Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center

Santa and Reindeer Help Wild Animals

By Sue B. DeArment

It was Christmas eve. Santa was making his list and checking it twice to be sure he had everything he needed to make this Christmas special for
all people, pets and wild animals this year.

Santa felt good about how he had spent his past year. On his last Christmas Eve journey, he had wanted to help all the distressed animals he
encountered, but he hadn't known what to do other than to leave notes for the rehabilitators he knew from around the world. So when he got word that Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation Center was training members of PASART(Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team) on how to safely capture and transport wild animals, he wanted to participate.

He lost weight, shaved his beard, and dyed his hair so that he would not be recognized, and then joined the workshop. He had a wonderful experience and was excited to have the skills he needed to help injured animals should it be needed on his Christmas eve travels this year. Just in case, he
packed some sheets and boxes in his sleigh.

Now all was ready. Mrs. Claus gave Santa a hug and a kiss and wished him well on his trip. The reindeer were full of energy and stamping their feet
in anticipation of their favorite night. Rudolph's nose seemed to be brighter than normal this year, and as Santa settled in his sleigh, the reindeer took off in a flash.

They went from house to house leaving gifts and well wishes. After a short while, the trip was running smoothly and ahead of schedule, so Santa
decided to visit a nearby woods. From above the trees, he spotted a nest with a large owl on it, and a smaller owl near by being curious, he stopped to check on the two owls.As he approached the two great horned owls clacked their beaks to warn him to stay away.The female was on three eggs and did not want to get off the nest because the night air was so cold. The male had just brought her some food for her Christmas dinner, and she was looking forward to a few tasty morsels to help keep her warm during the long winter incubation period. Santa was surprised to find owls on eggs this time of year.When he asked them about this, the female told him they needed to start their family early in the year so that they have plenty of time to teach their young to hunt before the next winter. Sitting so long in the cold was a sacrifice, but it was worth it to know that her owlets would have the best possible chance to grow up and have babies of their own.

Santa wanted to help in some way so he went to the base of the tree and put up a large sign: "Do not cut. Nest occupied. Signed S. Claus." Now
he knew the female and babies would' be safe from harm from wood gatherers. He understood that many trees with nests - either stick nests or nests in tree cavities - were cut down, sometimes injuring or orphaning the animals who lived in the nest. With a warning signed by Santa, he knew this tree was safe, so the owls could raise their family. Santa liked the feeling he got from being able to help.

After finishing their work with the owls, Santa and the reindeer were off to the next house to slide down the chimney with his sack full of toys.
Santa was having fun sliding down the chimneys this year since his weight loss made it so much easier, but as he was sliding down this chimney, he heard a little squeal. He was startled by the noise and stopped to look. He saw a small fuzzy brown creature, a brown bat that was shivering from the cold. "Can you help me?" she asked. "This is my first winter and I got stranded. My family left for warmer weather, and I stayed behind where I thought I would be safe. Now I am weak because I cannot find the insects I need to keep me alive. The weather is getting colder and I can't get warm." Santa assured the little creature that he would be right back to help. He went to his sleigh, grabbed a small box and put a sheet on the bottom. Since the bat might get scared and try to bite his had, he put on his gloves, which protected him from getting hurt or contracting a disease. When he made his way back to the bat, the little creature gave no resistance when Santa eased her into the box. She was ever so grateful to Santa for his help. Santa rushed the little creature to a rehabilitator who said this bat was very lucky to have a good friend like Santa and assured him that the bat would be nursed back to health. Santa liked the feeling he got from being able to help.

All his careful attention to the bat had gotten Santa a bit behind his schedule, but he and the reindeer knew how to make up time, and only 150 chimneys later they were back on schedule when they ran into another situation. Santa was just sliding into the unlit fireplace when something small and fluffy caught his eye. As he got near, a very small owl clacked her beak. Santa assured the little screech owl she didn't need to be scared, he would cause no harm. She said, "I mistook the hole at the top of the house for a nice place to hide and rest. When I entered the opening, I kept falling further and further. Now I cannot find my way out. It is too far and too narrow for me to climb to the top. I am stranded and don't know what to do:' Santa asked how long the owl had been there and was relieved to learn it had only been a couple of hours. Santa knew all the owl needed was to be taken back up the chimney and set her free. He put his gloves on, scooped the owl up and brought her to the top of the chimney. What a thrill it was for Santa to open his hands and release the owl. As the owl flew to a tree nearby, she turned and said,"Thank you Santa. You are a lifesaver. I do appreciate your help. Please put a chimney cap on this chimney to prevent others of my owl family from making the same mistake I did:' After delivering the family's gifts, Santa did as the little owl requested. He liked the feeling he got-from being able to help.

As Santa neared his favorite Christmas stop, Tamarack Wildlife Rehab Center, he came across another bird in trouble. As he passed over the
Saegertown exit of 1-79, he noticed a large bird with his head tucked under its wing near the edge of the road. Santa's heart raced in anticipation as he
steered the reindeer to a landing in a nearby field. It looked like a Red-Tailed Hawk, and he had never rescued such a large bird before. He grabbed a box and walked quickly and quietly toward the hawk. The hawk was startled when the box was put over him but not alert enough to get away. Santa slid a flat piece of cardboard under the box and duct taped the box and the bottom piece together. Placing one hand under the box and the other on top, he carried it to his sleigh while quietly letting the hawk know that he was taking him to a wildlife center for care. Moments later, Santa arrived at Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and woke the rehabilitator who examined the hawk and discovered the hawk had a concussion. She told Santa that she would tend to the hawk and
release her when the weather got better in the spring. Once she was no longer worried about the hawk, the rehabilitator looked carefully at Santa for the first time and immediately recognized him as one of the students in her SARTA workshop. She gave Santa a warm hug and thanked him or being there for the animals that night. Once again, Santa remembered he liked the feeling he got from being able to help. Santa quickly visited the animals at the center while the rehabilitator gave the reindeer a snack and water for the rest of their journey. All too soon, Santa and the reindeer sped off on their mission with his hand waving, spreading a dusting of love over the earth and saying to all: "May there truly be peace on
earth."