Michael B.

As a kid I was raised on Treasure Island in St. Petersburg Florida. We were on the water. My aunt and uncle worked for what is now "the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary" on Indian Shores in St. Petersburg Florida. They would bring me to work to babysit and have me help with critters as I grew older. At the house, we always had pelicans, sea turtles, herons, cranes, opossums, and other various wildlife that we were caring for as overflow and fostering since we lived on the water and had a huge dock. Never a day went by that I wasn't helping out here in the states. At around 7 years old, I moved to Bermuda and assisted with the Bermuda Long Tails as well as other wildlife when my parents allowed. Even the native frogs and poisonous "road toads". I was the kid bringing everything home. When we came back stateside to Maryland. I always had some critter. From orphaned grey squirrels, native rabbits, snakes, frogs, birds. Anything that was in need, I was the first to step in and nurse back to health with the family much to their aggravation. I remember building a three story tree fort in the woods so I could observe the wildlife and have less of an impact on them. Climb the fort, do my schoolwork quietly watching and listening for movement with a set of binoculars. Throughout all of my moves on the east cost of USA, I have constantly been there for the critters. Traveling hours to remove cats from trees, or re nesting squirrels, eagles, hawks and owls. My children have been there by my side assisting and raising critters nursing back to health so we can release them back into the wild. Here back in Florida, I climb the abandoned spans at the Skyway to assist birds that might be entangled in line or are just having a hard time and need to be nursed back to health. I've offered my services for free to anyone asking for assistance. Gators when there are proper permissions in place, bees, etc. I do it all and am fearless. Nothing too big or small. Nesting season and babies are happening now and this will help keep them warm!