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Critter Chatter

Critter Chatter is published in the Town Line newspaper and reprinted on the Nature of Maine blog. This column is written by NRCM member Jayne Winters of South China and highlights the wildlife rehabilitation work of Donald Cote of Vassalboro, Maine, at the Duck Pond Wildlife Center.

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deer being released from wildlife center
June 23, 2022 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter – Release Updates

Although spring always brings admissions of injured, sick and newly orphaned wildlife to the Wildlife Care Center, May and June are also the months that…
fawn in grass
April 19, 2022 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter – An April Reminder

When visiting at the Duck Pond Wildlife Rehab Center a couple of weeks ago, I asked Don Cote if he had any thoughts about what…
Carleen Cote holding baby fox
March 24, 2022 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter – Preparing for Spring

While the recent signs of an early spring encourage most of us to anxiously look forward to warmer days and more outside activities, this time…
white woodchuck
February 10, 2022 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter – Who IS Punxsutawney Phil?

After reading Roland Hallee’s recent column about his groundhog buddy, Woodrow Charles, and his prediction of six more weeks of winter, I wondered if the…
raccoons
January 11, 2022 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter — Remembering Amy

It is with much sadness and great appreciation that this month’s column is written in memory of Amy Messier, who passed away unexpectedly on December…
Suzy the fox
December 13, 2021 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter – Changing Seasons

As most of our readers are excitedly anticipating the holidays and time off from work and school, daily chores at Duck Pond Wildlife Rehab continue,…
fawn
November 16, 2021 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter – Odds & Ends

Chatting with Don Cote at the Duck Pond Wildlife Center is always enjoyable. Don has years of interesting experiences and his stories are touched with…
raccoons being released into wild
September 16, 2021 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter – Fall Freedom!

This is the time of year many critters are released from the Duck Pond Wildlife Center, although if animals are old enough and sufficiently rehabbed,…
young bobcats in cage
August 16, 2021 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter — Three Little Kittens

This month’s column about the Wildlife Care Center in Vassalboro was going to be about fox releases, but before we got too far into the…
skunks
July 21, 2021 | NRCM member Jayne Winters

Critter Chatter — Little Stinkers

Over the past month, I’ve had the unexpected pleasure to see skunk families waddling along the side of the road. Just watching them makes me…