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The Girls
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The Girls
by Tracy A. Bye
May 2004
I am a mother of two boys. All of our pets are boys except one of our kitties. So being female in the Bye family is a rarity. The ratio of boys to girls changed in early summer at the Bye household.
During early June 2003 I got two calls within a day of each other. One was for a deer fawn and one was for an antelope fawn. Both came to Born Free because of human intervention. Both were less than a day old and as cute as can be.
Angelina, the deer fawn, was picked up by a woman on horseback who found her along a path. When she called me from her cell phone and told me there were no signs of injury, I told her to take her back to where she found her because her mother was nearby. Many people don’t realize that deer moms will leave their babies for up to 3 hours at a time. They are communicating with them during this time, but to a human’s eyes the mom may appear to be nowhere in sight.
Later that night, the woman called me back to inform me she had not taken my advice. She had brought little Angelina back to her house, to her son’s baseball game and had her in her living room with her kids and dog. “She seems to be fine except I think she’s hungry,” is what this woman told me. Little did she know that anytime a wild animal “seems fine” inside a house with people and pets around - that means they are in severe shock!
In the first few days Angelina had to fight hard to survive after all that she was put through. I always think of the moms of these fawns, who are desperately searching for their babies but come to find they have been taken away from them by unknowing humans. How their hearts must break.
Then came Cantelope a precious little antelope fawn who was found by some ranch kids. She was a twin that was left when the ranch kids came upon her mom and her sibling. The rancher and his kids did the exact right thing and tried to reunite Cantelope with her mom and twin, but it didn’t happen successfully.
Cantelope was a light in Angelina’s world those first days and continues to be to this day. They are inseparable. They are both growing well and are very healthy. I call them “my girlies!”
One morning in mid November I went out to feed, when to my surprise there was another deer fawn hanging out by “the girlies” pen. The fawn was almost as big as Angelina and was definitely wild. This perplexed me as all the deer had migrated already. Girly ,as I fondly call her ,has stayed with us ever since. My thinking is that her mom was killed during hunting season and she was smart enough to find Angelina and Cantelope. They must have told her that this was an okay place to be. Maybe they told her I needed some extra girls around. Needless to say, ‘Girl Power’ at the Bye household has taken on a new force!
Each day I look at their big, kind eyes and darling faces and realize how very lucky I am to be in their presence. Their tenderness towards me and their unconditional compassion make lots of my hardest days better. Animals are always part of those moments when I feel my greatest joy.
In April or May the girlies will be released into the wild together. To live free, as they were born that way.
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Shelby
Flag
The Story of Sailor
Sailor's Ending
Love at First Sight
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Shelby
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My usual stories are of wild animals who have been to be rehabbed and have made a difference in my life. This story will be different. It is the story of my most faithful friend who helped so many of those wild animals have the will to live and to feel they were loved.
Burning Brightly in Heaven
by Tracy A. Bye
2002
My best friend died this past summer, her name was Shelby. She was my Golden Retriever, my truest friend, my wisdom keeper, my gentle companion and an animal who gave many gifts to this world. Her life touched the lives of children, of adults and of all animals.
Shelby was a dog who could be trusted in all situations. Her contented, gentle demeanor was a joy to be around at all times. She loved life and all that it brought to her. When I got my first deer fawn in, I was very nervous to do everything correctly. Shelby would be by my side with each feeding and cleaning, day and night. I would be inside and Shelby would wait by the door to go out. Soon I would go and look for her and she would be in with the fawn sound asleep, with the fawn curled up by her side. Shelby became the surrogate mother to many ungulates in my care. They treasured her companionship, loved her kisses and waited for her to come home to them. I believe having her help me with their rehab enriched their lives and gave them hope to live. She licked them as their mom would have, she gave them warmth and she could talk to them in animal terms.
When fawns or calves would die in our care, Shelby would mourn their passing along with the rest of us. She was by my side as I cried at their death and the unfairness of life. It was Shelby who could give me hope again - as she did to many critters too.
