Menagerie of Mischief: Who Rescues Who?

How do unexpected friends become our greatest healers? Join  Emily Couture, known to squirrel enthusiasts as Emily Gordon, where home for her is a bustling hub of both indoor and outdoor animal adventures, capturing hearts and sparking laughter across the digital landscape!

Hear how Lily the squirrel profoundly impacted Emily during her recovery from brain surgery and opioid withdrawal, captivating thousands with her daily posts about Lily’s antics!

Emily discusses the clear differences between living with wild animals versus pets, stressing the need to respect their natural behaviors. See why wildlife rehabilitation is a passion project that's not for the faint-hearted. 

Her tales of rescue animals such as the charismatic Mr. Pickles and the affectionate Bubba, bring warmth and joys as she paints a vivid picture of their unique bond. The enchanting story of Gypsy, the diva bunny and her influence on household dynamics is further proof of the healing power of animals, along with updates on Gypsy’s new companion.

Emily's heartfelt stories reveal the deep bond between humans and animals, highlighting how these magnificent beings often end up rescuing us. 
 
 

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Chapters

• 0:06 Unbreakable Bond
• 12:48 Animal Rescues and Personal Reflections
• 25:42 Wildlife Rehab and Animal Adventures
• 32:02 Emily's Appreciation and Gratitude

Transcript

Pat
Fill To Capacity, where heart, grit and irreverent humor collide. A podcast for people too stubborn to quit and too creative not to make a difference.

Pat
Hi, I am Pat Benincasa, and welcome to Fill To Capacity. Today, episode # 77, Menagerie of Mischief:  Who Rescues Who. Today we are joined by a truly inspiring, quirky, and delightful guest, Emily Couture, who is known to squirrel lovers everywhere as Emily Gordon. 

Emily is a storyteller extraordinaire whose home with husband, Jared and son Roman is a bustling hub of both indoor and outdoor animal adventures, capturing hearts and sparking laughter across the digital landscape. 

Today we explore Emily's world where the lines between human and animal blur into a family portrait of fur, fun, and sometimes profound healing and emotional support during challenging times. We will hear about Lily, a squirrel larger than life, who came into Emily's life during a difficult time of recovery from a second brain surgery, and helped her through the process of getting off prescribed opioids. 

We'll explore how a tiny creature's badass antics brought immense joy and support, not just to Emily, but to an entire Facebook community during the pandemic.

Pat
For our international listeners, the term “badass,” in American slang refers to a person who is tough, uncompromising, or intimidating, often in an impressive or admirable way. It can also describe someone who is exceptionally competent in a particular area, showing great skill or prowess that earns them respect from others. Hence, Lily's badass antics. 

Now, a friend told me about her Facebook post and I was absolutely captivated by Emily's irreverent humor, insights, and harrowing Lily exploits. 

But wait, wait, wait. There's more. We'll also meet other charming characters in Emily's life like Mr. Pickles and Gypsy the bunny whose unexpected arrival opened new animal vistas and joy in Emily's journey. 

As we discuss the laughter, we'll also touch on the poignant moments of loss, how Emily has navigated the painful goodbyes and the deep bonds that make these experiences so transformative. 

Sit back or maybe scoot to the edge of your seat as we embark on a journey into a home where the line between wild and the tame beautifully blurs reminding us of the profound mutual healing that comes with opening our hearts to these magnificent animal beings. 

Welcome, Emily. This is a podcast I have been anticipating with glee.

Emily 
Me too. I'm excited to be here with you.

Pat
Okay. We better roll up our sleeves. We got a lot to talk about. So, you have quite a story from growing up across different states, experiencing therapeutic boarding schools to your academic achievements and serious health situations. In terms of your life story, can you tell listeners what are therapeutic boarding schools?

