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"I find an intense satisfaction in making contact with another species," Carol Bart professed. "The more I think about it, the more amazing it becomes."
| Fritz, a cheeky raccoon, comes into the living room to help himself to the jug of cookies at the Bart-Hudock residence in Bloomington. Bart is also a foster mother to Salt, a whale in the Atlantic; Magnificent Mary, who lives in the Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota; and a wolf at Wolf Park in the Hoosier town of Battleground. |
Bart claims she was "normal" growing up -- her family had a nice cat. After graduating from IUB, however, things changed.
"I acquired a cat, then two," she explained. "That seemed OK. Then, I became involved with the cat rescue operation here. By 1972, I managed to bring the total up to eight cats, and by the time I was 41, I had 10 cats and a dog, and I got married -- what were the odds of that?
"George had five cats and a dog, and we quickly added a 16th cat, who was being evicted from Collins dorm. Our all-time high was 22 cats and two dogs. My mother was mortified! This was so far from 'normal' it could hardly be comprehended!"
Bart and her husband, IUB biology professor George Hudock, currently count only 14 cats and two dogs as theirs.
"But there are a couple of neighbor dogs who feel as at-home with us as they do their own people," Bart said. "I have, on a number of occasions, awakened from a nap to find three or four dogs sacked out with me."
Bart and Hudock also feed birds, squirrels, deer, 'possums and raccoons. The latter come in through the cat window to clean up leftover cat food in the utility room and to forage for cookies and overripe fruit left for them.
"A few of them become tame," said Bart. "Fritz, a cheeky raccoon, comes into the living room to help himself to the jug of cookies. I've fed a couple of 'possums by hand. Not many people like 'possums, but I find them dear. They're certainly better behaved than raccoons."
Bart is also a foster mother to Salt, a whale in the Atlantic; Magnificent Mary, a mustang who lives in the Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota; and a wolf at Wolf Park in the Hoosier town of Battleground.
Periodic reports tell her that Salt is thriving, and she visited Mary last May to see her running wild and free. She has met her wolf face-to-face in a field with 11 pack mates.
"The wolves aren't tame, but they're socialized," she said, "and there are always people around to intervene. It was exhilarating, not at all frightening. But then, I have no sense at all when it come to animals."This is stupid," she confessed. "That's why I need a keeper. When we go out West, George keeps me at a safe distance. He has pulled me away from bison and moose, but he let me mingle with a band of wild burros.
"There is something so straightforward and honest in interacting with animals," said Bart. "When I commune with my dog, nose to nose, I sometimes consider the incredible trust that exists between us. Somehow, it seems appropriate that he respect me, but when I think of the damage he could cause with those big teeth, I realize there is trust on my part, too."
Read about Bart's Health Professions and Pre-Law Information Center at:
http://www.indiana.edu/~udivhpp/
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