Barb Gregory wants to play golf

Do not attempt to keep the wild animal - It is against the law to keep wild animals without the proper permits, even if you plan to release them. Wild animals NEVER make good pets. Injured animals need to be given proper medical attention. Orphaned wild animals have specific nutritional, behavioral, and social requirements that need to be met so this animal can have a successful release to the wild.


Barb Gregory has been caring for wild animals longer than she likes to remember. Of course, she counted 80 candles on her latest birthday cake, so maybe that's understandable.

 She stills takes care of chipmunks, otters, deer, beaver, an occasional turtle and she's even sewn up a few black snakes.  Groundhogs, racoons, coyotes, bats, skunks and squirrels? Sorry, you'll have to find another wildlife rehabilator. Find one here at the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilators.

Barb lives in a big, beautiful, old and high-maintenance stone home on 12 acres of Newberry Township woodland. It takes a small army-- certainly someone of younger years, she says-- and a bucket of dollars to care for the house, pond,  lawn and trees. In a spare minute, she sits on the back porch watching all the birds-- towhees, orioles, bluebirds, cardinals and woodpeckers and dozens more.


But usually, she cares for her animals. At one time, a pet mountain lion roamed her house. Her river otter named Emmitt was the model for the state's wildlife resource license plate.  She bought great horned owls when it was still legal.

If it was an injured wild animal, Barb might have cared for it or nursed it back to health.

But last year, she gave up caring for many of the wild critters-- groundhogs, racoons, etc.,-- that are rabies-carrying species. Wildlife laws dictate that she create a whole new facility for taking care of those animals, she said, and also get a rabies shot.

Barb says she wants to learn to relax with her golf game, but Barb's been saying she's retiring for decades. Maybe this time, she's serious.


That would leave York without an all-species rehabber. There are others close by, including Beth Carricato in Harrisburg, but how many folks are going to trek to the capital for an injured groundhog or squirrel?

Was thinking of Barb on Sunday when I spotted a baby groundhog trying to cross a country road in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. The rule of thumb I've always heard is that if there's fur on it, it'll be OK, and it's best to leave it alone. Mother Nature will care for it-- one way or another.  I left it, much to my rider's dismay, and Barb endorsed the move.

"For rabbits, if they are half the size of a dollar bill, they'll be OK," Barb said. "Groundhog babies are pretty resilient too. They'll be fine."

To make a donation, send checks to Otter Habitat, PO Box 40, York Haven, Pa. 17370