Emily 
You'll see them sometimes in the documentaries that are out now, where there are some that have been closed down due to allegations of abuse and things like that. And I did go to one of those schools, but the first one I went to was in Utah and really just a working ranch. And we were put to work on the ranch. And when we were on lower levels, we shoveled a lot of horse poop and then higher levels, we got to go to Lake Powell and stuff and ride horses in the back country. So, you know, it was to get us to get our attitudes adjusted, things like that. I was a bit of a hellion as a child, I'll say. Didn't wanna listen to my parents, wanted to do what I wanted to do, and they had to get that under control, so they sent me to the cowboys. And the cowboys got me pretty much under control, and I learned a lot, gotta spend a lot of time with horses, and it ended up being a great experience that I maybe didn't appreciate while I was there, but I appreciate it now.

Pat 
Okay. So how have these various life experiences shaped your resilience, and what role have animals played in bringing you joy and solace?

Emily 
Certainly, when I was in boarding school, being with the horses, being in the barn, being around the goats and the pigs and everything, I love spending time with the animals, and I loved being with the horses in the back country. 

And even growing up, we always had dogs and cats and things like that around, and just always had animals around. And I remember being a little kid running around in the woods with the neighborhood dogs. And so I just, animals have always kind of been my friends. I'm not sure I ever appreciated wild animals as the individual beings- until Lily came into my life though.

Pat 
So people might be shocked that you are living with these wild animals, but you have made clear in your posts they are not pets. Tell us about that, please.

Emily 
So, with pets, you control their living environments. You give them all their food, you give them everything that they need, and they're domesticated. They're made to live in a home. They're calm. Wild animals are a different breed, you know, they live on the outside. They have instincts that work differently than our domesticated instincts work. And you have to somehow learn to accept that and respect that. Yeah. And if you want them in your life, you gotta kind of figure out a way that works for them instead of a way that works for you.

Pat 
Lily, the squirrel entered your life during a very difficult period as you were recovering from a second brain surgery and getting off prescribed opioids. What was so special about Lily that made her more than a squirrel to love, inspiring you to share her story online and captivating so many people? What was it about Lily?

Emily 
You know, she was a pistol. She was a pistol for sure. And she was gonna do what she wanted to do no matter what anyone else said or thought or did. But when she was little, and she was in the house, she was really sweet. She was really smart. And watching her learn to climb and learn to make nests and everything, it was just so cool. And so I was home because I was recovering, so I gotta spend the whole day with her. And then, you know, didn't realize how maybe, uh, maybe also fascist squirrels can be about when they want you to do things that yeah, you're gonna do it or they're gonna punish you. So I just set up the house to try to make it so she didn't wanna punish me, so I put up ropes and put up nets everywhere, and I let her do her thing. 

I was able to bend to her instead of trying to force her to bend to me. Now, I will say that for people who want to raise and release squirrels, that's probably not the best way to do it, because in the beginning, I was kind of turning her into a pet. Okay. You know, by loving her so much, with spending so much time with her. But then I realized by giving her all of the activities to do, I really did prepare her for the outside world. But I loved her in a way that's difficult to love a wild animal.

Pat 
Some of the antics that you were posting, you had this lovely close relationship, and all of a sudden Lily turned into a teenager.

Emily
I never knew that I would laugh and pull out my camera when a squirrel is peeing in my dish pan. Yeah. I didn't know that was gonna come.

Pat 
And then the highlight was watching Lily chase you across the yard. I could not believe what I was seeing. And you were running for your life.

Emily 
That's my husband's favorite video.

Pat 
I have to say, we all really enjoyed it. I'm just gonna tell you, I mean, you were breaking out in to a full bore run!

Emily 
I dropped to the ground, tried to get her off, and then I ran in the house. And then I tried to keep her out for like a few weeks after that. And she started sneaking in, she would know what door we were leaving from, and she would wait by the door where you couldn't see her right outside, and when you open the door, she'd slip in and when you came home, there'd be a squirrel in the house.

Pat 
Oh dear.

Emily 
So that's why I put in the squirrel door in the kitchen, because I'm like, well, if she's gonna get in, she needs a way out.

Pat 
So Emily, how did caring for Lily impact your recovery and mental health during that time?

