It’s a dire time. With dire things happening everywhere you are unfortunate enough to look. In addition to the police horrors and the recent spike in infections there was a fire Wednesday night in Suisun that burned the home of our friends at the  Wildlife Center, Several residents didn’t survive that fire, although others were freed by volunteers and the firemen.

Fire that killed wildlife, devastated homes in Suisun was arson, officials said

Blackened debris and soot-covered marshland defined the Suisun Wildlife Center Thursday, where a massive wildfire the day before had damaged outbuildings and taken the lives of three resident raptors and four gray squirrels being readied for release.

Thanks to the actions of amazing volunteers and firefighters, Executive Director Monique Liguori said, the center’s other animals and the main building were saved.

“We’re hurt but we’re grateful,” she said. “It could have been so much worse.”

Maybe its the stress of everything else, but the thought to me of a captured owl dying in a fireand unable to get away to protect itself was just heartbreaking.I wanted to help if there was any way I could. Monique Liguori is the director and lifeblood of the center. She bravely was one of our first ‘legitimate’ displays at the beaver festival and has joined us ever year since 2009 I think. When I reached out to convey my horror and support she said that lots of the center had been saved and that they would rebuild. The mayor of Suisun even started a Go Fund me page for the effort.

Just three volunteers were at the wildlife center when danger presented itself, and they swiftly worked to evacuate the animals. Many went home with the volunteers, while firefighters opened the outdoor cages and encouraged the creatures to leave.

Kaiu the one-eyed coyote hid in his house, where he was later found safe and sound.

But Griffin and Gwen the Great Horned Owls perished, the flames boring holes into their enclosures. Four gray squirrels also died, their enclosure a pile of rubble behind the owl house.

“I raised them from babies,” Liguori said of the squirrels, who were in the pre-release stage.

I know you’d want to contribute. Click here to go to the GOFUNDME started by the mayor.

Oh and here’s your reward for kindness. Photographed last night by Rusty Cohn of Napa. Two kits, one much larger but both siblings starting their explorations together.