Li'l Smokey's Rehabilitation Blog

Smokey Update: October 30, 2008

This morning, Dr. Willitts was here along with Channel 12 from Chico, and KCRA Channel 3 from Sacramento.  Li’l Smokey weighed in at 63½ pounds, an increase of 7 pounds since October 12. 

Smokey has been losing some fur around his left eye over the past week and a half. We aren’t sure why, so Dr. Willitts took sample of his skin and is sending it in for analysis. Once he get the results back, he'll be able to diagnose what kind of treatment to use to reverse the loss.  Other than that, which would have very little, if anything to do with his eventual release, he was very pleased with the Smokey's progress. 

Now. The web cam. We got Smokey moved over to the new, larger cage. We also moved over the web cam. We placed it in the area we "knew" Smokey would be spending most of his time--in the igloo, on the rounds of wood and in the area where his food is placed. There we go trying to "know" what a wild animal will do! He immediately went up the log ramp we had made for him and (at least for this morning) spent the better part of the day on the opposite side of where the camera is facing.  Just when you think you have them figured out. 

We will give this a day or two and see where he likes to be, and will then re-position the web cam so we ALL can see him. 

One more thing about the web cams.  We spoke with the company which is hosting them and they gave us a quote to have streaming video cams with audio.  The cost is about $1,000 per month! That would be with multiple cameras.  Right now, with one camera, we are paying about $150 per month.  The bottom line is that we're looking for at least one sponsor to host the new system. There is no way that we can afford this with our budget. If you know of someone (person or business) who might be interested in all or part of this new system, please have them contact us at tom@ltwc.org.

Thanks for your patience and understanding as we feel out where Smokey will feel best in his new home.  We will then put the camera in the best location and hope for the best.

Tom

Web cam update: You can help!

Thank you for your patience.  As you probably have seen, we now have Smokey in his new cage and the web cam is back up and running.  I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your assistance.  SEND MONEY!!!  This is not cheap and we are allowing access to the web cam -- at no charge -- rather than making a minimum charge for 15 minutes or something similar.  Please, if you like the camera, we would ask that you make a nominal donation which will allow us to keep it going.  Thank you.

Webcam will be down temporarily while Smokey moves

Effective Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 8:00am, the Li'l Smokey web cam will be temporarily disconnected.  The reason will be to relocate Smokey to his new cage and to move the camera.  We expect the web cam to be up and running by Friday morning at the latest.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

LTWC Management

Why can't Smokey go out for a walk?

Wondering why we don't let Smokey out to play? Or about how he will ever find food on his own in the wild? Check out our new Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to some of your most common questions!

At Long Last, an Update!

All right, already! I have been out of town. I apologize for not getting your Li’l Smokey Update (or in the case of some you, your Li’l Smokey FIX) in over 10 days.  But, the good news is that the scheduled date for Smokey’s next exam will be this Thursday. 

The web cam has been operating fairly well, when Smokey doesn’t climb on his high horses and play around with the cords, which we didn’t think he could reach! We are working on either getting a second camera in with Smokey, or placing the second camera with the other six cubs.  Actually, there is a lot more action with the other cubs, especially since there are six of them!

If everything goes well with the exam, then we'll look at the possibility of moving Smokey to his last cage before he is released. This cage (our "bobcat cage") is about twice the size of his current cage (the "raccoon cage"), plus we hope to put one of the other cubs in with him to give him some company. 

That decision is yet to be confirmed, but most of it will depend on what Dr. Willitts finds out on Thursday. 

Tom

Our Li'l Troublemaker

On Tuesday, we decided to move Smokey's webcam down in the cage so people could see him better, both while up on his perch and while on the ground and in his igloo. Well, he decided to play with the cords which - unfortunately - he was now able to reach! I noticed the camera had twisted a little, meaning the camera was not straight/level. I got a call from Canada this morning at 7:45am, informing me that the camera was crooked.

So, I went out in the cold air and, to my surprise, Smokey had CHEWED through the electrical adapter for the camera.  Also, he pulled out the Cat5 cable going to the camera.  He was definitely a busy little boy! So, while out there, I simply connected the Cat5 cable to the camera and attached the power cord from one of the other cameras. In less than five minutes, he was down from his perch and began playing with the camera again.  So, I went out again and moved it up about 2 feet. I feel pretty good that he won't be able to get it THIS time! We will see.

-Tom

Update for October 14, 2008

On Sunday, October 12, 2008, Dr. Willitts examined Li’l Smokey for the first time in two weeks.  This marks the longest time the cub has gone between exams since he arrived at LTWC on July 18. 

