Wandering Souls and Wild Hearts

28/10/2022

04/04/2022

Sometimes people who love animals do unintended harm.

Relocating an adult Box turtle or Kingsnake from somewhere you perceive as a “busy” or “dangerous” area to your property will only result in a higher mortality rate. And in the worst cases can reduce the health of your current population.

The best thing you can do is help them to the side of the road in the direction they were headed.

-C**t Mooney

Eastern box turtles are in serious danger. These precious little animals reproduce and mature very slowly. Although they usually live to be about 50 years old, with some even surviving a century or more, most will only produce just to three young who survive to adulthood.

With reproductive rates this slow, box turtles can’t possibly survive if they continue being captured as pets— something that happens by the thousands every year. Although it’s illegal to capture box turtles in some states, many have yet to protect these imperiled creatures.

Leave box turtles alone. If you see one crossing the road, simply help it cross in the direction it was going. Otherwise, let it be.

17/06/2021

Appreciation carnival to the volunteers of Wild at Heart

15/06/2021

08/06/2021

https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo/rescuers-find-a-mysterious-looking-wild-animal-in-need-of-help

Hobo is such a strong boy.

19/05/2021

It will be some time before our nonreleasable education ambassador, T’challa, and our orphaned bobkitten patient, Timber, are able to have physical contact, but the first introductions between the two are going great and we think it’s very likely that this potato will be a good adoptive dad to his tater tot.

There’s a lot that is unusual about this situation. Nature can be a bit brutal at times, and one of the ways that nature prevents bobcats from becoming overpopulated is through the behavior of males. A male bobcat in the wild will have a large territory up to ten miles wide, with several females having smaller territories within it. If a male finds a litter of bobkittens in his territory and doesn’t recall mating with their mother, he will usually kill them. When food is scarce, he may even kill his own kittens. As cruel as it seems, it’s one of the many ways that nature maintains balance so that there are never more bobcats than an ecosystem can safely sustain.

T’challa, on the other hand, is expressing mostly interest, playfulness, and even affection toward the new myipping baby. This may be partially because he is neutered and lacks the hormones that trigger most male behavior. It may also relate to his brain damage, which has in many ways rendered him permanently kitten-like in his own behavior.

T’challa isn’t the best role model for an orphan baby. We don’t want Timber growing up to be like his “dad.” However, until and unless we’re able to find Timber foster siblings his own age, it’s best to make sure he sees and smells another bobcat— no matter how silly that bobcat may be— so he does not grow up believing he is a human.

Thank you to everyone who makes it possible for us to care for Timber, T’challa, and the dozens of other animals currently in our care. You’re amazing!

20/04/2021

Meet Zoie and Chloie... These sisters were brought out by the finder’s cat. They were a lil impatient waiting for their nums to be ready....

01/03/2021

Our first piece of wild art for the month comes to us from Christy Fortenberry Milbourne of the Central MS Turtle Rescue.

Christy explains the photo was taken during the release of this red-eared slider back into the wild after rehabilitation.

The red-eared slider certainly looks excited!

We thank Christy for this piece, and we invite you to check out the amazing work that Central MS Turtle Rescue is doing!

27/01/2021

Look at baby Baz getting his grown man on... Love these success stories...

19/01/2021

Don’t forget everyone! Auction ends at noon on Wednesday, so get those bids in. Items can be picked up Saturday the 23rd at the estate sale. Please PM me with any questions.

22/12/2020

20/12/2020

Mention pusharatas in South Mississippi and warm Christmas memories of the sweet Croatian treat comes to mind. Few people would think of baby possums, but there are two ladies in Jackson County looking to change that.

22/11/2020

17/10/2020

Donations towards materials can also be made by PayPal (or check). Be sure to include for ‘West End Materials’ in notes...

https://www.paypal.me/WildatHeartRescueinc

30/08/2020

Perhaps the greatest photo in existence.

Photo credit 📸 | https://www.instagram.com/thephilwaller/?hl=en

22/08/2020

15/08/2020

How has your first Baby Warm incubator helped you? It has been a huge help in already having it warming and ready to go when picking up babies who are in critical need of warmth. It has also been a huge help when needing an extra warm spot for babies while cleaning, etc.

29/07/2020

We could really use this extra incubator! Any little bit helps. Even if you can’t donate personally, please SHARE, SHARE, SHARE!!! It could really help out!!

How has your first Baby Warm incubator helped you? It has been a huge help in already having it warming and ready to go when picking up babies who are in critical need of warmth. It has also been a huge help when needing an extra warm spot for babies while cleaning, etc.

28/07/2020

Meet Hank and Bocephus (Hank Jr.) Two of our educational ambassadors. Both are believed to be females, per one of our favorite h**p experts, and are common Colombian boas. Hank Sr was called in as a ‘Diamondback Rattlesnake’ several years ago and Bo was found in the woods in the middle of nowhere. We have no idea how long she had been living in the wild. As you can see, both of these girls are very large. Hank Sr is about 9’ long and a very thick, girthy girl. Bo (Jr) is already at 8-1/2’ long and putting on more weight regularly.

Snakes like these can grow in excess of 10-12’ and some other species can be 15-20’. These guys could wreak havoc on an ecosystem, like the Burmese Pythons in the Everglades. This is why we try to educate about various exotic species and the potential harm to our native wildlife (and even pets).

27/07/2020

Look at the handsome Debo... He’s one of our educational ambassadors. Debo is an African Spurred Tortoise, or more commonly a Sulcata Tortoise. He is about 15 years old and weighs around 75lbs. He was about 60lbs when he came to us a few months ago. These guys can get almost 3’ and close to 250lbs. Unfortunately lots of people think they are so cute as babies, and think they would be cool when they get bigger, not realizing the cost and amount of care these guys truly cost. They require specific diet, special lighting, and Once they get to a certain size, they need a special enclosure because of their size and strength. They are not a native species to our country, and do not do well on their own. It costs on average $5 day to feed him between his greens, veggies, tortoise diet. Not counting the all day grazing he does.

27/07/2020

We’ve gone a little ‘batty’ here lately guys 😱. These two babies came in over the last couple days. The baby on the left was found in a driveway and was very dehydrated and lethargic, he is now starting to perk up. The baby on the right was stuck to a glue trap. These babies could use a sponsor!
Be sure to put in notes **Gone Batty** 🦇

https://www.paypal.me/WildatHeartRescueinc

27/07/2020

With Bats~during Covid-19~we must wear PPE. Not for our protection~but for theirs.

This precious lil one was stuck on a fly trap.

He is all nice and cleaned and floofy.

Look at them sweet lil teefies!

He is adorable. Laura just sent this photo.

15/07/2020

Look what just came in! Another shipment of masks for our fundraiser for Wild at Heart Rescue!
With mandatory mask requirements starting up, now is the perfect time to grab one of these awesome masks and support your local wildlife rescue! Made of super soft double ply material! Protect yourself and your family from Covid and support your local wildlife!!!
Masks are $10ea
100% goes towards food and supplies for the wildlife.
Local pickup or Shipping available ($3.90)

You can pay through PayPal. Add for Mask fundraiser in notes along with shipping address

https://www.paypal.me/WildatHeartRescueinc

15/07/2020

Isn’t our Camille looking amazing! Can’t wait to see this big girl back off to the Wild!