Creation Day 6, Part 1

The Creation of Wild Animals

In a cool spring northern New England day Kimberly, a veterinary technician, was riding her bike along a scenic river road. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a small object beside the road that did not quite match the color or texture of the rest of the dirt. Turning her bike around, she discovered that the two-inch object was a pink, fuzz-covered, newborn creature with its eyes still tightly closed. Kimberly quickly looked around for the mother, and not seeing it she picked up the tiny creature, cradling it gently in her hands.

It was cold, weak, and barely able to utter one small squeak of protest. Kimberly surmised that the mother must have been startled and dropped this young one when she was relocating her nest. Concluding that the baby would not survive much longer if left in the wild, she tucked it inside her shirt and headed for our veterinary office. She had not gone far when she began to doubt the wisdom of tucking the creature into her shirt. She was getting whiffs of a strong, musky smell incongruent with the size of the tiny creature!

When she arrived at the veterinary hospital, I determined that the little creature was a member of the weasel family and that he was only a few days old. Although his prognosis was very guarded, and my veterinary training did not specialize in treating wild animals, we started to do our part in giving him the chance for survival he deserved. This fragile beast was part of God’s handiwork as told in Genesis 1:24; Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: . . .’ And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, . . . And God saw that it was good.

Sure, the little weasel was not among the most exotic and glamorous creatures of the wild kingdom (like tigers, elephants, gorillas, and giraffes), but if he was important for God to create, then he was important enough to save.

We put him in an incubator and devised a small nipple and bottle to accommodate his tiny mouth. The first couple days were going to be critical as his body adjusted to a formula that we hoped was somewhat similar to his mother’s milk. Being so young, he had to be fed every three hours, day and night. Since his eyes were not yet open, we gave him plenty of tactile stimulation, but once his eyes opened we were careful not to over socialize him with people since our ultimate goal was to release him back into the wild. (The keeping of wildlife requires a special rehabilitator’s license and should not be attempted without special training and licenses.)

The little weasel grew stronger every day, and it was amazing to watch both the physical changes in his body as he grew a beautiful hair coat and the changes in his personality as he moved from helpless neonate to an inquisitive, active adolescent. King David frequently expresses delight and amazement in God’s created works. Seeing this weasel grow and thrive reminded me of Psalm 139:14 where David proclaims, I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. Not only did God make humans wonderfully, all of His works are marvelous.

After a few weeks we moved the weasel from the incubator into an outdoor cage, and his interest in the world expanded. His incredibly sharp teeth, which he didn’t hesitate to use, often reminded us not to tame him. When the weasel was four weeks old, we introduced mice into his cage. Being an instinctual hunter, he required no training to be weaned off the formula and onto his normal carnivorous diet. The time to release him drew near.

It was with a somewhat sad heart that we left his cage door open for him to return to the wild. Our maternal instincts didn’t allow us to force an abrupt parting, so we continued providing dead mice on his familiar rock behind our clinic for a number of days. God’s original Creation plan intended for Adam and Eve to be involved with the animals, but sin and fear of man caused a separation that we long to restore. More and more often these mice were not disappearing, and we presumed he was hunting successfully on his own. One day, needing some peace and quiet, I went out to his feeding rock with a mouse and sat pensively considering the weasel’s brief contact with humans. As I sat by the rock, pondering what a gap his leaving left in my world, a scampering body came nuzzling up to my feet. There was my weasel saying hello and looking very fit and well fed. He played around the rock for a few minutes; then he grabbed the mice offering and scurried off.

It was such a pleasure to help one of God’s small creatures find his place in the world. Weasels play an important role in controlling mice and vole populations, but since they tend to be elusive and nocturnal animals, they are not usually observed by people and are rarely appreciated. It gives me comfort to know that all God’s creatures are in His care. When I get discouraged that I cannot help them all (or even when I try, some are beyond my help), I read Psalm 50:10-ll. For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. It is a great comfort for me to know that ultimately God is in control, and the care of all the Earth’s creatures is in the hands of an all-knowing, all-powerful Creator.

