News from Wild Brother
WILD BROTHER NEWS 2011
HOUSE CALL Dr. Robert
Dahlhausen DVM.MS. of The Avian And Exotic Medical Center Of Ohio , makes a home visit to do a
check up for Cody and Arnold,s Fennec Fox ( Ricky). Arnolds holds Vicki Staton,s Fennec Fox Zanta,
also being checked.
Left to Right Vicki Staton
and her Fennec Fox Zanta, Dr. Robert Dahlhausen, DVM MS , Cody Hildebrand and her Fennec
Fox Ricky.
Ricky catches
a few ZZZZZZ, in bed with Mom.
Halloween IN OHIO STATE PARKS Cody and Arnold
Hildebrand take part in Ohio State Park,s Hueston Woods, and
Eastfork, plus Indianna,s Mounds State Parks 2011 Halloween
activities. Dressed as Billy The Exterminator employees, they gave
out candy and were a big hit with the kids Trick Or Treating while
also educating park guest to how to injoy the parks and thier
wildlife.
Ricky lives the good
life.
Seasons
Greetings From Wild Brother!
Hi everyone. Skunk Research began last march with the wild skunks mating season.
Even with cold wet weather many wild skunks were out and about. On our very first night out our attention was
raised by the sound of growling and screaming. Recognizing the sounds of two skunks in the darkness, we
carefully approached the area. What was first thought to be a fight between two male skunks was actually two
skunks in the process of mating. We began filming the two despite the spraying from the small female directed
at the large male skunk with less than endearing moves. The very rough ritual was compounded by the difference
of size of the very small female in comparison to the larger male skunk. We remained on scene to insure that
the aggressive male skunk did not injure or kill the little female. After wards it was business as usual,
driving the parks nine mile perimeter and working very late into the night and early morning hours. We did film
several skunks over the weeks to come. In June through July we were once again very busy filming and observing
the new baby skunks exploring their new surroundings. We were also very busy shuttling baby skunks and other
wildlife that were either orphans or sick or injured to various licensed Rehabbers. Spring here in Ohio this
year was very wet and cold. We saw a lot of baby skunks with upper respiratory conditions. Then the weather
took a turn of very hot temperatures that affected the young animals with over heating and heat exhaustion.
Sadly both weather related extremes were the main cause of the low numbers of surviving skunk and other
wildlife births this past year. It was in our opinion, that the areas that we have researched for the past five
years were down in their skunk population as well as raccoon and opossums.
In contrast, we were contacted by a State Park in Indiana, that they were seeing a rise in their skunk
population. We did begin some research in Indiana in late August until November when we stopped regular night
outings for this year. We will return once again to Indiana in March of 2012. We managed to present a few
specials programs to the public along with our regular hosting of our City's ( Springdale's Gone Wild) Wildlife
series from March through April of 2011. We also took part in two Ohio State Parks and one Indiana State Park's
Halloween Festivities. Arnold and I dressed up as employees of Vexcon from the ( Billy The Exterminator ) TV
series. We were a hit with the trick R Treating kids in the Parks. We gave out lots of candy, and a good time
was had by all. Special assignments this summer were the filming of a mother skunk and her five babies under a
home owners porch, a family of skunks eating with the cats at a horse stable, and while on over night research
in Hueston Woods at our Base Camp, we had a skunk come and visit us while sitting at the camp fire. The skunk
was soon joined by a mother Raccoon and her babies. We filmed them all eating closely together. One young
raccoon boldly sniffed the skunks butt. Happily all of us enjoyed the remainder of the campfire's warmth ,the
skunk and raccoons retiring to the darkness of the forest. And us to our tent for a welcomed rest. From the two
of us here at Wild Brother, have a very Merry Christmas and the best to all of you in the New Year, Cody &
Arnold Hildebrand .
Wild Brother's Cody Hildebrand meets with Billy the Exterminator of the A&E Network
recently. Billy the Exterminator's program is Ricky the Fennec Fox's favorite show.
Seasons Greetings from Wild Brother
| 
