Rainy weather brings some challenges for birds that fly at night. The pavement, often a dark color, is wet and in the moonlight it looks like water. These birds think they are landing on water and when they hit the payment, they take a big tumble. Often, they are disoriented, scraped up, and need a little ‘R & R’ (i.e., rest and relaxation) to gather their strength again. Some species of birds have to put their wings into the water to take off again and so when they land on

In Edgewood, near a beautiful wooded area rich with Douglas fir trees, I recently released a female Douglas’ Squirrel. She’d been successfully rehabilitated by South Sound Critter Care after being hit by a car, and was now ready to go home. She dashed out of the carrier to an old apple tree, where she rested for a few minutes near the top branches. Then, as fast as her little legs could take her, she ran to a Douglas fir just beyond the apple tree. She really seemed happy t