Wildlife Welfare Inc

05/02/2026

Rehabbers across the country are currently feeling the effects of what we call “baby season.” It is so hard when we have to prioritize cases based on urgency, species, and the likelihood of successful release. When we truly care about each and every call, each and every single animal in need of help, it takes a lot of effort and coordination on everyone’s part to achieve the best outcome possible for as many creatures possible. We are so lucky to have a great team of volunteers and we appreciate your partnership with us.

It’s a beautiful day to save lives. 🫶🏼

⚠️ A little honesty from your local wildlife rehabbers ⚠️

The truth has to come from somewhere… and right now, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗱.

Some are completely full. Others can only take certain animals, typically the ones that are more independent and don’t require around-the-clock care. Baby season has pushed everyone to their limits.

What really hit me recently is that even as a small, home-based operation, we’re taking in just as many animals as some of the larger rescues. We’re getting calls from out of state. We’ve grown to 10 fosters (which is amazing!), but just like a classroom needs a proper teacher-to-student ratio… we need a 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗼-𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼 to provide safe, quality care.

To take in more animals, every rehab needs 3 things:
1️⃣ Money & supplies
2️⃣ Manpower & volunteers
3️⃣ Physical space & enclosures

We can ask for donations. We can ask for help. But space? That’s not something we can magically expand, especially when every day is already spent feeding, cleaning, and saving lives.

So if you reach out to a rehabber and they can’t take an animal, please understand:
💔 It’s not because they don’t care.
💔 It’s because they physically 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 compromise the care of the animals already depending on them.

And they cannot pour from an empty cup.

Here’s how you can help:

👉 Use Animal Help Now to contact multiple rehabbers—some may be able to coordinate transport, even from a distance.
👉 If you find an animal, 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 to the rehabber. This saves critical time and energy.
👉 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻. There is NO funding for licensed wildlife rehab—this work is paid for out of pocket or through donations.
👉 Offer your time or skills—fundraising, organizing drives, or community outreach makes a huge difference.
👉 And most importantly… 𝗯𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱.

We are exhausted. We are heartbroken. We’ve lost babies we fought hard for. We’ve had to turn animals away that needed help. We’ve missed time with our families. We’ve stayed up all night for emergencies and still gone to work the next day.

Wildlife rehab is incredibly rewarding but it’s also incredibly hard.

Thank you to everyone who supports us, stands by us, and helps us keep going. 🐾💛

04/21/2026

Earlier this week, one of our rehabbers received a call in the middle of the night about this sweet baby opossum who was left behind after its mom visited a feeding station on the finder’s porch. The incident was caught on the finder’s security camera and highlights just how easy it is for a baby to get separated from mom. Opossums are nomadic and often carry up to 13 babies at once. Because they have so many young, mothers often do not notice if one falls off and do not have a "counting" instinct to realize someone is missing. Had the baby called out for mom, mom would almost certainly have turned back around and retrieved it. If you ever find a young opossum that appears too small to be on its own, it has probably been orphaned and needs immediate assistance in order to survive.
Baby season is in full swing and we are getting calls just like this one almost daily- but it is just one of the ways that we receive opossums into our care. We are so grateful to this particular finder for sharing this video and going above and beyond to get help for this baby. This baby was immediately brought in and is now thriving under the care of one of our experienced licensed rehabbers.
If you are interested in supporting the work we do by volunteering or donating, please visit our website wildlifewelfare.org

04/17/2026

A tiny opossum got a second chance today 💛

Thank you to Tracey from Smithfield, who drove 50 miles to bring us an abandoned baby from her backyard—and even donated $40 to help with care, knowing we are all volunteers. This is the heart behind wildlife rehab. It’s not just what we do—it’s what all of you make possible.

Babies found alone are often truly orphaned and won’t survive without help. At this size, they should still be with mom, tucked safely in her pouch.

And here’s the part most people don’t realize—opossums grow up to be incredibly beneficial animals. They help control insects and ticks, clean up carrion, and are generally quiet, non-aggressive neighbors. Despite their bad reputation, they’re one of the good guys.