Shelby loved the raccoons, fox kits and baby beaver. She was a light in their lives. Her compassion towards their needs and their loneliness was a treat to watch. In her grace, I learned many things. She taught me patience, persistence, faithfulness and joy. Her wisdom on how to care about life , how to give in all circumstances and how to live your best life was a treasured gift to the lives of my whole family. I keep working on living my life by the lessons she taught me.
The last night of Shelby’s life on earth was spent in her usual way - making our lives happier. I received a call about a fawn who had been hit by a car on Highway 131. The person who called was in great distress and was very worried about the fawn. I told him where I lived and he was on his way with the fawn. With hope in my heart I went to sit down by Shelby and wait for the fawn to arrive.
My girlfriend’s were over and we were eating pizza with Shelby. As we sat and talked to her and gave her lots of love, I could see in her eyes she was not feeling well at all. Her cancer was back and stoically she was fighting to live the way she always had, with grace, kindness and joy. As I told them all about the phone call, Shelby picked her head up and listened with concern. She wanted to come out with us when the car arrived, but was not able to walk. I know she wanted to be by my side as she always was. She wanted to help the fawn or me or the person in distress in whatever way she could - that was her way.
I gently told her I would be back soon and that she should stay comfortable on her bed. I gave her a kiss and headed to meet the car in my driveway with the injured fawn.
As I opened the door to a man in tears, I knew it was not good news. The fawn had died in route to my house. In the hour I spent out with the fawn and this man, Shelby passed on. My best friend was not there as I cried at the unfairness of life. My hope had to come from within, from the support of my family and friends and from the life lessons I learned from Shelby.
I have so many stories I could tell of the many animals she took care of in her lifetime. I know them in my heart and feel so grateful to have been given the gift of Shelby in my life. Her light burned brightly on earth and I feel it burning in heaven too.
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Flag
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Flag
by Tracy A. Bye
I got the call in early June from a friend of mine. “Dogs are attacking a deer fawn in my garden!” The story quickly unfolded after this fawn was treated for severe bites in the neck and abdomen by local vets. The fawn was found by a hiker who thought she was abandoned by her mother. The hiker to the fawn to town and put her out in her yard, where she was attacked by dogs.
After experiencing this horrible trauma, this little one came to recover at Born Free Wildlife Rehab. She was a little darlin’ with so much will to survive. I named her Flag, after the deer in the movie, The Yearling. She became my shadow following me everywhere on my rounds to feed the critters. She overcame infection, shock and some digestive problems. To this day when I recall her will to survive it gives me goose bumps. She trusted in me when she should have hated me. She loved me when she should have been loving her own mom. Flag became a part of my soul. If ever there are soul mates, I often feel she is mine.
Flag stayed at Born free for a year. With in that year she brought my family great joy. I “soft released” her out into the wilderness behind my house. She could come back for a visit while starting a life on her own. She met many deer friends that summer. As summer progressed into fall, Flag would be away for weeks at a time. Towards the end of September Flag came home with friends! Two big bucks and two other does. They slept behind the garage and lazily wandered around our yard. I think they felt safe there since it was hunting season.
I worried her friends would stay with her for the winter, which would be very costly in feed and was not the best scenario for the deer. But soon, Flag’s friends migrated with the rest of the herd. Flag decided to stay another winter with us. She became a surrogate mom to two fawns that I had been rehabilitating. There names were Johnny and Olivia. Flag, as always, did her best at this task and became a loving mom to both the fawns.
The next spring when it was time to release all three deer I considered where I should release them. It had not been successful releasing Flag behind my house, because she chose to stay home. I called my friends at the Division of Wildlife and they told me about a wildlife refuge outside of Meeker. There were no homes or people and lots of deer. This was the place for Flag, Johnny and Olivia.
I trailered them to the refuge with great heaviness in my heart. At times I couldn’t see the road because of my tears. I kept telling myself, this is what’s right for them. They need to live free...be free...because they were born free. I talked to Flag, Johnny and Olivia constantly, reassuring them of their trip and their lives that were ahead of them.
The refuge was beautiful and there were many deer all around. I let them out of the trailer and watched them as they tested the area. They came back and sniffed me and rubbed their heads on me. I told them I loved them and got back in the truck. The ache in my chest was very real. I felt as if I were leaving my children behind.
