It all started last Friday. I was on my way to work at the cooperative gallery Larry and I are members of. Larry had opened the gallery for me so I could run that morning. It was about noon and I was bringing lunch for us to share before he left and I took over.

 As I pulled into a parking space several blocks from the ‘main street merchant corridor’ and got out of my car, I saw it. A hobbling little flash of ‘gray fuzzy something’ ducking behind a bush. A few moments later he peeked out and then wobbled towards me, keeping a safe distance. A fledged gull, it was a ‘baby’ glaucous-winged gull (glaucous means ‘white’). Standing about a foot high with little stubs for wings, he looked at me – then up to the roof of the building. There, on top, was momma gull, pacing back and forth. The little guy had fallen off the roof.

 I phoned Larry telling him the situation and asking him to bring a ladder so we could put the baby back on the roof. Unfortunately, none of the gallery ladders were tall enough and said he’d have to go home and get the extension ladder. But, it seemed to me that I’d be able to find a ladder in town, saving Larry the drive home. I decided to ask someone inside the building if they had one. Or, maybe there was an exit from inside the building to the roof. And, that was my mistake.

 It’s a real estate office with a half dozen (and in this economy) bored realtors. I asked about a ladder explaining what I wanted to do, it seemed simple to me. Not so. The owner wanted nothing to do with the baby gull, wanted him off the roof, along with all the other gulls. He told me ‘just let nature take its course,’ (or more accurately someone probably running over the gull, ending the gull’s life and the realtor’s ‘gull’ problems). Then came the ‘trespassing, liability issue.’ He clamored on clarifying I’d be trespassing and he’d be liable if I fell off the ladder, and of course the pending lawsuits. I realized there was no chance of changing this guy’s mind.

 I left and went to the gallery, it was time for Plan B. Larry agreed to try and talk to the guy, but when we went down to the office the realtor had already called the police. So now the cop was telling us we couldn’t put the baby gull back on the roof, or we’d be arrested for trespassing. Meanwhile, the little gull is circling the building, jumping up against it and falling back to the ground. It was time for Plan C.

 Larry left to find a large box and we decided we’d take it home and sneak it back onto the roof later that night, or simply keep him and care for him, until he was able to fly. Figured I’d feed it ground-up fish and some of ‘Harry Cat’s’ flaked bonito (hopefully Harry wouldn’t see me doing this). I stayed at the real estate office keeping an eye of the baby gull, while the cop kept an eye on me. When asked I told the police officer Larry had gone to get a box and we were taking it home or to the animal rescue center. Wrong again. ‘I didn’t hear that first part’ said the cop, ‘I only heard ‘animal rescue.’ Well, did you know gulls are protected under federal law? You can’t keep one, just like you can’t have an eagle. Larry knew this, and as he told me later, he was doing what he thought was best. He didn’t know about the rescue center. But would the animal rescue center take a baby gull? I called Sara at Center Valley Animal Rescue, explained the situation and happily Sara said ‘sure, bring it down.’

 Larry returned with the box and was very happy and relieved when I told him about the rescue center. He gently tossed his sweatshirt over the little gull placing him in the box. After a quick ‘good-bye’ off it went with Larry to the animal rescue. Sara and volunteers were already thawing fish for the little guy when Larry arrived. They surmised its leg was sprained, not broken and would be fine in a few days.

 The Center Valley Animal Rescue is an amazing place where staff and volunteers care for hundreds of animals from iguanas to pigs, cats to horses and now a gull. Check out their website http://www.centervalleyanimalrescue.org/ for more information about them. And if you feel inspired please think about making a donation.

 Back at the gallery I breathed a sigh of relief knowing this little gull would have a life. In my head I know there are tons of gulls and they’re not well liked (especially this time of the year when they’re nesting and pooping everywhere). But in my heart I knew I had to do the ‘right thing’ and save this little gulls life. Or at least I had to try, and I’m so happy I did!

 As a side note, I’ve been working on my website getting it ready for a ‘shopping cart.’ If you get a chance check it out. I’d appreciate any feedback, like is it ‘user-friendly,’ any broken links, how it looks on your screen, etc. You can easily reach the main part of my website with this link:

Thanks for reading.
Nancy Cherry Eifert