We’re so grateful for people who take the time to care, learn, and do the right thing for wildlife. It makes all the difference for little ones like this. 🐾

04/15/2026

We had an incredible (and adorable!) day of learning at our recent neonatal opossum tubing class, generously hosted at Linda Veraldi’s home 🐾💕

With a group of tiny Virginia opossums needing dedicated care, several rehabbers came together to learn the critical skill of tube feeding. These little ones require around the clock care every four hours, and we are so proud of our newest trained tubers: Kelly DelaCruz, Sandy Durso, Jane Kohan, and Cheryl Lytle! 👏

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing mentors and trainers, Donna Kent, Mimi Reith, and Linda Veraldi, who shared their time, knowledge, and patience to help build confidence and skill in our rehab community.

Because of this teamwork, these babies are getting exactly what they need during this important stage as they transition to lapping. It truly takes a village to give them a second chance 💛

04/04/2026

One of our rehabbers received a call this week about a nest of baby bunnies that the homeowners didn’t want to leave in place because it was in the middle of their yard and they were concerned mom was not coming back. Our rehabber convinced the finders to leave the baby bunnies where they were, despite the finders being super concerned that mom was not tending to the babies. The finders set up a trail cam near the nest, and after about 12 hours, mom returned for her babies. This footage is of the bunny family’s sweet reunion. Wildlife Welfare Inc

03/24/2026

As we are in the middle of baby season and increased human to wildlife interactions, please keep humane eviction techniques in mind (otherwise known as “hazing”). You never know how many lives you might be saving.

03/15/2026

Who knew OPOSSUMS were such rockstars? 🎸

More than 240 opossum lovers packed the Main Library Auditorium in Durham to hear wildlife rehabilitator and proud Wildlife Welfare, Inc. (WWI) member Linda Veraldi speak about North America’s only native marsupial, the Virginia opossum.

Linda’s engaging talk busted common myths and highlighted the vital role opossums play in our ecosystem. According to the library, this lecture even broke their attendance record for the series!

The crowd fully embraced the theme: visitors showed up in opossum socks, opossum shirts, and one attendee even brought a crocheted opossum along for the evening. It truly felt like opossums had their own fan club.

A special thank you to Sandy Durso for the incredible opossum costumes , complete with babies in the pouch, it was absolutely amazing and a huge hit with the crowd!

Thank you to everyone who came out to learn more about these remarkable animals and why they deserve our respect and compassion. Education is the first step toward coexistence. 🍃

03/14/2026

✨ Honoring Linda Veraldi ✨

At our recent annual meeting, Linda Veraldi was presented with the Helen Bell Award, the highest honor given by Wildlife Welfare.

This award recognizes a rehabilitator whose dedication, mentorship, compassion, and leadership have made a lasting impact on wildlife and the rehabilitation community. Linda embodies these qualities every single day.

For years, Linda has been a steady and guiding presence within our organization. She consistently steps forward when help is needed—whether caring for wildlife, supporting fellow rehabilitators, or sharing her knowledge with those just beginning their journey in wildlife rehabilitation.

Her compassion for animals and her willingness to mentor others have strengthened our entire community and improved the lives of countless wild patients.

The award was presented by Tricia Hoover, who invited Ann Rogers—the only other recipient of this award, presented 13 years ago—to join her for this special moment of recognition.

Congratulations, Linda. Your dedication, kindness, and leadership continue to inspire everyone who works beside you to care for wildlife. 💚🦝🦊🐦

03/10/2026

Today is National Wildlife Rehabilitators Appreciation Day, and we are so grateful for our many wonderful rehabbers, transporters, veterinary partners, and finders for the often heroic efforts made to give injured and orphaned wildlife a second chance. You make a difference! :)

A man said to me, “Oh, you’re a wildlife rehabilitator? That’s cool. What do you make?”
“What do I make?”…..

I make terrified creatures less afraid. I help an animal with her pain and help her with her babies after she’s been struck by a careless
driver, or killed because she sought refuge in your tool shed.
I nurse and care for her surviving babies in order to return them to the environment when they are old enough. Yes, their environment
is your neighborhood.
I make children experience sympathy and respect for another living being. I make the world a less scary place for the last moments of life for each animal that has died in my hands from rat poison left out indiscriminately or lapped anti-freeze leaking from a vehicle.
I make animals fight to live after they have given up.
I make every effort to heal an animal’s wounds that have been left for days in a trap or set on fire by someone who thought it was funny.
I can make you better understand the natural world we must all learn to exist in. I make myself get out of bed at 3 a.m. for feedings during the night. I make nothing from my state, county or city. I make every possible moment count towards helping wildlife.
I make a difference.