Emily 
I mean, she really gave me something to focus on and care for, which was, I think, an important piece. And watching her grow and learn and seeing what she was able to do made me realize I'm able to grow and learn. And we kind of grew and learned together. And having those successes with her were meaningful for me at that time. You know, at a time where I felt like everything was just terrible. Then I've got her here having all these wonderful successes inside and doing all kinds of things and bringing joy to our lives every single day with her antics and craziness. So, you know, it was fun.

Pat
In May of 2022, Jared posted quote, “It's funny to realize, Emily Gordon's daily videos of Lily had thousands of interactions on the most respected squirrel rehab pages. People used to message her looking for the daily video if she didn't post. Lily was one of the most popular squirrels on those pages. So many people are messaging and posting about her right now. So many people would open their phones for their daily laugh in the lily saga. Lily has thousands of people mourning her. That's my girl now, my picture of her is the first thing, 17,000 rehabbers and people caring for squirrels. We'll see when they click on the page.”

The loss of Lily was felt by a huge online community. What was it about Lily that touched so many people? What was it, Emily?

Emily
You know, she was just a little squirrel, but she was larger than life. I mean, she just did what she wanted come hell or high water. And I think everybody, especially during the pandemic, wanted a little piece of that, you know? Yeah. Wanted a little of that spirit in their lives. The point is you know, we do what we want, we have fun, and you know, people still love us for that anyway. And I think that embodies Lily, is that she was larger than life, did what she want and loved anyway. And I think we all want that.

Pat
I have to say, speaking for myself, Lily really got me through the pandemic with all that horrible news, the lockdowns that were going on, friends getting covid. It's like I wanted to run to my Mac and see, oh God, what is Lily doing today? So, she did that for a lot of us and its deeply appreciated. 

In fact, I'd like to segue into a different aspect. During the pandemic, and you're touching on it, there was an increased interest in local wildlife and backyard bird feeding. For example, backyard bird feeding sails, boomed during the pandemic, giving a huge boost to sunflower growers and processors. 

In July, 2021, the Wild Bird Feeding Institute found that 11% of people who fed birds started during the pandemic. And on Facebook, now there are a number of squirrel, rehab, and rescue and advice sites. Do you think this interest in local wildlife will continue, Emily?

Emily
I hope so. I mean, I would assume that anyone who found that interest during the pandemic has maintained that interest. My concern would be that people do no longer have the time to enjoy sitting outside with the birds, sitting outside with the squirrels. But I think a lot of people have held onto that, which is wonderful because if you support your backyard songbirds, you're gonna be more concerned about the environment and more concerned about our wildlife in general. And I think that's a wonderful thing.

Pat
Can you tell listeners, as we're talking about squirrel, rehabbers and rescue. What do they do?

Emily
A lot of times it's raising orphan babies and then releasing them. But oftentimes also they'll get injured animals and then release them back where they were found and things like that. And it's all about getting 'em back to the tree. You know, if for some reason they can't be out there safely, the rehabbers will take care of them and get them back.

Pat
You know, in our own experience, our backyard is Wild Kingdom, even though we live in the city. And we did come across an injured bunny, and I took it to the Wildlife Rescue place, not far from here. And when the woman came to the car, we opened it up, she looked at the bunny and she looked at me, she said, “you're one of those people, aren't you?” And I said, “what?” She said, “you know, you're doing this right now. You're one of, you're one of those people.” I just took that as a badge of honor, like, yeah, yeah. You sure as hell are right. So, yeah. 

Okay. Now moving to Squirrel Adventures. You've shared many humorous and tender moments with your squirrels, like Mr. Pickles, Fern Stubba, having babies. Could you share one of your favorite stories about one of them?

Emily
Well, my absolute favorite story about any squirrel than Lily is Mr. Pickles and Bubba. Both were Lily's kids, but Bubba was from her first litter. And Mr. Pickles was from her second. Bubba lived in the indoor cage through his first winter and left. And then he came back and moved into the indoor cage with Mr. Pickles, which this is like unheard of in the squirrel community. Like, I've never seen many situations like this. And so Mr. Pickles came and took his little brother under his wing and taught him how to yell at everyone and get rid of everybody. And now they're both out there living the wildlife, but he stayed for an extra year with Mr. Pickles.

