Through Animals' Eyes

True Stories from a Wildlife Sanctuary 
by Lynn Marie Cuny

 As always, I enjoy reading stories about wild animals. This book tells some stories from the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation center in Texas. Like other organizations of its kind, the WRR treats injured wildlife, cares for orphaned animals, releases back into the wild those it can successfully rehabilitate, and gives a permanent home to those it can't. It's not open to the public nor does it use animals in educational talks and the like, so the creatures are mostly protected from public view.

The animals in the stories include baby deer, raccoons, infant squirrels, young bears, pumas and bobcats, coyotes and many various birds. There are also lots of more exotic animals rescued from illegal pet trade, who find a permanent home at the sanctuary including many monkeys and a unique kinkajou. I liked the story about the emu who made efforts to find a group of birds at the sanctuary that would accept his company (no other emus being present). There was also a very touching story about an injured fox that was treated and released after recovery. Her fur had grown back in a darker color in large patches and the staff was surprised to find upon her release that not only was her mate waiting after several long months of separation, but he seemed to see nothing amiss in her new appearance. I also liked the one about a vulture who couldn't fly but would climb to the top of a tree every day for the vantage point. In a strong windstorm one day the vulture got blown out of the tree and everyone was surprised when a week later the vulture reappeared, having walked back to its new home. From then on it carefully climbed down from its lookout tree whenever the wind arose!

There's nothing particularly outstanding about the writing or insights here, but I enjoyed the animal stories regardless. It was an easy read, I got through it in one day. And the photographs are pretty good, too.

  Rating: 3/5 ........ 149 pages, 1998