Nature
The call of the
WILD
Moon Taylor has spent a lifetime rescuing animals that have lost their way • By Karen Gavis
W
Wildlife rehabilitator Moon Taylor has rescued all manor of lost animals in the Arlington area.
Photo courtesy of Moon Taylor Bottom photo: Karen Gavis
hether it’s a broken-winged bat, twin baby foxes or an Taylor, who sometimes receives calls from surrounding cities, says orphaned squirrel, wildlife rehabilitator Moon Taylor will she got a call a few weeks ago about a feral hog near Midlothian. do her best to restore the animals to their natural habitat. “A wild hog was loose in a woman’s house,” she says. “She literally The Arlington resident has been caring for animals since sent a picture of her standing on a table. At first, I really did think it she was a child growing up on a small farm in Colorado. Now 50, was one of my colleagues playing a joke on me.” she is listed with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and says The call wasn’t a joke, and Taylor referred the woman to the game the wildlife she cares for is mainly brought to her by citizens, animal warden, she says, since she doesn’t handle wild hogs, porcupines, control specialists and game wardens. snakes, skunks or spiders. “The baby wolf came from Six Flags,” When not caring for the wildlife, Taylor This wolf pup was found at she says. might be managing her med spa, Tranquility Six Flags Over Texas. The pup, which was found near the by Moon, or earning extra money working as Titan, had been slowly trying to follow a dispatcher to buy supplies needed to care for people around, Taylor says, before park the animals. employees intervened. Not only was the Taylor says she’ll continue to advocate for wolf dehydrated, but it also had cuts, the wildlife even though she has been “torn scratches and fleas. up” a few times in the past. “It’s bottle fed,” she says. “Mama can’t “I will fight to the end,” she says. “I’ll stand be found right now. So I’m mama.” up for what I believe in.” Taylor, who talked with Arlington Today “We need the laws about animal rights while at River Legacy Park recently, has changed,” she continues. “We don’t have seen everything from broken legs to torn enough wildlife rehabbers because in order to stomachs, she says, adding that animals become one it is very strict.” such as raccoons, opossums, bobcats and Taylor also explains how people often get coyotes are often rescued from local homes, away with abusing and torturing animals, parks and businesses. while others are punished or fined for trying to “All of the trees are being cut down more help care for injured wildlife. for housing,” she says. “So we’re seeing more of them.” “Once you’ve given them water and doctored them, they give you Taylor works with a veterinarian who makes house calls and who immediate kindness,” she says, noting that sometimes humans may also owns land where she can release the animals back into the wild. not even offer a “thank you.” Friends and family who do not allow hunting on their property also “The only threat in this world is humans,” Taylor continues. let her release wildlife onto their land. “We’re harming everything.” 26
ARLINGTON TODAY • July 2018 • arlingtontoday.com