Pat
Wow. That is unusual.

Emily
Yeah. It's especially for a child of Lily.

Pat 

I know it's wildlife, but with Lily and her offspring, I get the picture of really feral wildlife. 

Now Gypsy, the bunny arrived unexpectedly. How did her presence begin to change the dynamics in your home, especially with the squirrels?

Emily
Well, she was posted for free on Facebook on Valentine's Day last year. And just after being in the small animal world, I knew that I didn't wanna let anything bad happen to her. So I contacted the lady and was like, no one else will take her. I'll take her. And my intention was to find her a good home, because I didn't think we were bunny people. 'cause I figured we were too loud and too crazy. Well, it turns out Gipsy likes loud and crazy. No, sounds really bother her. And when she leaves in the living room, most of the time she has her butt in the sun. So she sits just perfectly. 

You know, she's sassy, but in a different way. She likes her food in a certain way and she likes everything to be very on time and, and the same way every day. And she's just cute laying around. And you could pet her anytime you want. You can cuddle her; you can pick her up. You know, it's very different than Lily. Like, we're not scared of her at all! Lily would come in and you're like, ah! 

Pat
Yeah. I remember some of those videos. You know, the relationships we form with animals can be profoundly healing. How has Gypsy contributed to your life since her arrival for you personally?

Emily
Oh, I mean, her sweetness and she runs up to greet me every morning, you know, and when I walk through the house, she runs up to greet me and she wants me to pet her. She wants me to cuddle her. And it just is to have someone, to have someone in your house that's only ever seeking your love is an amazing thing. And then when I think,  when even if you don't feel like you can give love to anyone and you're giving love to an animal, you're still allowing that feeling to be there. And that's better than not offering love at all to anyone, you know? Like, it's nice to have that opportunity to know that you're still capable of that sometimes.

Pat
Yeah. Now, recently you have entered uncharted territories. You brought in another rescue bunny to be a husband. For listeners who don't know, that's H-U-S-B-U-N, husband for Gypsy. Now we need a report. How is that working out?

Emily
Better than we could have expected. So, we've had Gypsy for over a year now, and you always hear in the bunny world that bunnies need a partner that they're better off with a mate. And we weren't sure with her because she seemed very happy on her own. So we found a rescue that did speed dating for bunnies. So, we brought her in and, and her and Tuba were put together. And the rescue lady was like, well, I don't think you need to try any more rabbits. And we're like, okay. 

So we brought him home. In the first couple of days, we weren't sure, but then they figured it out and they just love each other. And apparently it can normally take bunnies a long time to bond. So it's kind of shocking. I feel like I'm being gaslit a little bit. Like maybe at some point there's gonna be some craziness, but I think we're past it now. And I mean, you just walk through the house and the two of them are laying together, lounging together, and it's like almost too much for the heart to take. 

Pat 
So bunny speed dating in this case worked out.

Emily
Yes, yes.

Pat 
Well keep posting the two of them together. Seeing Gypsy snuggling next to Tuba is really something to see. 

Emily 
It is. It's amazing to walk through the house and see it, and it's just like, it almost brings tears to your eyes every five minutes. Yeah.

Pat 

You've had to say goodbye to some beloved animals recently, such as Peanut. How do you, how do you handle these losses and what keeps you motivated to continue caring for and rescuing animals?

Emily
I can say losing Lily was a shock to my system. And I think what it made me realize though, after a while is that to have these experiences with these animals its worth it still. It's worth it to save them. It's worth it to give them love, it's worth it to give, get love from them. And the loss is incredibly hard, but I would rather have had the time and experience them than to avoid the losses.

Pat 
Someone once told me that when you love a cherished being, it is your spirit that takes them to the other side.

Emily 
I like that.

