Give Hope. Give Wild. By Betsy.

Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation – Give Hope, Give Wild, Give Extra

Every day at Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation, tiny lives arrive on our doorstep in need of urgent, specialized care; squirrels orphaned after storms, opossums found alone and confused, young groundhogs displaced by development, and dozens of other small mammals who can’t survive without human help.

Our mission is simple: give them a second chance.

Our work is anything but simple: around-the-clock feedings, medical stabilization, species-specific diets, enrichment builds, behavioral development, safe outdoor pre-release housing, and ultimately, the joy of returning them to the wild where they belong.

When you donate, you're not just giving money, you're giving shelter, safety, hope, and a wild future.

Let’s Give Hope. Let’s Give Wild. Let’s Give EXTRA.

What is one animal at Acorn Acres whose story touched your heart and why?

Well, she’s no longer with us, but the story that meant the most to me was Snags the Squirrel. She arrived at Acorn Acres already injured, hurt in a place where she should have been safe, and was originally slated for euthanasia. After a lot of heartache on my end and a lot of healing on hers, she pulled through. Snags went on to live 10 glorious years as an ambassador, teaching people across multiple states why squirrels matter and why their lives are worth protecting.

How has volunteering or supporting Acorn Acres changed the way you see wildlife and our community?

There is not enough support for our ecosystem and the wildlife in our backyards. In order to help every day we need to start at the local level, the level we look at every day. This will absolutely have a ripple effect. Founding Acorn Acres gives our community the ability to start in their back yards and in their own community.

What do you wish more people understood about wildlife rehabilitation?

I wish people understood that wildlife rehabilitation is not just “cute animals and cuddles.” It is medical care. It is science. It is sleepless nights, heartbreaking decisions, precise nutrition, strict protocols, and constant cleaning. It is showing up every single day because the animals don’t get weekends, holidays, or breaks and neither do we.

I wish people knew how fragile our patients are, and how quickly a well-meaning mistake can cost a wild animal its life. When someone brings us an orphaned squirrel or a neurological groundhog, they’re trusting us to give that animal the absolute best chance at a healthy, wild future. That is a responsibility we take very seriously.

I also wish more people understood that we are funded entirely by community support. Every syringe, every formula batch, every incubator, every emergency midnight intake is possible because someone chose to support this work. Wildlife rehabilitation is a public service we protect both animals and people, but it is not publicly/tax funded.

And most of all, I wish people understood that every single life matters. Whether it’s a tiny eyes-closed squirrel or a full-grown opossum, each one deserves compassion, respect, and competent care. They are not nuisances. They are our wild neighbors, and their survival depends on us doing better for them.