A New Dawn - Wildlife Rehab & Rescue

11/09/2026

Hey y’all! 💚 I wanted to share my Amazon wishlist again for anyone who would like to help support the wildlife that comes into my care!

As y’all know, wildlife rehabilitation is something very near and dear to my heart. I absolutely love what I do, but one thing about caring for these little guys is that the supplies sure don’t last long! 😂

Formula is always one of my biggest needs, especially when caring for babies who depend on it for every single meal. Between formula, feeding supplies, enclosure necessities, and everything else that goes into keeping these animals healthy and comfortable, things can add up pretty quickly!

And since Frankie and surely a few others will be spending the winter with me until they are ready to be released next spring, I’ll definitely be going through plenty of supplies over the next several months!

I do all of this on a volunteer basis and pay for the majority of supplies out of my own pocket. I don’t expect anyone to donate, but I am always incredibly grateful when someone does. 💚

I’ve put together an Amazon wishlist with things I regularly use and need for the animals. Some items are inexpensive, and others are a little more costly, but every single thing on that list serves a purpose!

My Rehab Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/22YWK9MHYIVB3?ref_=wl_share

The biggest needs are:
•Pet-Ag Goat’s Milk Esbilac Powder formula
•Fox Valley LA-200 Probiotics for Digestive Health
•Fox Valley Day ONE Ultraboost Formula for All Animals, 1 lb.
•Henry's Healthy Blocks Food for Squirrels, Flyers, Rats and Mice
•Mazuri Rodent | Nutritionally Complete Rat and Mouse Food | Ammonia-Reduction Formula - 25 Pound (25 lb.) Bag
•Gift Cards to grocery stores so we can get fresh produce for them. Leafy greens are a huge part of their needs.

If you’re unable to donate, that’s completely okay! Sharing this post is just as appreciated because it helps reach others who may be able to help.

Thank y’all for continuing to support me and my love for these amazing animals. I truly couldn’t be more grateful for the kindness y’all have shown me and the wildlife I care for!

~Every life deserves A New Dawn. Small team. Big heart. Wild purpose.~

11/06/2026

I want to introduce y’all to my sweet Big Bertha!

These pictures are from back in 2021 when I had the pleasure of rehabbing this sweet old lady. A time and an opossum I will never forget.

The first four pictures were taken on October 31st, 2021, the day she came into my care. Big Bertha had been hit by a car and had an old tail injury that was reinjured during the accident. As if that wasn’t enough, this poor girl was also completely blind.

The last two pictures were taken just two weeks later when she had healed enough to move into a bigger enclosure.

Now, here’s something interesting about opossums that a lot of people don’t know! Opossums actually have pretty poor eyesight compared to a lot of other animals. Their eyes are adapted for low-light conditions, so they see much better at night than they do during the day. Bright lights can make it even harder for them to see. They rely heavily on their incredible sense of smell and those long whiskers to help them navigate the world.

But Big Bertha was different. She wasn’t just an opossum with poor eyesight. She was completely blind. Day or night, it didn’t matter. She couldn’t see a thing. She also seemed to not be able to smell as good anymore so we had to find ways to not spook her to be able to still feed her and care for her. Thankfully, Xrays showed no broken bones so that's always a plus.

Once all her physical wounds had healed, I had to make the decision about what was best for her long-term.

Because of her age and complete blindness, and weakened sense of smell, releasing her back into the wild just wasn’t an option. She wouldn’t have been able to safely navigate her surroundings or avoid dangers like predators and vehicles, which is what got her into this situation in the first place.

So, Big Bertha got to spend the remainder of her short little senior life at an Opossum Sanctuary, where she could be cared for and live out her days safely.

One thing I always want people to understand about wildlife rehabilitation is that not every animal’s story ends with a release back into the wild. Of course, that’s always the goal! But sometimes an animal has permanent injuries or disabilities that make survival in the wild impossible. And sometimes, giving them the best possible life means finding them a safe place where they can live out whatever time they have left.

Big Bertha was one of those special cases, and I’ll never forget that sweet old lady. She will always hold a special place in my heart.

