I see a lot about reptile rescues on here, but I know that some of us have rescued other sorts of creatures over the years as well. I wanted to make a thread for us to show pictures and such of memorable rescues, whether we ended up keeping them or releasing them back into the wild, and what was special about that rescue. While I'm sure we would love to talk about our herp rescues, why don't we let this be for the non-herps? (Redirect this if it's in the wrong place or if it's already been created, please? )
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Over the years I've 'saved' several animals, either releasing them shortly after finding them, nursing them back to health, or providing a healthy environment for them to live the rest of their life in.
The most memorable of these rescues for me was on the Veteran's day of 2010. On one of the support pillars on my porch's roof, i saw a large green blur. I got closer and found out it was a green katydid! Being the nerd I am, I carefully captured it and put it in a container to study the fellow before releasing it. I discovered that it was missing it's two longer back legs that make the grass-hopper like insect able to jump. I couldn't let her back into the wild, she couldn't escape that easy if she were to encounter a predator. So I begged my mom for hours until she let me bike an hour to our local pet store and bought sticks, frog moss and a mini-terrarium to house her in. I found out what they ate (lettuce and greens, I loved watching her eat! It was so fascinating!) and what their home needed to be like. I changed her environment weekly to entertain her.
Well about a week and a half of having her, she starting laying eggs in some of the ivy leaves I had given her! I made sure to provide thick leaves for her to insert her eggs into.
Sadly, on New years while I was away on vacation she passed away. After researching a bit more, I found out she had lived a month longer than she normally would've in the wild.
I set her eggs outside in some bushes and have been watching the area for katydids ever since.
Yesterday I saw a young male katydid above my door. I let him be, but it made me beam with happiness. He might not have been from her clutch, but I like to think that I helped increase the population around my house.
RIP, Kekoa (meaning 'little brave one', in honor of the wounded little katydid found on veteran's day.)
Jan. 2nd, 2011
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