Mike Nestor

This month's featured volunteer is Mike Nestor. Those of you who have worked the phones may know him as EnviroMike. He is a licensed live trapper, and Nature's Nursery has handed out his name for years. Mike is one of the few live trappers in the area that we have received positive feedback on after sending calls his way. He has a unique approach to dealing with "nuisance" animal situations. He has given up collecting his fee on many occasions because he has convinced people to co-exist with wildlife rather than simply removing it. He uses a very unique hands-off approach which is much less stressful on the animal...and less dangerous for him! (There is no honor in getting hurt!)

One day about a year ago, when Mike was bringing some baby opossums out to us, he mentioned he would be interested in volunteering. What a lucky day for us. To top it off...he wanted to answer the phones! (A job most people have to be coaxed in to.) So for the past year Mike has been coming in most every Tuesday and Friday and answering the phones at Nature's Nursery. He already had experience dealing with the public on wildlife issues, so he took right to it. Of course along with answering our hotline, he did many of the other day to day tasks such as entering computer records, chopping greens, and miscellaneous office duties.

He has also responded to calls that could have earned him money as EnviroMike...but he did them as a NN transport volunteer! One time he went out on a mangy fox call for his own business. When he got there, he actually caught two foxes! When the people asked what the fee was for the two animals, he quoted his regular fee for the first one... and then the same amount for the second to be made out as a donation to Nature's Nursery! What a guy!

The sad part about this article is that by the time this issue reaches you, Mike will no longer be a volunteer at NN. He is moving to British Columbia, Canada. (Now any of you who are regulars at NN know that besides missing Mike... I'm terribly jealous that he is making it to BC before I do!) I think the thing I we will miss the most about having Mike around is his warped sense of humor. I always loved giving him a hard time....and him giving it right back! Below are a couple of photos of Mike. (Completely untouched I assure you!) You see Mike wears many different uniforms. The one he is most comfortable in is the bottom picture. This is of course his superhero outfit he wears when out on EnviroMike calls. (And being a good environmentalist, it is made of 100% organically grown hemp...no spandex for our superhero!)

The top picture is of Mike threatening to stab himself in the chest if forced to chop greens one more time.

Goodbye Mike. We wish you the happiest of times in your new life in the beautiful pacific northwest.
(Can we still count on you to occasionally transport for us?)