Pat 
And I've never forgotten that as deeply as we love these magnificent animal beings when we have to let go, I think of that. It gives me comfort to know that it's my spirit is guiding her to the other side.

Emily
I like that too. And then in the squirrel world, the one thing I always have heard people say is, “A day in the trees is better than a lifetime in a cage.” 

Emily 
And I think that's also something we have to tell ourselves with wild animals. I mean, there's a lot of dangers in the wild and you can't protect 'em from that. But, you know, look how happy they are living out in the wild world. Yeah. And would you take that happiness from them to avoid a bad ending? I don't, I don't think that would be right.

Pat
No, I agree. So reflecting on the joys and challenges of animal rescue, what have you learned about yourself through your interactions with these animals?

Emily 

That I have a level of resiliency I didn't realize I had. And also that bonding with animals is an interesting process. And I learned that you really kind of have to be open to it. You have to open yourself up and realize that this animal is an individual being that has their own wants and needs and desires. And if you can give them the opportunity to get any of those things, it's fulfilling for your own life. 

Because if you just have an animal that just is always doing what you want it to do. You don't get those funny videos, you know, and craziness and, and entertainment and, and they're not as fulfilled. And one of the biggest things I've learned is how to be guided by the animal. You know, let the animal guide me on what they wanna do and then figure out a way to allow them to do it that's staying in the house, you know? 

Pat
What advice would you give to people who, let's say they're not on big plots of land, may might be living on city lots or suburban whatever, but they're interested in squirrels and they maybe want to maybe feed them or encourage them. What would you say to them?

Emily 
If you just wanna have a relationship with your backyard squirrels, 

because we live in the city, you know, we don't live out in the country or anything. And so, what we have found is if we go out into the backyard in the evenings, probably an hour or two before sunset. And if you go out there with nuts and you start throwing 'em at the squirrels you see out there, they'll figure out you've got nuts. And they'll start coming around. And it might take a week or two, but they'll start coming around and you'll get to know 'em. And then, you know, you'll feel silly like we do. And you'll name them all and you'll call their names when they come over and you'll anthropomorphize them as much as we do.

Pat 
Yes. That's so true.  So what about folks who are interested in becoming squirrel rehabbers or rescuers? How would they go about doing that?

Emily 
Every state has different requirements for that. For me, I'm in the state of Connecticut. The state of Connecticut requires a class that they offer once a year. So you have to sign up for that class and attend. And then I believe it's 40 hours of work with a licensed rehabber that the rehabber signs off on. And then you take a test and then assuming that you pass the test, then you become a licensed rehabber to do animals that are kind of safer, like rabbits, squirrels, mice, chips, things like that. Like if you wanna do anything, you know, there's rabies vectors, animals, and then the birds are different and all that. 

But if you wanna do squirrels, and I think even too you can do rabbits are normally on the same license. So you just have to go to your state's website for their, normally it's under the Environmental Protection Department, whatever it's called in your state. And then figure out what their requirements are for that license and then go do it. And it's normally not that much work. It's not a whole lot of requirements. Some states it's only a test really. So, yeah, it depends. Yeah. You just have to look it up for your state, but then whatever, I mean, Connecticut requires more than a lot of other states do.

Pat
Okay. That's good to know. And then if someone finds like an injured squirrel or a baby, what should they do?

Emily
I mean, the first thing to do would be find the licenser, which again, you're gonna have to go to your state's environmental department website. And usually if you just Google wildlife rehab and then the name of your state, usually it's stuff will pop up and you can find a someone who's licensed through your state to take care of that animal and you take it to them. I would say that that's the best thing, because it's the legal thing to do is that. But you know, also a lot of people have become rehabbers by finding small animals and getting into Facebook groups where people will teach them to raise them and then they fall in love and become rehabbers. And I think that's also a wonderful thing.

Pat 

So looking forward, what are your hopes for the future, both for your animal family and your human family, given the deep connection with animals, do you see yourself possibly starting a sanctuary, a refuge?

