|
Quinn Volker - Port Hardy B.C., Canada
My Time at Critter Care
Alright, so I have to sum up my time at critter care into a few words. Well I think I’d start with fantastic, exhausting, and inspiring. Yeah, those seem like great words to use. It all started 10 minutes after I arrived at critter care. The lovely Melissa Allen (supervisor) approached me and asked if I would like to work with the otters. I was a little stunned but very excited, I had never expected such an opportunity. I had seven otters, 4 were older and 3 were a few weeks younger. Lucky for me I had two great interns to show me the (fishy) splendours of caring for otters. I got to experience and learn many things about them, like did you know otters don’t naturally know how to swim and have to be taught? I had no idea until it was I who had to teach them.
I also had the pleasure of caring for many rabbits (19 to be exact) and a lovely opossum whom I named Fellon. I also got to help with other animals when needed such as wrangling some fawns, vaccinating some raccoons, and medicating some beavers. Let me tell you that releasing the wildlife is so much more than I ever thought it would be, it feels, well never mind I’d never be able to explain it.
Other than caring for the animals there are other tasks to be done such as maintenance work (problem solving becomes easy after being at CC), cleaning (a lot of it!!), and other various task such as cutting back bushes or raking leaves. This job certainly isn’t glamorous and that’s the way I like it, it’s a lot more enjoyable that way.
One thing that greatly influences your experience is the people around you; I was blessed to make so many wonderful friends who I do plan on visiting in the future. They made my time at Critter Care much easier, I miss them like crazy! The supervisors were really great too, but they certainly weren’t afraid to tell you to get off your butt and get to work. :)
This experience has let me confirm that this is something I want to work toward doing in the future. Well I have been rambling enough (so much for a few words), one thing that is clear is this is NOT for everyone and that’s okay, could you imagine if everyone wanted to do the same job? Blech.
I’d just like to thank everyone at Critter Care for allowing me to experience this. Thank You! |
