Help Libby support local wildlife!

Fast Facts about Raven Ridge: 

• Over the past decade, we have cared for 326 unique species of wildlife!
• Raven Ridge is one of 13 centers across the state that work with birds or prey and rabies vector species mammals.
• Raven Ridge has a team of over 40 dedicated volunteers who work together to provide animal care, run education programs, hold fundraising events, and provide transport services.
• Raven Ridge has 10 permanent resident animal ambassadors ranging from skunks to turtles to a variety of birds of prey.  In 2025 alone, these animals have given over 70 education programs across Lancaster County and beyond! 

My story with Raven Ridge Wildlife Center:

When and why did you start volunteering at Raven Ridge? 

I started volunteering with Raven Ridge in October of 2016. I had just graduated high school and wasn’t sure what my next step was going to be. Raven Ridge happened to pop up on my mom’s Facebook page around that time, so we went to check it out, and that’s when I met Tracie. I had always loved wild animals, and having the opportunity to work closely with them was a dream come true! I’ve been with Raven Ridge ever since and am now a full-time employee as the rehabilitation clinic manager.

What is your favorite part about volunteering at Raven Ridge? 

I love helping and watching them become healthy and ready for the wild again. Seeing very sick animals slowly get that little spark back in their eyes is a feeling like no other. It’s a very fulfilling job.

We also have such an incredible team and I’m lucky to work with people who share the same passions as I do. Our volunteers are the best and there’s a reason so many of them have stuck around for YEARS! We have so much fun and it’s the funniest, most sarcastic group of people I’ve had the pleasure of working with.

What are your favorite species to work with at the center?

Foxes!🦊 and the birds of prey. I’ve especially loved working with the types of falcons we get in. We get to work with the fastest animal in the world, Peregrine Falcons, like how cool is that?! I also love the little, fiesty Kestrels and Merlins.

What have you learned about wildlife since starting at Raven Ridge? 

SO MUCH! It would take me too long to list everything. One of my favorite parts of the job is that there is always something new to learn. I still am getting the opportunity to work with new species to this day. One of the things I’ve learned and work to teach to our volunteers is how to read the animals to make them as comfortable as possible. Every animal handles being in rehabilitation differently and being able to handle them (for weighing, feeding, and cleaning cages only of course) in a way that stresses them out the least and is safe for us and the animal is incredibly important. I love teaching volunteers how to handle a new animal and their excitement in being able to do so.

It’s also been fun learning how to handle our ambassador animals, including techniques and training tools to have the best relationship with the animals as we can, so we can continue to bring them to events and teach the public about how special and important these animals are!

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your experience? 

Raven Ridge works so hard to help our wildlife, but also to educate the public. We love what we do, and we love to share that with everyone, so they come to respect wildlife as much as we all do. We have the chance to make a difference in our community, in the lives of these animals, and our environment and we don’t take that for granted. 

We are only able to do what we do with the help of our supporters and are so thankful for how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. The best is yet to come and we can’t wait for all of you to be a part of it!

A Red Fox patient recovering from mange, sores, and infection. This transformation is only over a few weeks! The light coming back to his eyes is so special to watch.

Before and after: a Great Horned Owl I rescued after he was caught in a soccer net. 

American Kestrel release

From being bottle-fed to climbing trees!

Our only successful Short-eared Owl release. I was so excited when I picked this guy up and realized what species of owl he was. I got to learn about occupational therapy from my coworker, Theta, through this case, and watching those efforts be successful made this release extra special!

Tapioca the skunk, our ambassador skunk, we lost a few years ago. I learned so much about skunks from her. ❤️ 

Handling a Bald Eagle patient. It’s still so crazy to me that I have the opportunity to work so closely with eagles! 

Farah, our non-releaseable Red Fox🥰