JUNIPER WILDLIFE REFUGE

Five months ago I couldn’t pet him, he was terrified to walk inside, he wouldn’t play, he wouldn’t eat in front of anyone, but look at him now. 🤍 - - - - #băiatbun #ringo #rescue #romanianrescuedog #yellow

The love I have for these animals is so immense. I can never repay them for the warmth they bring to this home each and every day. #wildlife #animals #thehappiestfox #nature #sanctuary #fix #skunk #snakes #raccoon #opossum #homesanctuary #architecture

It took weeks for Cheese to finally accept that Howie wasn’t going to hurt him and it was incredible watching Howie persistently try to show this little raccoon how gentle he could be. Now they are best friends and instead of playing gently, they love to wrestle and rough house. - - - #raccoons #raccoonofinstagram #howie #rescue #wildlife #sanctuary #juniperwildliferefuge #thehappiest #thehappiestfox #happyending #interspeciesfriendship #animalfriends

What it’s like living with Jam Jar in 45 seconds #jamjar #skunk #wildlife #wildanimals #rescue #livingwithjuni #juniperfoxx #skunksofinstagram #chaotic

Stressed? Overstimulated? Bad day? I’ve got just what you need. 45 peaceful seconds of Newt enjoying his bath.

Opossums have a difficult existence. Their average lifespan is only two years in the wild and during those years they have a high rate of predation from other animals as they are not very fast and often time freeze in fear rather than running. This fear response also causes them to frequently be struck by cars while scavenging along roadsides. Furman came to live with us last April because he suffered brain damage after surviving being hit by a car. The wildlife rehab was able to heal his wounds, but he lost all of his instinctual fear toward people and other animals. Most opossums naturally gape their mouths when started, Furman doesn’t gape and rarely startles, because of this he would not survive if released back into the wild. So, he will spend the rest of his life in retirement at our refuge where he spends most of his days resting in the house and his nights prowling his enclosure hunting for bugs and attempting to call in all the lady opossums from the tree-line.

Mother Nature’s gentle souls. Opossums have a difficult existence. Their average lifespan is only 2 years in the wild and during those years they have a high rate of predation from other animals as they are not very fast and often times freeze in fear rather than running. This fear response also causes them to frequently be struck by cars while scavenging along roadsides. They have primitive immune systems and often suffer from infections and parasites due to limited immune efficiency. Their wounds heal much slower than most mammals, leaving them vulnerable for longer periods of time. They are misunderstood and mistreated and because many people see them as pest they are often trapped or intentionally harmed. Even when they are not intentionally harmed by humans they still often meet an ill fate when around people due to being attacked by pets, coming into contact with rodent poisoning, or consuming waste that wouldn’t normally be a part of their natural diet. Despite all this, opossums are gentle non-confrontational animals. They play vital role in our ecosystem as nature’s little cleanup crew, consuming foods that if left to rot would spread sickness and disease. They are just as important as other more commonly loved wildlife and if you really look into their eyes, you can see that they are kind. - #opossums #wildlife #ecosystem #biology #marsupial #rescue #kindness #hopecore

And that’s living in a house full of nocturnal animals 🌙 - #wildlife #rescue #sanctuary #animals #nocturnal #timechange #winter #fox #thehappiestfox #skunk #jamjar #newt #raccoon #raccoonsofinstagram #opossum #possum

The piñata never stood a chance 😔

It has been so bittersweet watching Fig and Howie’s relationship grow into something that mirrors the relationship Moose had with Juniper. It’s such a weird feeling to watch something that makes me so happy and still feel a twinge of grief. I miss him so much. ❤️‍🩹 - - - - - #animalfriendships #thehappiestfox #petloss #grief

