Volunteer Spotlight: Eileen Thawley
FoxTales Wildlife Rehab is so grateful for our wonderful supporters. Eileen’s story is one that we think our supporters will relate to. Finding and reinventing yourself. How and why she supports the FoxTales mission. It is truly inspiring! Eileen has donated many of the fabric hammocks that the wildlife use in their enclosures that you see in the many pictures posted on our social media and website.
How did you first get started with making the hammocks you donate?
It’s quite the story. I am a recently retired, disabled, Marine Corps veteran. I really wanted to find a place where I could volunteer after I was no longer working, however, my body is a bit unpredictable, so committing to show up for a designated shift isn’t really an option. As I continued to search to see what was out there, my new purpose managed to find it’s way to me. This is how it all began. My neighbor asked me if I could cut down a section of a tree that was dead and hanging over his driveway. Unfortunately, we did not know that the tree was a cozy home for 5 little baby squirrels and their mama. We had cut down their home. I was devastated. As a hollow piece of wood was being loaded onto the truck for disposal we found the babies. I had never really had any experience with wildlife. I ran inside to get a box to put them in. They were all so cold on that frigid day. After putting them in the box I googled “Virginia Wildlife Rescue” and found Virginia DWR. I called, and I was instructed to make my first ever rice sock, which I was told to warm in the microwave. After ensuring the adorable babies were warm, I was told to put the box of babies under the tree that was no longer there and watch to see if the mama comes back to get them. I eagerly awaited her return. About 20 minutes after all of the commotion had ended, the mama squirrel came back to get her babies. She carried them in her mouth, one by one up another tree. I stood there in awe with tears streaming down my face. That was the moment I knew that I had to be part of this newly discovered world. The women I spoke to at DWR was so helpful and comforting. She helped me save those babies, who emerged healthy and happy in the spring. After this incident occurred, I started reading about the local rescues and joined multiple facebook pages so I could learn and maybe one day help. I had noticed that on the websites that the organizations were asking for people to donate their time to knit nests and sew fabric items. I have never knitted in my life, and I didn’t sew either. So that was out of the question, or was it? I decided to try to teach myself to knit on a loom. How hard could it be? Right??! After a few botched attempts I managed to make a few nests. I reached out to Olivia at AERO to see if she wanted them. She said yes, definitely. I continued to make knitted nests, but one day Olivia asked me if I could sew. I told her nope, I didn’t even own a sewing machine, nor did I know how to sew. About a month later she asked me again. She even sent me pictures of the items that she could really use. The flat hammocks and honeycomb hammocks. Hmmmm? I thought to myself, how hard could it be? So after watching several videos on how to make these items I decided on March 12th 2024 that I was going to buy my first ever sewing machine. Within the first few days I made my first flat hammock. By day 3, I had made my first honeycomb hammock. I was proud as a peacock, but to be honest this was the last thing I ever thought I would be doing. Knitting and sewing?? I was a Marine and a police officer, and here I was sewing things for critters. LOL!! Who am I? All I knew was when I saw the joy on Olivia’s face and photos of the critters inside the hammocks and the snuggle pouches, I knew I had found my calling. I continued to sew and learned how to make more types of items. That’s when I decided to reach out to approximately 14 wildlife rehabbers. I met with most of them and offered to donate the items I had been making. I continue to sew in my free time and donate as much as I can. I only have one request when I donate items, and that is to receive photos or videos of the animals using the items I have made. Seeing those photos brings me so much joy.
Do you have a favorite wild animal?
They are all so precious that it would be so difficult to choose just one. I find the beauty of deer and foxes so breathtaking, but opossums, racoons, squirrels, flying squirrels, skunks, and even bats are so adorable. I love watching birds as well.
How long does it take to make a hammock?
Including cutting the material, ribbons, and pinning everything in place, before I begin to sew, I would say 20-25 minutes max for a basic flat hammock.
Is there one thing about wildlife that you wish the public would understand?
Yes, I do. We have built cities everywhere. Leaving very few places for wildlife to live and raise their babies. Please be good stewards and learn to coexist with the wildlife. Let them venture onto your property and treat them with respect. Consider building larger gardens so you have plenty to share with the wildlife. The more you learn about wildlife the more you will appreciate the gift of having them visit your yard.
Is there anything else that you would like to share?
I’m so grateful that there are a such dedicated, beautiful souls called rehabbers, who are willing to put everything they have into saving wildlife. You are literally angels on earth.
