Gretchen Weslager is someone you may have heard me speak of... but none ofyou have ever met her....

Some of you- I had hoped could have gotten out to Windy Ridge WildlifeRefuge to see Gretchen's Wildlife rehab operation...but you won't get to meet her.... not in this lifetime...

She passed away today- off to her great reward - her husband by her side...the sudden heart surgery did not go well.. and although I do not have particulars.. at least Gary was there to whisper his Good Bye....The World is now short one more of the best wildlife rehabilitators I have ever met..

She was fearless in the face of broken bloody wings.. smashed and ruinedpaws...screeching scratching talons and teeth.

She always held each animal or bird with great love and respect till it died or until they flew... or ran...healed- out into the meadow woodland sanctuary along the Laurel Highlands...

Odd- I don't remember how I first met Gretchen...was it the baby skunk- no bigger than my hand that I found in the middle of the road..?? .. or the dead Momma Possum with all her Babies still alive & clinging to the body...that first brought me down the lovely Windy Ridge farm lane?

No matter...There Gretchen would be with that easy going smile and calm reassuring voice thanking you for bringing her another little beat up mouth to feed...How ever did she do it?

She would bring me into her basement/ hospital..and I would get to peek into towel covered cages.

I would get to whisper Hello to the most amazing array of faces....faces that should have been up in trees or high in the skies...
Red Tail Hawks
Barn Owls
Great Horned owls
Squirrels
birds,birds, birds and more birds...
Chattering raccoons..and busy little Chipmunks and chubby Ground Hogs...

I will never forget the time a flying squirrel got loose and grabbed my hair and ran down my jacket...out my sleeve and then over Gretchen's head down into her jacket..!!!
We laughed about it every time we saw each other...

I will miss her. She helped me be brave to save little critters from along the road- she was always there...

She gave me hope - as the world grows busier and seems to care less about vulnerable wildlife- in the face of all of this she did miraculous things..
quietly.. kindly....

I ask of you first- to remember life is so short and fast- for who would have thought Gretchen would be gone today?

I ask second of you to consider as spring get ready to happen- and all the little ones start to show up, to be slow and thoughtful of our animal friends when you drive in your cars or cut down trees or build decks or leave chimney flue's open withoutscreen covers....

Critters do not understand the ways of man.. We must start & continue to be thoughtful and protect them- you are not weak to care for an animal- you have a heart if you do!!

Thank you Gretchen for all you did... may the rest of us pickup the torch and be half as brave as you were...

Rest in Peace my Earth Angel Friend!! You deserve the PEACE!.....

Written by Beverly Struble

 

"In wildness is the preservation of the world."....Thoreau