Animal rescue #3: Muskrat at Tara Nature Retreat

We live immersed in nature... deep in green Umbria in a rich oak forest. Hence, we have regular encounters with the majestic wildlife of Europe - deer, fox, wolf, porcupine, boar, squirrel, marten, weasel, badger, owl, night swallow (who sing at night!) bats, hawk, eagle, and more. I sometimes half joke that Umbria is the "Amazon of Italy". The best time to view the animals is early in the morning or later in the evening; dawn or dusk. If you move quietly and calmly, you can often catch some deer enjoying some shrubs on our forest road.

After a long stormy night in December, Caroline woke up one morning to find this little guy:

Baby Muskrat

This is not the first wild animal to come to our doorstep when they are weak. Somehow they come near us when their health is at risk. This baby muskrat was breathing heavily and needed care immediately. We contacted our friends at Wild Umbria Animal Rescue, and met at the halfway point between Tara Nature Retreat and the animal hospital in Perugia. After some water and a short drive, our little friend was a bit more lively:

Baby muskrat awakes

We're happy to report our friend is posed to make a full recovery, and appears a bit more grown up :) (Image below, courtesy of Wild Umbria Animal Rescue). We will share more tales of our wild animal rescues (including #1 and #2 in future blogs).

Muskrat in recovery at Wild Umbria Animal Rescue, Perugia

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Caroline Willebois is a seasoned yoga teacher, holistic health coach, author, and retreat creator with a lifelong connection to nature and wellbeing. She discovered yoga at 19 during her global travels and deepened her practice into a heartfelt calling that supports transformation and self-discovery. Caroline is a certified 500-hour Elemental Yoga Teacher & Yoga Therapist, and over the past decade she has led numerous yoga and wellness retreats in Italy and Bali. She has written three books — This Is For You, Nature’s Calling, and the seasonal cookbook Nourish — reflecting her passion for nourishing the body, mind, and spirit through mindful living and wholesome food. Growing up in East Africa instilled in her a profound respect for Mother Nature, which now informs every retreat experience she curates at Tara Nature Retreat.

Timothy Patey is Co-Founder of Tara Nature Retreat and a guiding presence in its transformative, nature-based experiences. His personal journey of self-exploration began with a formative pilgrimage through India in 2003, leading him into decades of study across yogic, shamanic, and Buddhist traditions. Timothy holds over 500 hours of training in Hatha Yoga and Yoga Nidra and blends these practices with psychology, non-violent communication, and mindfulness in his teaching and facilitation. With a PhD in the natural sciences and a love for ecstatic dance, philosophical conversation, and community connection, Timothy brings depth, curiosity, and warmth to every retreat he co-creates.

Together, Caroline and Timothy are the heart and soul of Tara Nature Retreat, a serene yoga and wellness sanctuary nestled in the oak forests of Umbria, Italy — just 90 minutes from Rome and close to the historic town of Todi. Tara Nature Retreat offers a range of immersive experiences, from yoga retreats to women’s retreats and holistic wellness weeks designed to balance body, mind, and spirit in a supportive, nature-rich environment. The retreat centre is crafted as a home where guests can slow down, reconnect with themselves and others, and rediscover harmony through movement, mindfulness, nourishing seasonal food, and the healing rhythms of nature.

In addition to hosting their own curated experiences, Tara Nature Retreat is available for venue rental to teachers, facilitators, and organisers seeking a beautiful, fully-equipped setting for yoga, dance, wellness, or creative retreats. With indoor and outdoor yoga spaces, comfortable accommodation, organic cuisine support, and the breathtaking backdrop of the Umbrian countryside, it’s an ideal location to bring your own retreat vision to life.