~Every life deserves A New Dawn. Small team. Big heart. Wild purpose.~

11/01/2026

10/31/2026

Can I just say how much I love these little wild babies?! I’ve always had such a soft spot for animals, especially the ones that most people don’t really think twice about. Opossums, squirrels, mice, rats, raccoons, snakes, birds… I love them all. I think that’s one of the reasons wildlife rehab means so much to me.

These animals don’t usually know we’re trying to help them. They don’t understand why we’re picking them up, giving them medicine, or speaking to them in little baby voices. lol And for the most part, they don't look back at us to thank them for giving them a second chance at life before they take off back into the wild.

But that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be! The goal is for them to be wild, independent, and want absolutely nothing to do with us.

I wish more people could see just how amazing some of these misunderstood animals really are. Even the tiniest little mouse has a purpose in this world.

~Every life deserves A New Dawn.
Small team. Big heart. Wild purpose.~

10/29/2026

I wanted to share this because I think it’s something a lot of people genuinely don’t know.

Just because you find a baby wild animal alone doesn’t mean it needs to be rescued.

Did you know that mama rabbits only visit their babies a couple of times a day? Usually around dawn and dusk. So just because you haven’t seen her doesn’t mean she’s not taking care of them!

Same goes for baby deer. Mama will usually leave her fawn tucked away somewhere safe while she goes off to eat.

And squirrels? If a baby falls out of a tree, mama may actually come back for it.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are absolutely times when these babies DO need help.

If they’re injured, cold, weak, covered in flies or fly eggs, or have been caught by a cat or dog, please reach out to a licensed wildlife rehabber.

And PLEASE don’t try to feed them or give them water before talking to someone who knows how to properly care for them. I know people mean well, but unfortunately, doing the wrong thing can cause more harm than good.

Sometimes the best way to help wildlife is to simply leave them alone and let mama do her job.

If you’re ever unsure, reach out to a licensed rehabber before stepping in. We’d much rather answer questions than have an animal taken away from its mama when it didn’t need to be.

~Every life deserves A New Dawn.
Small team. Big heart. Wild purpose.~



Sweet squirrel feet pics! lol

10/27/2026

I think when a lot of people hear wildlife rehab, they picture us sitting around feeding cute little baby animals all day. And don’t get me wrong, that is definitely one of the perks! But there’s SO much more that goes into it.

There’s constantly cleaning something, washing blankets, making formula, preparing food, weighing babies, and making sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Sometimes your whole day revolves around feeding schedules. Sometimes you’re second guessing yourself or worrying because one of your little ones just isn’t acting quite right.

And then there’s the heartbreak. That’s one part of rehabbing that I don’t think ever gets easier, no matter how long you’ve been doing it.

But you know what makes it all worth it?
Watching an animal that once depended on you for absolutely everything finally get to go back where they belong. Being able to nurse a living creature back to health and then see them be able to go off into nature!

That’s why we do this. Not to turn them into pets or keep them forever, but to give them a fighting chance at living the life they were meant to live.

It’s exhausting, messy, stressful, heartbreaking, and one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever been a part of.

~Every life deserves A New Dawn.
Small team. Big heart. Wild purpose.~

10/25/2026

Chin Scratch Frankie is doing well. He's growing and his wild side is starting to show...and that's what we want! He is of course still getting angry at me for not letting him have all the formula in the world. lol Hoping to upgrade him to a bigger enclosure this coming week.

Now the sad news.

The two mice we took in a couple days ago, did not make it. They had been away from mom for too long by the time the finder found our info. They were skin and bones and sooo dehydrated.

We do our best with every animal that comes into our care. Sometimes they just don't make it.

~Every life deserves A New Dawn.
Small team. Big heart. Wild purpose.~

10/23/2026

Do you have any bird toys like these you no longer need?

Are you local to A New Dawn - Wildlife & Rescue?

Please reach out to us if you'd be willing to donate any gently used or new bird toys. We are in need of these as enrichment for squirrels while they are in our care.

Squirrels need constant enrichment while in care so that they do not get bored and start to destroy their enclosures. These toys also help them to understand and learn how to jump onto unsteady things like tree branches once the are released back into their natural habitat.

Picture of our newest intake. His name is Chin Scratch Frankie. Yes, that's his name.

~Every life deserves A New Dawn. Small team. Big heart. Wild purpose.~

10/14/2026

"Every life deserves A New Dawn.
Small team. Big heart. Wild purpose."