Animal Academy- April

I didn't get many pictures this month it seems. They kids worked in small groups for much of this class and my children were not in the same groups so I kind of wandered. The theme for April was Animal Rescue. The instructor showed the kids a flying squirrel which was their latest wild rescue. Then went on to explain that many if their rescues are surrendered pets or former pets which unthinking people have let lose even if that type of animal doesn't come from this area. For example The animal place got a call back in October from a man who thought he saw a hige snapping turtle out of the water and wanted to know what to do. Someone fromanimal adventures went to check it out and the animal in question was actually a land tortoise which comes from another country! If someone had unknowingly "helped" the tortoise into the water it might have drowned. We learned that many pets are given up due to three S's, Smell, Size and Sleep. Aferret might turn out to be too smelly for a family who didn't research them first, an Iguana or snake might grow much larger than the person thought when they impulsively brought it and as in the case or hedgehogs, sleep habits might cause a problem. hedgehogs are nocturnal and might be too noisy all night or too boring by day. Always research your pet purchase very well before even thinking about buying or adopting!

The children learned some state and federal laws about animals and about running an animal facility. They learned signs of illness or abuse to look for when examining an animal. There was much more, it was a packed day of animal rescue topics.

The kids gave some ferrets a bath, some kids were scared, my kids have to do this on a semi-regular basis with our own ferrets so they jumped right in.


The kids took the tortoises outdoors for some exercise, no animal should be stuck in a cage all the time!


They helped medicate a few resident animals which were currently undergoing treatments. This alligator had a sore which needed antibiotics.


The tortoises are heavy but Hayley wanted to carry one anyway!


We learned that many bunnies are given up soon after Easter. People buy them on impulse and aren't really prepared to care for them. How anyone can resist such a cutie I don't know but at least these bunnies have a home at animal adventures and are to be part of an educational program. Hayley just loves bunnies!

So that was animal academy for April. Two more months to go.