“What do you make?”

(original author unknown)

02/23/2026

✨ Wildlife Welfare Inc. – 2026 Annual Meeting Recap!

Today our rehabbers, apprentices, and transporters gathered for the WWI Annual Meeting, sharing a day filled with community, education, updates, awards, and preparation for another busy wildlife season.

🦝 Rehabbers picked up seasonal supplies, enjoyed lunch and snacks, and connected with one another thanks to the welcoming space provided by Healing Transitions. It was a great chance to welcome new rehabbers and transporters while strengthening the bonds that hold our community together.

📋 Organizational Updates
In addition to volunteer needs, new protocols, and grants, we shared some truly exciting news:

💙 Wildlife Welfare Inc. received a generous donation from the National Opossum Society.
This remarkable contribution will directly support the rehabilitation and release of countless opossums, fund more enrichment-focused workshops, and expand continuing education opportunities for our rehabbers. We are deeply humbled and grateful for their dedication to opossum welfare and their support of our mission.

🎓 Continuing Education Lectures
• Veterinarian Dr. Heather Swanson – Wound Management
• Veterinary Technician Stefanie LaJuett – Rehydration Protocols
Both presenters provided invaluable, hands-on knowledge to prepare rehabbers for the busy season ahead.

🏆 Annual Awards & Recognition

Sara Antoshkiw – Wildlife Champion Award
Celebrating extraordinary dedication, compassion, and willingness to take on high-need and complex cases while supporting fellow rehabbers.

Laurel Rowe – Rehab Warrior Award
Honoring unwavering reliability, emergency response, behind-the-scenes work, and contributions such as the beautiful wildlife cutouts used at the meeting. Mark deserves a nod too for squirrel rescues on Laurel’s behalf!

Linda Veraldi – Recieved a special Award snd highest honor this afternoon recognizing her outstanding long commitment, mentorship, leadership, and steady devotion to wildlife rehabilitation.
This award was presented by Ann Rodgers (the last recipient of the award) alongside Tricia Hoover, making the moment especially meaningful and rooted in tradition.

💚 Cage Grant Recipient
Tamara Avant received an $800 cage grant to build a new wildlife release enclosure on her property, expanding capacity for safe, species-appropriate soft release.

🎁 Rehabbers also enjoyed raffle prizes and took home essential supplies for the 2026 season.

Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, volunteered, donated, coordinated, or supported today’s meeting. Your compassion and dedication are what make this community—and this work—so powerful. Here’s to another year of helping wildlife heal and return home. 💚🦊🐢🐦

If you want to join our community of rehabbers or volunteer as a transporter for WWI be sure to check out our website below:

https://wildlifewelfare.org/ n

02/09/2026

Myth Monday: Wildlife Rehabilitation Edition

Every Monday in February, we’re busting common myths about wildlife rehabilitation. Two myths each week—because accurate information helps our wildlife and the truth matters.

MYTH #3: Wildlife rehabilitation is just a hobby.”
Hobbies are something you do when you feel like it. Wildlife rehabilitation isn’t optional or occasional, it’s a commitment. Animals arrive at all hours, and once admitted, they require daily feeding, watering, medical care, cleaning, and monitoring. Rehabbers can’t simply take a weekend off or travel without arranging coverage from another licensed rehabilitator. Feeling under the weather, thunder storms on the way?? The rehabber pushes through because animals depend on them, every single day.

MTYH #4: “If you love wildlife, you can be a rehabilitator.”
While compassion is essential, wildlife rehabilitation requires much more than a big heart. It involves specialized training, species-specific knowledge, proper facilities, and the appropriate permits and licenses. It’s not all cute bunnies or cuddling squirrels, we need way more than a heart for helping, especially when the maggot infested wound on the adult squirrel who is trying to bite you needs treatment. Love alone isn’t enough but paired with expertise, and a strong stomach it saves lives.

Stay tuned for the next Myth Monday: Sharing facts to better protect wildlife.