cover. All species of fox can be both insectivorous and carnivorous, eating insects, small mammals and even fruits and berries. The first grey fox rescued by WRR was about 12 years old and was found dehydrated, lying under the peach tree she had been relying on for her sole food source. She lived another two years in our care. Foxes pose no threat to humans.”
“There are nine mountain lions at WRR. All but one of these has been rescued from the cruelty of the so-called ‘pet’ trade in large cats. They were held in small cages, often malnourished and never given any freedom to roam about or behave as themselves. The one cougar who came from the wild was orphaned when his mother was shot and killed. He was the one cub out of four who was not sent to the confines of a zoo.”
“Black bears are omnivores and sadly are often exploited by the wild animal ‘pet’ trade, circuses and roadside zoos. WRR has rescued them from fates as diverse in cruelty as university ‘mascots,’ renaissance shows, backyard pens and wrestling acts. Here at WRR they live in peace in a spacious enclosure furnished with dens and above ground pools.”