God has designated us to be His stewards and gave the commission in Genesis 1:28 to care for the Earth and the creatures that He created and pronounced good. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ We each have an obligation to do this, whether indirectly by preserving the habitat essential for wildlife or directly by being involved in their care and safety. David in Psalm 8:6-8 reminds us that, You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. The challenge to live up to the task of caring for the creatures of this world is awesome but rewarding. It fosters a love for Creation and the Creator, gets one’s mind off self, and calls His stewards into active service rather than passive observation.

Working with wildlife rehabilitators gives me the opportunity to see the generous spirit of many people who devote hours to the care of wildlife. The people who take the time to stop and help a turtle cross the road safely, or the person who transports an injured animal to a professional’s care seem to receive a blessing from God. The Psalmist reminds us that, The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works (Psalm 145:8-9). Of course there needs to be a balance when caring for animals in order not to neglect the care, compassion, and hunger for human souls that must be pursued for God’s kingdom, but it is also important to remind ourselves that all of His works are worthy of our attention.

One Saturday night I was paged by a woman who had found an injured bat in her driveway. People tend to inappropriately fear bats as disease carriers or as blood suckers (vampire bats are found only in tropical America). Since bats do have the potential to carry rabies, I do not recommend people handle them, but nevertheless, this woman decided it was her obligation to help this creature. Wisely using leather gloves, she carefully scooped him into a shoe box and set him indoors where he would not become prey to a cat or other predators.

This compassionate lady was willing to love the unlovely and was very eager to do what was best for the bat. She had made a number of calls looking for someone who was willing to see a bat. When she contacted me, I told her I would be willing to see the bat, but I thought she might balk at the idea of driving two hours to bring the creature into my office. There was no hesitation in her voice when she asked for directions. Even if it was best for the bat to be euthanized, she was willing to do her part in making sure the bat did not suffer.

On examining the bat’s delicate wings, I found that he had a tear in the thin membrane of skin that stretches across the elongated fingers terminating at the tail. Under anesthesia, the wound was easily repaired, but the suture material did throw off his balance so he was housed in a protective bat cage until his stitches were removed.

Although bats tend to arouse fear in people, they are incredible creatures that play an important role in bug control. Bats hunt at night, and they judge distances to their prey by the reflection of high-frequency sounds they emit. Echolocation is also used to navigate in dark caves and at night.

Lest you think the bats have an advantage over the bugs, there are some noctuid moths which have bat detector neurons in their ears. When these neurons are activated by ultrasonic cries of predatory bats, they can avoid their enemies. O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions (Psalm 104:24).

God has endowed each creature with marvelous mechanisms for survival in a sin-sick world. Camouflage and highly developed senses to detect enemies, all point to a God who cares for His Creation. The creative and complex mind of God that planned the intricacies of the thousands of different species created on the sixth day of the Creation week is profound to ponder. I often feel incredibly overwhelmed by the complexity of the anatomy and physiology of God’s creatures. And although I may not always adequately appreciate the protective armor God provides creatures such as porcupines or skunks (especially when my distraught clients call me on a Saturday evening asking me to pull porcupine quills from their dog’s muzzle), that does not diminish my desire to know more intimately the Creator of such handiwork. When I consider the marvelous workmanship and planning that went into sustaining each creature, I cannot wait until that glorious day when I can learn even more at the feet of the Creator.

My reference library grows larger every day as I study the expanding repertoire of pets such as iguanas, rabbits, chinchillas, ferrets, and reptiles that are brought through my office door. I thank God daily that He has blessed our lives with the wonders of these animals that His children enjoy. Only God Himself can comprehend the complexities of these bodies where every organ system works in perfect balance. Only in heaven will we appreciate the perfection of life without disease and death. I eagerly await the day that I will be out of a job as a veterinarian! And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:4).

Laurie Barcelow, D.V.M. writes from Bethel, Vermont, where she is a practicing veterinarian caring for the creatures God has made.