Two INDOT bridge inspectors have made the world a better place by rescuing wildlife from possible death.
If it weren’t for LaPorte District Bridge Inspection Engineer Ryan Arbour and LaPorte District Bridge Inspection Engineering Assistant Amy Wines, two baby woodchucks wouldn’t be frolicking around the woods, rivers, and creeks of Marshall County.
The INDOT duo performed emergency inspection duties July 10 at a flooded bridge on State Road 10 over Deer Creek, east of Argos. The water was 6 feet above normal levels and touching the bottom of the bridge.
At the southwest shoulder near the water’s edge, Arbour went to step over the guardrail.
“I noticed something lying in the grass, nearly motionless,” said Arbour. “I called Amy over, but with their fur all soaked, we couldn’t even tell what kind of animal they were. One of them lifted its head to look at us but didn’t try to move away. Their home had been under the approach of the flooded bridge.”
Wines emptied a tote that she kept in the back of the INDOT truck, grabbed a pair of welding gloves, and carefully picked up the animals and placed them into the tote. She then called Rescue Release Repeat, an animal rehabilitation facility.
The volunteer at Rescue Release Repeat verified that the animals were baby woodchucks.
“She said the woodchucks were old enough to live without their mother and that they would be OK if they could warm up and dry off for a few days,” said Wines.
That’s precisely what happened. A few days later, they were released into the same area.