The drive home was a good time for memories and thoughtful wonderings. I prayed they would be smart and would be safe. All I could do now was have faith that their instincts would guide them in the struggles of life. When I got home it seemed so lonely. I missed their talking to me and the unconditional love they showed me daily.
I did not see them for four years. Then one September night I went out to cover the pumpkin patch. I turned on the floodlight and saw many deer in the pasture. All the deer started moving up the hill except one. She stood and stared at me with quiet ease. As I looked at her closely I recognized her unusually large ears and her heart shaped nose. “Flagaroo, is that you???” I called to her. She came closer and looked at me. I began to cry and had to hold myself back from running up to her and hugging her. She allowed my cat to rub her legs and she touched noses with my dog. Be still my heart .... I could not believe I was seeing her again and knowing that she was okay. her mate called to her from the hillside and off she went. She came back many times that fall.
The next time I saw her again and with her was a beautiful buck. Both would come with the herd of deer but were more comfortable hanging in our yard and eating my plants. They were comfortable with my pets that they had grown to love when they were being rehabilitated. Flag and Johnny had come home, yet they were wild. It was a precious gift to my heart and soul.
In the spring and summer of 2001 they were back again. Johnny is a six point buck and Flag has had a fawn the last two years. Flag was nine this year. Each spring when she returns - my goose bumps do too. I am forever grateful for her presence in my life and in my soul.
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The Story of Sailor
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The Story of Sailor
By Tracy Bye
Born Free Wildlife Rehab
Sailor came to me in late June after being found on the side of the road near Mabel. Sailor is a glorious Golden Eagle. The couple who came across Sailor on the road were traveling home from a Native American conference. When they came upon this eagle and were able to walk up to him, they felt they were very blessed and it was a sacred moment. For they had just learned from the Native Americans about the importance and beliefs they have about eagles.
Every time I get an eagle in to be rehabilitated I feel this blessing also. They are so majestic and very stoic creatures. Golden eagles have the ability to break my wrist with their talons if they so desired. That is how much strength they have in each of their feet. However, the eagles I have had the pleasure of rehabbing have all been so gentle and kind with me. Sailor is one of these eagles.
Sailor and I bonded immediately. I could see he was very dehydrated and very skinny. As soon as he rested and got relaxed at Born Free, I made sure plenty of food was available to him. Within an hour he had eaten twelve mice. He soon realized I was there to help him and I was his source for food. Sailor began to let me stroke his head and chest with no threatening behavior. He loved to have his head stroked, it seemed to calm him.
Sailor is a young eagle, but of great size - both in heart and physical stature. I came to the conclusion that Sailor’s only problem was that he had not learned how to hunt properly. My thought was that his mom was killed somehow and had not fully trained Sailor how to survive. Over a course of a couple of weeks Sailor became weak and hungry and that is how this couple came to find him on the road.
Sailor’s strength grew incredibly in just a few days by eating well and feeling safe. My heart is happy because Sailor is now in the flight training cage on the front range with 12 other Golden eagles. I get daily reports of his progress and how he is an amazing flyer and he is learning to hunt like a pro.
Soon I will be able to bring Sailor home and release him back where he was raised by his wild mom. He will continue to bring blessings to our lives and beauty to our skies. I hope that in the short time I have with Sailor I can convey to him how thankful we are to have his kind in our world.
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Sailor's Ending
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The Story of Sailor’s Grand Finale
In a past NWCAAL newsletter I told you the story of Sailor. He is a beautiful Golden eagle that was brought to Born Free Wildlife Rehab in June of 1998. Molly and Steve Unfug were driving back from an Indian Pow Wow and saw Sailor on the side of the road. They believed they were given a great gift in being able to see Sailor and then an even greater gift in being able to assist him.
Sailor was not injured, only very dehydrated and hungry. It is my belief that Sailor’s mom was killed and he had not been taught how to hunt properly. After coming to Born Free he was fed and given tender loving care. Soon thereafter he was ready to learn how to hunt. I took him to the flight cages I use on the front range at The Birds of Prey Rehabilitation facility. Sailor spent the winter in the flight cages learning how to hunt and take care of himself from the mature eagles that were rehabbing there.