First, Dr. Willitts said Smokey is doing just fine and is on his way to a successful recovery.  Second, Smokey weighed in at 56-½ pounds.  That marks a 48-pound gain since his arrival here. 

As you probably have seen, we finally got Smokey’s web cam up.  We did have some issues and still have some issues, but, at least, it is now up, you can see Smokey and watch his every move.  Our next goal is to get the website to move a little faster, then to get the other three cameras up and working. 

We have had some comments from some of you asking why we haven’t been updating Smokey’s blog every day, or, at least, more often.  Well, to tell you the truth, there hasn’t been much to tell you.  Since we don’t have any physical contact with him, other than when Dr. Willitts gives him his exams, which, now, is every two weeks, we don’t weigh him.  Could we tell you when he does something cute?  Sure, but, now that the cameras are up, you can see him just as we do.  So, enjoy the web cam and we will work on getting the others up.

Tom

Out of the Ashes, a Bear Tale Emerges

Check out Tom Stienstra's article on Smokey in today's SF Chronicle!

And don't forget to see what Smokey's up to - click here for the webcam!

Webcam is up (again)!

Okay, Smokey's webcam is up, and this time everyone should be able to see it! Click here to visit Smokey's webcam page.

Smokey's Paws

When Dr. Willitts last examined Li'l Smokey, Sunday, September 28th, this is what his front paws looked like. Not exactly what "normal" paws should look like, but, not too far from what they should look like.  There is still a little redness on the bottom of the paws, but, when you consider from where he was, just 10 weeks ago--WOW--what an improvement! And, he is still improving. 

Webcams are down

Hi everyone -- we're having a few issues and have had to take the webcams down temporarily. We could use help from anyone who has public webcam experience! If you can help, please email our webmaster Karen Johnson at karen@firsttracksservices.com.

Update for October 10, 2008

Well, it finally happened.  Li'l Smokey's web cam is finally up and running.  We let the word out yesterday (see the post below for instructions). Apparently a lot of you saw the notice and logged in to pull up the camera's featuring Li'l Smokey.  The bad part is that apparently too many of you tried to get on and some were not able to. 

Obviously, I cannot tell you when to and when not to log in, but, as far as viewing Smokey in his current cage, the best time is in the morning. This is because the sun is behind the cage and the cameras are facing the same way the sun is facing.  In the afternoon, the sun is 'looking' directly at the camera and might cause you some trouble seeing the cub.  The cameras we have are not infared, but they are wireless.  Which means that when we examine Smokey on Sunday, there is a very good possibility that we will move him into his last temporary home with LTWC, which is our Bobcat cage.  It has more room--both square footage for the floor plan and vertical room. Depending on his examination on Sunday, Dr. Willitts will make the decision to either keep him in the same cage he is in now (Raccoon Cage), or move him up in the world.  So, Sunday evening, we may see Smokey in a new setting. 

Sunday will mark two weeks since Smokey's last exam, the longest time he has gone without having anyone tackle him, poke him with a needle and have him unwillingly go to sleep.  Obviously, this means that Smokey is doing very good and we are very thankful for that.

Enjoy Smokey's web cam and we will talk to you soon.

Tom

Webcams are up!

At long last, Smokey's webcam is up! Unfortunately, only a few people at a time were able to access the site. We are making the changes now. We hope to have Smokey's webcam up and functional for everybody on Saturday afternoon. Thank you so much for your patience!

Smokey Gets an "A"

Dr. Willitts came by Sunday to see Li’l Smokey for the first time in one week.  This is the longest period, since the second week Smokey was at LTWC, that he has gone without an exam. 

On the previous Sunday, Dr. Willitts decided to leave Smokey’s booties off to see how he would do the next week.  This Sunday, the doctor again decided that Smokey did not need any protection on his paws because they were healing adequately enough to show good, steady progress. 

Smokey weighed in at 46.5 pounds, his coat is coming in nicely and his pads are starting to show good signs of growth.  All in all, Smokey gets an “A” on this progress report.  In addition to the good report, Dr. Willitts said he didn’t need to see him for two weeks!  At that time, he’ll determine if Smokey can move into the next larger cage, which has more floor space and a higher ceiling. 

The web cams?  Well, I knew you were going to ask.  The new ‘web’ cams are here (as opposed to the ‘surveilance’ cams) and the tech was supposed to be here yesterday to make the necessary adjustments so that you can see Smokey on a 24 hour camera.  For all of our sakes, I hope this works today!  As soon as we get it up, you will know.  Hopefully, it will be this week.  We sincerely apologize for the delay.  Talk to you soon.

Tom