by Kathleen M. Cahill
Life as she knew it changed for Connie Devine that sunny August day in 1998 when she found an injured bird and brought it into the Wildlife Center for care. Not content to merely bring in an injured animal and leave, she decided to play a more active role in giving animals a second chance by volunteering not only as a Center volunteer but as a member of the squirrel home-care team as well. Four years and many animals later, Connie finds her house overflowing with life. Wherever you turn, whether it’s the living room, the den or the bathroom, squirrels’ fuzzy faces come into view.
Squirrels have not one but two baby seasons, meaning those on the squirrel team work double duty. For those like Connie who care for squirrels throughout their dependency period, from newborn pinkies till adolescents ready for release, this can mean that out of the entire year they have only a few weeks of squirrel-free life. Only three weeks elapse from when the last of one season are released till the earliest pinkies of the new year start arriving. Connie cared for 100 squirrels this past year. In addition to her status as squirrel caretaker, she also provides homecare for raccoons and the occasional skunk.
Connie’s care-giving skills are not just lavished upon the critters of
the wild. Living amidst her fuzzy wild denizens are an assortment of
domestic animals of the two and four legged kind: dogs, cats, birds,
turtles, rats and mice, rabbits, three college-age kids and one very
understanding husband. From 7:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. Connie’s day is a
whirlwind of feeding, cleaning and medicating. Errands and household
responsibilities are squeezed in between.
In order to fit in a rare day off, she must arrange for another
homecare volunteer to “babysit” her brood.
Connie is obviously an essential part of our operation. She cares for an increasingly greater number of animals because, “If I didn’t, what would become of them? And I love squirrels with their bushy tails and doe-like eyes. I enjoy learning about their habits and lifestyle. Besides, they keep me out of trouble!”
Connie is truly “divine.”