Emily 

Well, I always wanted to own a nature center when I was a little kid, I always thought that that would be really cool. So maybe one day we'll move out to a rural area and have some acreage and who knows what'll happen. Maybe we'll be one of those crazy people with farm animals and, and a YouTube channel.

Pat
Well, you already have a huge following on Facebook, so it wouldn't be surprising for you to have a YouTube channel Adventures With Emily with these animals. 

Emily
Yeah.

Pat
Right now you have squirrels in the backyard coming, some in, you have like a, an enclosure next to the house?

Emily
We have the release cage that we had put up for Lily is still out there, so sometimes they'll go in there, but mostly they just use it to climb over to the squirrel door to get nuts.

Pat
So right now you have squirrels and bunnies. Is that it?

Emily 

We only have bunnies inside the house. Now all the squirrels are outside.

Pat
And that's the other thing about bunnies, when they are in the house and people maybe feel like they can no longer have the bunny, you do not release them outdoors.

Emily
Correct. That's how we ended up with Tuba. He was dumped after Easter and they found him with all kinds of problems, an ear infection, some wounds that were infected, and they got him all cleaned up and now he lives here with us and he is very loved and you know, living inside. But that's how we got him was somebody got him and dumped him.

Pat
Well, we all know that you live to serve. And so Tuba hit the trifecta on that one!

Emily
He did. He got an awesome, fun wife and he lives in a house where he can do what he wants and yeah, he's a happy guy.

Pat
Well, we can see that on the post. Emily, what have we not talked about in terms of squirrels that you'd like to say?

Emily
I think something I would like to say, I dunno, I think we've done a good job covering everything. I will say that everybody thinks that I'll just go touch all the squirrels now. And I'm like, no, I'm probably more afraid of squirrels than anyone else!

Pat
Really? 

Emily
I tried very hard not to get in touching distance of them, you know, I don't try to hand them nuts or anything anymore because after Lily, I'm like, I was, I was punished for handing her a nut more than once. So, I think now with wild animals, I'm fine loving them from afar. I don't need to be tactile with them.

Pat
In our house, we have heavy duty gloves, so, uh, I wasn't kidding about our backyard being Wild Kingdom. The squirrels come, the chipmunks. We have a possum, we just have everything. Anyways. We use heavy duty gloves when feeding the squirrels just because they get excited when they go to grab and  their claws are quite razor sharps. But it's fun when we open the door, they come running now and they just know that this is a diner. The squirrel diner

 Emily
Yep. Well the Blue Jays will dive bomb the squirrel door and yell at me until I put peanuts in there in the morning.

Pat
You know, Blue Jays are bully birds.

Emily
Yeah.

Pat
They scream and yell at everybody. Neighbors.

Emily
And they bully me now when I don't put out enough nuts for them. Oh yeah. They keep me in line.

Pat
I dunno, what is it with you, Emily, that these animals come at you? 

Emily
I know, I like to think of myself as a tough person, but not when it comes to these guys. They've got me wrapped around their claws, nails, whatever.

Pat
Well, Emily, what a ride it's been today. Diving into your world of mischievous squirrels and heart stealing bunnies has not only been a blast, but a beautiful reminder of the deep healing that our animal friends bring to our lives. 

And from Lily arriving when you needed her most to Gypsy crashing the party and taking center stage, it's clear to any of us who love these  amazing animal beings that we think we are rescuing them. But the truth is they rescue us.

 And by the way, Emily, your stories not only transform our day, they're reshaping the digital landscape with every post of bunny and squirrel hijinks. Who needs Netflix when somewhere in Connecticut there are more animal escapades to watch. 

Emily
I agree with that.

Pat
Emily, Thank you for being here today and sharing so much of yourself, like you do with your animals. I know our listeners really, really appreciate it. Thank you so much.

Emily
Well, thank you for having me, Pat, and it's been wonderful to be here. And again, I'm honored and humbled that you even invited me.

Pat
How could I not, Emily? 

Thank you, listeners, if you enjoyed today's podcast, please tell your friends and hit subscribe. Bye.