A Rough Patch :(

It’s been four days and we’ve lost two animals and a keeper (Kristen is not dead, just gone).

We had been concerned about our muskrat and last Friday – he was just not behaving right. By Sunday morning it was time to euthanize him. Cher opossum was under treatment for a UTI. She was getting better but yesterday things seemed worse again. After conferring with Dr. Vanderford we extended Cher’s treatment and had a plan to take her in for x-rays if she was not improved. However, Katy found Cher dead early this morning.

Katy filling out forms for the state lab

Katy is on her way now to the State Lab where a necropsy (an autopsy but on animals) will be done. We always try to learn why animals die in hopes of learning things that will keep other animals of the same species living healthier and longer. I took the muskrat in on Sunday. We are awaiting results.

Jill and Kent getting some "love" from Henry, our LIVING groundhog.

Death is part of the job, and since most of our animals live much shorter lives than people do it happens often. Read the post I wrote a few years ago of things you could do to support keepers during these tough times.  We’ve had many special friends die over the years. We write about them so you can share with us. Here are links to a few of the special family members we’ve lost:

Squealer the Pig

Ozzie the Turkey

Moo the Steer

We don’t have many photos of the muskrat since he hated to be handled, but if you want to take a look at some Cher cuteness, click here or here or even here. In the meantime, wish the keepers well and hope that this is the end of some sad times.

4 responses to A Rough Patch :(

  1. Leslie says:

    I’m so sorry to hear about Cher! I hope Sonny isn’t too lonely.

  2. Karyn says:

    So sad to hear about Cher. 🙁 I hope that Henry (lovable Woodchuck/Groundhog) will continue to give comforting snuggles.

  3. Libby says:

    I’m so sorry, and I hope it is indeed the end of this rough patch for you all. Cher was a pretty young opossum, wasn’t she?

  4. Sherry Samuels says:

    Libby: 2 years is actually pretty old for an opossum. They don’t tend to make it to 3!
    Thanks for the well wishes!

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