I arrived at Critter Care in May and stayed for two months. I started out caring for squirrels and rabbits. Then, on my fifth day there, I became mom to three adorable baby raccoons – Macy, Zoe, and Logan. They became the main focus of my time, although I still helped to care for some of the skunks, squirrels, and rabbits that came in. My raccoons soon joined a group of four under the care of Vivien, another intern, and we cared for the seven together until she had to leave early due to an injury (darn those dirt piles with their devious schemes!), after which her four passed into my care as well. Raising my baby raccoons was an unforgettable and incredibly fun experience. It’s amazing how much you get attached to your babies, seeing them grow and discover new things.

What can I say about the 3 months I spent at Critter Care this past summer that hasn’t been said? I could talk about the different types of animals I worked with, or what an awe inspiring experience it is to work with animals, particularly wild ones, However, I’m going to go out on a lib and assume that if you are considering this internship, then you already have an idea as to how gratifying it is to observe and work with animals. Instead I put it to you like this: Raising animals is like raising children in fast forward, I can’t explain it better than that. It’s exhausting, heart-wrenching, gratifying and beautiful all at once, but there isn’t always a happy ending. So, are you ready to be a parent?