I’ve been nervous to give an update on Ringo and Juniper because it’s not the warm and fuzzy content I know you all enjoy, but I think it’s important to share the realistic side of cohabitating with these animals. While it’s a magical experience it’s not always the dreamy fantasy that is so easy to portray and I think sharing the intricacies of their behavior not only helps to better understand them, but hopefully helps dissuade people from pursuing them as “pets”. Juniper and Ringo have been getting along wonderfully for a few weeks now. I was, of course, elated to see her taking up to him because it reminded me of the way she loved Moose who passed a way nearly two years ago. She was excited to be near him and would slowly approach him almost as if she didn’t want to startle him. She was quiet and gentle around him. It felt like everything had fallen perfectly into place, but there was a setback. Early last week when I let Ringo outside I noticed Juniper stalking him through the fence. I’ve see her do this with other dogs, it’s a sign she’s unhappy with them in her space. I was hoping I was wrong, so I coaxed Ringo closer to the enclosure where she confirmed she was upset with him and began charging toward him. I was hoping it was just a fluke, but several days later she continues to glare and yell at him as he passes by. I suspect that it’s her hormones. This time of the year brings about a drastic hormonal change for red foxes as baby season quickly approaches. Typically, they become more loving and affectionate in the spring months. Juniper dotes on all of the other foxes during this time. She doesn’t want to be indoors if any of the other foxes are not inside with her, she would rather be with them. She brings them food, follows them around, and incessantly grooms them. She raised all of the foxes here and each spring she treats them all as if they are still babies. If I had to guess, this sudden aversion to Ringo isn’t personal. Her instincts are telling her to protect the others and that’s what she believes she’s doing and I’m sure in a few weeks she will be cuddling back up to Ringo apologizing for the mean things she had said to him.

Our Queen has boundaries and expectations and she’s not afraid to demand them. Female foxes are typically much more vocal than male foxes and also usually more dominant. Juniper has been a matriarchal figure in our fox family for years and she keeps all of the other foxes in line. She doesn’t tolerate any funny business unless your name is Elmwood. Then you can get away with anything. 😒 #juniper #juniperfoxx #livingwithjuni #thehappiestfox #rescue #wildlife #animalrelationships #animalbehavior #foxes #redfox

Me:📸 Raccoons: 😃 - - - - - #raccoon #raccooneggs #raccoonsofinstagram #thehappiestfox #wildlife #animals #cuteanimals #sanctuary #rescue #coexist

Wild animals do not make good pets. I know that baby animal you found outside, alone, is adorable. I know you put in so much work to keep it alive and now you’re bonded. I know the beautiful l daydream of living with a wild creature in your home is, but are you really ready to completely change your life in order to coexist with that animal for the next 10 years? “It’s all about how you raise them.” Unfortunately, it’s not. Wild and exotic animals are tied to their instincts, and sometimes no matter how much love and respect you give to that animal they will still do what they are instinctually inclined to do. Most of the animals that live with me have been here since they were babies, some of them I have even bottle fed from the time their eyes had just begun to open. They have still injured me on multiple occasions. Did they want to hurt me? No, of course not, but their nature compelled them to protect themselves from a perceived threat or guard their recourses. Some days I can’t touch them and some days they want nothing but for me to hold them. I’ve had to learn to not let my love for them cloud my understanding that they deserve respect and will create their own boundaries. Instead of being upset when they growl or bite, I now thank them for the warning. All of my animals are allowed in the house, but even after being raised indoors the foxes cannot be house broken. They are born with the instinct to mark their food, water, and treasured items. I have had to learn to live with that. I’ve had to make adjustments to my lifestyle and sacrifice furniture since I want them to join me inside. Skunks are prone to hypoglycemia and Jam Jar is no exception. His diet is meticulous and if not fed appropriately or in a timely manner he could easily die. His needs have created a schedule for me that has, in many ways, chained me to the house. I would not trade any of them for a clean house, more vacations, fewer scratches and scars, but when you find that baby animal this spring and decide you want to keep it, ask yourself if you’re willing to do the same. If you find wildlife in need of help please visit animalhelpnow.org to find a licensed wildlife rehabber.

Critics are raving about Jam Jar’s most recent performance, “The skunk’s routine was moving, powerful and, scent-imental…” - - - - #jamjar #preformingarts #slowmo #slowmotion #thehappiestfox #skunk #stripedskunk

7 years later and he’s still a goblin

Oh to be an indoor skunk eating breakfast in the sunshine. 🌞 The second I wake up, before I have my coffee, before I have a bite to eat, Mr. Jimothy Jam Jar demands I hand feed him breakfast. Welcome to our morning routine. #skunk #jamjar #rescue #thehappiestfox #wildlife #jimothy #skunksofinstagram

“No dogs were sprayed in the making of this film” - #jamjar #skunk #wildlife #rescue #animals #thehappiestfox #rescue #ringo