Today was my 4th shift at the Wildlife Center. As usual I’m totally and completely exhausted.
Apparently, Wildlife and 4th of July fireworks don’t get along so well. The Center has 3 baby skunks that were being housed inside because they were still little guys. However, last night the fireworks were freaking the baby skunkys out and they kept spraying and stinking up the building, so they ended up getting moved into an outdoor enclosure.
On a sad note, I was cleaning the outdoor aviaries with the Steller’s Jays and came across a little guy who ws laying on his back, with his feet up in the air & missing a good portion of his tail feathers. Eventually he was able to stand up and walk around a little bit. I let the Wildlife Rehabilitator know that there was something wrong and then continued cleaning his area. Then, I found a used bottle rocket. I dunno if the bird was hit by it, or maybe the jay just freaked out flew into the mesh netting when the rocket landed in his enclosure.
Personally, I’m not too impressed by some of the P.A.W.S neighbors. You’d figure that if you lived next to a wildlife rehabilitation center you’d try to not shoot off fireworks towards it. Also, today a neighbor was blaring their radio so loudly while I was cleaning some of the cages it was almost like I was listening to my own iPod. I mean, come on guys! Way to be a total a**hole and look super white trash. Sickly barn owls definitely don’t want to listen to your crappy music. (Also, I hate saying this, since I don’t have a real job, but I’ll say it anyways. It’s 11am on a Wednesday – Get a damn job!) It just reaffirms my poor opinion of the general public.
Anyways. On a positive note: Some of the orphaned baby mallards got released in the last week. The baby raccoons are growing (and breeding, apparently) like weeds. The seal pups are learning how to catch their own live fish. The skunk scent glands are definitely working well. 
Alrighty. I’m going to go curl up and snuggle my lizard.