Sailor’s grand finale took place in June when he came back to Steamboat and I released him. However, the story behind this story is what makes it a grand finale.
Molly and Steve have studied Indian beliefs for many years. They believe that Golden eagles are great messengers for they have learned this fact from their Indian friends. Sailor was their messenger of good news - they found out Molly was pregnant.
Molly had a hard pregnancy. Their son, Keenan, was born in December even though his due date was in March. They went through many hardships before Keenan was born, but after he was born was even more difficult. Keenan never was able to leave the ICU and he ate through tubes. Molly and Steve spent every day in the hospital. Keenan died when he was one hundred days old.
Molly and Steve had a strong belief that Keenan’s spirit was connected to Sailor’s. They kept in touch and when Sailor was able to be released, they wanted to be there.
They flew to Denver from Georgia and drove to Steamboat. We released Sailor on a beautiful summer afternoon with blue skies and puffy white clouds. As Sailor gracefully soared back to freedom he cawed his appreciation to us. As we were watching him dive and soar and dart through the skies of the Yampa Valley, we began to notice other eagles coming and flying with him. In the end a total of five Golden eagles came to fly with Sailor. It was an unbelievable moment that was filled with awe and with sweet sorrow.
As Molly, Steve, and I cried with the beauty of this moment and the knowing of Keenan’s spirit soaring with his messenger into the heavens, I understood what an incredible gift animals are to our world and to our souls.
Sailor’s grand finale helped a young couple deal with the death of their child and made me aware of what we take for granted each day. We can all learn from the messages the wild animals are trying to deliver, if we leave ourselves open to them.
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Love at First Sight
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Love at First Sight
by Tracy A. Bye
I am a school teacher and the first day of school is always exciting. I may feel a little nervous and stressed from the pressure of getting my room ready , planning lessons and having everything “just right” for my students before they walk in to our room on that first day, yet I am always excited to meet my new class. It is quite a transition from being outside, around animals all summer, to being emersed into a first grade classroom. Little did I know that this year, the first day of school would have a whole new level of excitement!
The bobcat kitten was brought to me from a woman who had found him outside of Hayden. He was brought to me during lunch on the first day of school. The moment I looked into his eyes, I knew it was love at first sight!
I had never seen a bobcat before. In pictures and on calendars, yes, but never in real life. This kitten was the cutest thing I had ever seen. His name became Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was little - probably the runt of the litter. It is thought that his mom abandoned him because it was a late litter and he was the runt. Another thought was that his mom had been poached and he was left without a mom. I will never know why he was without a mom, yet I feel so thankful that I got the gift of becoming that to him.
Throughout the afternoon I worked to get Jeremiah to drink and then that evening I worked to get him to eat. What an exciting day at school! When he was eating and drinking regularly I began to feed him using an adult bobcat puppet. He was truly a joy to my whole family. We loved watching him play and growl, purr and sleep. Each day he worked hard to survive and was so stoic in coming to new surroundings and not having any bobcats around.
Bobcats are easily imprinted. So all of us had to watch that he stayed wild and that we didn’t ruin his chances of living his life in freedom by loving him too much. As he grew and grew I began looking for another wildlife rehabilitation center that had some other bobcats wintering over. There is a wonderful wildlife rehabilitator in Del Norte ,named Susan Dietrich, who was willing to take Jeremiah. She had two female bobcat kittens around his same age.
He was transferred to Susan in late December and as Susan writes to me, “is doing bobcat things.” He has become a great hunter and is dominant with the females. He had the courage to survive and the strength of spirit to become a great hunter. In April we will travel to Del Norte to release him to live a life that he deserves - one of freedom and of greatness. I love Jeremiah. He has taught me to love all bobcats. I learned so much about them while he was in my care. He showed me how the spirit of one little bobcat can add so much to the first day of school . . the lives of my family and to our world.
I treasure the days I have gotten to spend with Jeremiah. It truly was love at first sight . . . second sight. . .
third sight . . . and forever more.
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