Red Barn Rehab

05/24/2026

Please… I am begging you. If I (or another licensed wildlife rehabilitator) instruct you not to move a fawn, rabbit, or other wild animal and tell you to leave it where it is… please listen. ❤️

I know it is hard. It feels wrong to walk away when you care so deeply. But the truth is, there is hardly any truly “wild” space left for these animals. Fawns are born in backyards. Rabbits nest inside fences, flower beds, and neighborhoods. We have to learn how to coexist with them.

Baby wildlife are often exactly where they are supposed to be. Mom is nearby. She is feeding them, watching them, and in many cases, she will move them when the time is right (and feels predators- including you!! Are away)

When we interfere, move babies, or take them away from their location without guidance, we aren’t helping, we are disrupting their chance to survive and their natural livelihood.

Please trust the process. Please trust licensed wildlife professionals. And when in doubt, call before you move. Coexistence matters. 🦌🐇🌿

05/07/2026

After 7 years, I am sorry to say that Red Barn Rehab needs to close the doors.

This is incredibly hard for me to say out loud. Caring for wildlife has been part of my life for decades. It’s not just something I do, but part of who I am. Every baby fed at midnight, every reunion, every release back into the wild has mattered deeply to me. Truly a labor of love.

But this season has also reminded me of something important: it is not sustainable for one person to do the work of many forever.
Wildlife rehabilitation is beautiful, rewarding, heartbreaking, and exhausting work. I remain in awe of the loving people who have made this their life’s work.

Right now, I am physically, emotionally and financially overwhelmed, and despite my best efforts, I simply do not have enough hands or support to continue safely and sustainably through the season. For those of you who might not know this – wildlife rehabbers in the state of Missouri receive no funding from the state or conservation department and rely sole on our own personal income and donations from wildlife loving supporters.
I never want the animals in my care to receive anything less than my absolute best. I need to acknowledge that this is the responsible thing to do.

I am praying that this is not a forever goodbye for Red Barn Rehab. Perhaps there will be a day when I can continue this work that I truly believe I have been called to do. It will take time to regroup, recover, reorganize, and hopefully build more support for the future.

To everyone who has donated money or supplies, transported animals, volunteered, encouraged me, or trusted me with creatures you cared about — thank you. You have been part of every life saved here.

Please continue helping wildlife in the ways you can:
• Keep babies with mom whenever possible
• Slow down on roads, especially at dusk
• Plant native species and protect natural habitats
• Support your local rehabilitators and rescues
• Be kind to the people doing this difficult work behind the scenes
I love this work with my whole heart and I am not sure what life will be like without it.

Thank you for understanding. ❤️

FOR IMMEDIATE CARE FOR WILDLIFE IN NEED, please go to Animal Help Now for a list of licensed rehabilitators.

P.S. If you are looking for a way to help today, prayers please. For me as I work through this decision. And for the animals in Phelps and surrounding counties who will have limited help this season.

05/07/2026

It’s Be Kind to Animals Week. Remember that using pesticides and herbicides on lawns and gardens is dangerous to our health, animals’ health and the planet in general. Such poisons kill bees, frogs and more.

In addition, the majority of songbirds feed their offspring insects throughout the summer. Spraying pesticides causes leg & beak deformities & even death for new hatchlings.

04/30/2026

How to help licensed wildlife rehabilitators:

Wildlife rehabilitation is a labor love & compassion. Many licensed wildlife rehabilitators are not paid & lack funding from the state or federal government.

Many work full time jobs on top of rehabbing wildlife day & night, while taking calls from the public, caring for their families, & their pets. Baby season is tremendously draining emotionally, physically, & financially for these very special individuals.

They rely heavily on donations & to help with the costs of formulas, medications, medical supplies, vet bills, cleaning supplies, etc.

Please be kind to them & if you can not donate, ask if there are supplies they may need. You can offer to volunteer or help with transport. And if those aren't options, follow them on social media, like & share their posts so others can see what an amazing group of people rehabilitators are!

04/29/2026

WOW. I think this is just amazing. Think what we could do if we all work together. 

I don’t know what you believe in, be it God, fate, the universe - but it was one of those situations that felt undeniable…

We had planned a meeting with the Billerica Police Department as part of a larger effort to bring together Massachusetts police officers, animal control officers, and wildlife rehabilitators. The goal was simple: learn from each other, understand the challenges, and build something better together. Our educational beaver, Nibi came along for the ride.

The conversation went well. Productive. Thoughtful. Exactly what we had hoped for.

And then, something happened…

A beaver had become trapped just below a dam, huddled on a rock in rushing water. Calls started coming in. The rescue would be dangerous - no question. It would take coordination, trust, and skilled people willing to step in.

And it was happening in the very town we were sitting in.

What followed was everything we’ve been hoping for. Billerica Police | MA, Billerica Fire | MA, Billerica & Tewksbury Animal Control, and Massachusetts Environmental Police all came together—communicating, problem-solving, backing each other up. No ego. No hesitation. All aspect of rescue and law enforcement were ready to collaborate and help if needed.

In the end, the fire department climbed a ladder over the rushing rapids and brought that beaver to safety.

Standing there, watching it unfold, I couldn’t believe it.

We came to talk about collaboration and they showed us exactly what it looks like.

The beaver is in our care and being treated for her injuries. She would not be here if not for everyone’s efforts.

This is what’s possible when we all work together.

04/27/2026

With storms predicted again tonight, please keep an eye out for wildlife babies that may fall from trees. Most of the time, mom is nearby and will come back. Reuniting them with their mother is always the very best outcome. 🐾

04/27/2026

Hi friends! Sharing again. I need some immediate help (I wish I was able to do this myself!) building a fox enclosure. At this point, it is probably time to build something bigger so they can move safely outside. I will buy all materials and pay for your time.

Calling All Handy Friends (and Fox Lovers!) 🦊🛠️

I’ve got two sassy little fox kits who have outgrown their indoor play yard already. They need a safe, cozy place to grow, play, and practice fox skills.

I’m looking for a couple of helping hands to build a new fox kit enclosure - nothing too crazy, just a sturdy 2-level cage with a ramp and a safe hide box. Think tiny woodland penthouse.

What I need: One or more wildlife loving friends who are comfortable with basic building. I will buy all the supplies and provide my shop which has every tool you will need.

What you get in return: Baby fox sneak peeks 🦊 and my eternal gratitude.

The catch is that I need this enclosure ASAP. If you see the mess they made overnight, you will understand my urgency. Also one whiff of them and you will know why they need to move outside. (Text me and I will send you a picture of their overnight escape and mess.) If you’re able to help (or know someone who might be), please comment or message me!

If you aren't able to help, sharing this post helps more than you know ❤️

Thank you in advance!

—Anna

04/24/2026

If you find a babybird who needs help, do not give him anything to eat or drink unless a bird rehabber has advised you to. Many of the birds rehabbers receive die because finders have put food or liquid in their mouth. Songbirds are very fragile and easily develop aspiration pneumonia from improper feeding. Thank you, Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, for this important reminder.

04/23/2026

This fantastic enclosure has been graciously donated to Red Barn. Looking for some help moving it here. Short distance between two homes. Please let me know if you are able to help!

Thank you Laurie Herrman Myers!

04/23/2026

Tub time for new babies. #🛁