B: Good evening readers! So many more babies have crossed our threshold. More squirrels continue to arrive, much to our dismay as we have already surpassed our average number of squirrels received for a spring season. We are feeding about 75 squirrels at 8 am, noon, 4 pm and 8 pm every day of every week. We are also feeding about 70 additional squirrels at 9 am, 1 pm and 6 pm.

A: It's getting pretty squirrelly around here!

B: YOU are getting pretty squirrelly around here.

A: I am. But I also got the remedy for this disorder just this afternoon. Three baby opossums have graced us with their presence and I have happily traded in the three baby squirrels I've been taking home for the last week. I will be feeding these opossums every four hours around the clock, losing sleep but gaining an enormous sense of satisfaction.

B: While I will be losing sleep with the squirrels you have been feeding. Well, better to lose sleep over squirrels than my noisy upstairs neighbors. These opossum babies are our first of the year and we are all very excited, as 'possums are very popular at SCWC. Hardy, low maintenance and all around wonderful, opossums are a rehabilitator's best friend.

A: Not to mention their adorable faces, clinging fingers, soft fur, big brown eyes, curious demeanors...

B: ... aw, thank you.

A: I was not talking about you! Though your fur is very soft.

B: I try. More squirrels arrived today (will it never end?), in addition to a nestling Great Horned Owl. Also very adorable, this owl came to us after a concerned hiker noticed the baby on the ground being scolded by Crows. On intake, Alicia and I noticed an improperly-healing semi-calcified tibiotarsus. The injury was recent enough that we were able to correct the healing angle of the leg with a severe-looking splint. Although it looks awkward, the baby eats readily enough.

A: Poor little guy thought the leg was fine where it was. However, even if he was able to compensate for the injury when perching, any raptor needs both legs to function properly in order to hunt. Hopefully, our corrective splint will correct his splayed out-ness and we will be able to transfer him to a facility where he can be live-prey tested.

B: Luckily, we know the perfect facility! That rehabber even has her own Great Horned owlet of a similar age. Once we get our baby stabilized, healed and eating well, we hope to transfer him north to enjoy fledging with a friend.

A: I like your alliteration.

B: I will always alliterate for you.

A: What are friends for?

B: Sanity from squirrels?

A: Delightful distractions?

B: Wiley woodpeckers?

A: Perfect 'possums?

B: Racy raccoons?

A: Hilarious House Finches?

B: Grouchy groundhogs?

A: Splendid seagulls?

B: Ok, I think we have gone off the deep end here.

A: That's true, House Finches aren't that funny.

B: True and I have never received sanity from a squirrel. Moving on... you had some fun yesterday, yes?

A: Oh yeah, I got to release four snapping turtles in various ponds and lakes in our area. Most of the day went off fairly smoothly: turtle goes in the water, turtle sinks into mud, many bubbles rise up, turtle nose reappears, rehabber goes back to her car. Until one tried to eat me.

B: You say that like it's a bad thing.

A: Well, only because I need all my fingers. This big boy decided to get even for the weeks we kept him in our Center's bathtub. Though I don't know what he was complaining about, considering all the good food, fresh water and hiding spots we gave him. I had just placed him in the water and nudged him a bit when he leapt backwards towards me, mouth all open, hissing like a demon. I backed away quickly and assumed he would be able to find the water again easily. Call me a coward.

B: Coward.

A: Figure of speech, Britt.

B: Whatever helps you sleep at night because the squirrels certainly do not. And it seems to be that time again, yet another squirrel feeding. Be sure to swing by next week where, hopefully, there will be more stories and less squirrels.

A: Thanks for reading!