Brenda G.

In 2022, my path into wildlife rehabilitation began with an unexpected encounter—rescuing a Red-tailed Hawk. The hawk was found struggling, unable to fly, and knew I had to help. Unsure of the exact steps to take, I reached out to local wildlife rehabilitators and quickly realized the immense demand for assistance in rescuing and transporting injured wildlife.

That experience opened my eyes to the gaps in wildlife rescue efforts in my area. Licensed rehabilitators were overwhelmed, often struggling to keep up with the volume of animals in need. Many rescues never made it to care simply because there weren’t enough people to transport them. I knew I could help.

I started by volunteering for rescue and transport, assisting with turtles, birds, and mammals, ensuring they reached qualified rehabbers. Over time, my involvement deepened, and I recognized the need for a more structured approach to support wildlife rescue efforts. That realization led to the creation of Chickahominy Wildlife, an organization dedicated to bridging this gap.

What began as a small effort quickly grew into an organized network, providing critical transport services, coordinating with rehabilitators, and advocating for better resources and public education on wildlife conservation. Today, Chickahominy Wildlife continues to expand, with with plans for construction of an aviary for waterfowl rehabilitation, supporting turtle conservation, and helping injured and orphaned wildlife get the care they need.

That one hawk set everything in motion, and since then, I’ve never looked back.