Death In The Wildlife Refudge - Page 9/16

The rangers sprayed the park from above using a crop dusted to kill the fleas, ticks, and mites.After the park was sprayed the rangers trapped as many possums as they could. The vet examined them and said they were healthy. He had a theory like many other wild animal vets. The possum's low body temperature does not allow for the virus that carries rabbies and possibly distemper also to survive well.

​ The refudge sanctuary's possum population did not have the parasite that causes Equine Protozal Myesloem Ephalitis referred to as (EPM) which was a tiny blessing for Abby. Next group was the hedgehog population. The vet ruled most of them was healthy for the exception of about a half a dozen hedgehogs was snezzing with nasal discharge and difficulty in breathing. His dignosis was pneumonia caused by the bacterium Bordetella Bronchisepitica.Some also had dental problems which his staff put them to sleep and pulled the bad teeth.The possums that had pneumonia had to stay in the clinic being given antibiotics untill they were well then released back into the wild.

​ While releasing the hedghogs back into thw wild the rangers found a groundhog burrow. Everytime they coaxed him out the groundhog would wiggle his way to freedom and scurried back into his burrow. After three or four attempts they were successful and he had his doctor's appointment. He wasn't a happy groundhog and let the vet's staff know it but he was checked over and found to be very healthy. He was allowed to go back home to stay untill spring. He would be out again on groundhog day and predict if there would be a early spring or six more weeks of winter which made Abby laughed since spring wasn't official untill the third week in March any way.