A Note from our Founder:
As we end an incredibly exciting year, I am reminded of everyone who had a part in saving the precious animals that came through our doors. Saving any animal takes a community of veterinarians who repair fractures and diagnose illness, and staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure each animal gets the proper care. But the most critical link in the chain is often unseen. You, our valued supporters, make it possible for all of this to happen. Your contributions, whether big or small, pay the cost of supplies, staffing, and keeping the lights on, and we couldn’t do it without you.
Your donations, no matter the amount, have empowered our dedicated team to provide over 4,000 wild animals this year life-saving care, rehabilitation, and eventual release back into the wild. Your support enabled us to recover from a tragic fire and build a new clinic, all while continuing to rehabilitate the animals. Because of you, we’ve been able to achieve these incredible results, and your role in this cannot be overstated. You should be proud of the difference you’ve made.
This past year has been a challenging yet incredible journey, and I am deeply grateful for our progress. Your unwavering support and dedication to our cause have been a key factor in our success. Your commitment to our mission is a source of inspiration for us, and we trust in your continued support as we look forward to continuing our journey together in the coming year.
I wish you and your loved ones a Safe and Wonderful Holiday and a Prosperous New Year! ~~Peggy
A Mother Duck’s Story
On an April morning, a devoted mother mallard led her tiny, downy ducklings across a road, their fragile bodies waddling in her steady footsteps. In an instant, tragedy struck. A speeding car tore through the line, hitting the mother and one of her eight precious babies.
Witnesses gasped as the family scattered, the mother hurt and exhausted. But Good Samaritans leaped from their cars, gathering up the injured mother and her terrified brood, rushing them to Red Creek.
Our team found seven ducklings unharmed, clinging closely to one another. Their mother, though bruised, battered, and suffering from a broken wing, fought to stay close to her little ones. We made them comfortable, hoping she would survive the night. Yet, as the days passed, something miraculous happened. Despite her pain, this mother duck remained fiercely protective, keeping her babies close and sheltering them even as she healed. Her ducklings, in turn, huddled around her, bringing her the comfort and strength to recover.
Just days later, we took in seven more orphaned ducklings, alone and vulnerable. Caring for them is often touch and go at such a tender age, as their little lives hang by a thread. We knew ducks can’t count—but would this heartbroken mother accept the new arrivals? We introduced the new ducklings, watching closely. Without hesitation, she tucked each orphaned baby under her wing, becoming their mother as if they’d been hers all along.
Weeks passed, and the mother’s wing mended, her spirit as strong as ever. Her now fourteen ducklings had grown, a family bonded by love and second chances. Mother and ducklings were released back into the wild together, healed and whole. Without the kindness of strangers, the unwavering dedication of a mother, and the refuge of Red Creek, none of this family would have survived.
On-Site X-Rays Now Available at Red Creek
Thanks to the generous donation of an X-ray machine from the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad earlier this year, we gained a powerful tool that has changed how we care for the animals who come to us at Red Creek. With the ability to see hidden injuries beneath feathers and fur, we not only have advanced views of trauma and broken bones but also the heartbreaking evidence of illegal gunshot injuries to wildlife, especially in birds.
Before having this machine, we often had no way of knowing if an animal had been shot unless a bullet or wound was plainly visible. In the past three months alone, four raptors (two red-tailed hawks, an osprey, and a black vulture) came to us with small, almost invisible wounds that turned out to be bullet entries. 
These tiny wounds are hard to distinguish from natural punctures, often making it impossible to tell if they were caused by a talon in a territorial skirmish or by something far more sinister. But now, with our new X-ray machine, we can see what would have been hidden, allowing us to report these tragic cases to the Pennsylvania Game Commission and work to hold those responsible accountable.
One of these raptors, a young red-tailed hawk, arrived with four shotgun pellets embedded in her body. One pellet had lodged under her tongue, dangerously close to where it could impair her breathing or feeding if it caused swelling. This pellet was removed and was sent to the Game Commission as evidence. Miraculously, after minimal intervention, this brave hawk healed quickly and returned to the skies, a testament to resilience and a hopeful reminder of why our work to protect these vulnerable animals matters so deeply.
Building Update
This month marks a full year since we moved into the new Botstiber Clinic building. The additional space has allowed us to separate species of animals, quarantine animals with illnesses, isolate animals that are high-stress and need a bit more privacy and quiet, and separate the cleaning area from food preparations. It has also allowed us to add lab equipment and a modern x-ray, increasing the quality of care for the animals that come to us.
With the clinic up and running smoothly, we are now concentrating on much-needed outdoor enclosures.
For example: This year we received 231 baby raccoons. We were able to accommodate this number comfortably with the large nursery areas. However, as the raccoons grew and needed more exercise, we were limited on outdoor space. We had to hold some raccoons longer than needed as we cycled this large number through our current caging. This spring we will be building a spacious, two-unit enclosure specifically for raccoons.
We are also working on the public-accessible areas and constructing three flight enclosures for our more famous education animals: Gabby the Great Horned Owl, HanniBell the Turkey Vulture, and Zazu, the Black Vulture. These new flights will give them more room, and allow viewing for those visiting our center, as well as open up their current enclosures for patients.
We are also expanding our public programs and are excited to announce that the Carol and Andy Muller Training Center will now be open for visits as well as private and scheduled educational events.
The training and education building will be open to the public each Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Stop by and meet some of our resident opossums and cold blooded friends and view the educational displays. We have Red Creek shirts and books available, including our newest wildlife coloring book for all ages.
Lylee Leonard, Red Creek’s Public Program director, has been busy expanding our off-site programing this past year. Starting in 2025, onsite programs will be available for groups up to 30 people.
It’s hard to believe that two years have passed since the tragic fire that devasted Red Creek. Following that tragedy, one Red Creek supporter stated:
“May the tears shed today water the seeds that will bloom tomorrow.”
That blessing has become a reality and Red Creek is stronger today than ever in its 33 year history.
Thank you for helping make that happen and being a part of that journey.
Making Every Penny Count
We are often asked, “What is the best way to donate?”
Monetary donations help the most and allow us to stay open 365 days a year. We receive 100% of funds donated by check and by credit card payments made through links on our website and the QR code above. FaceBook and PayPal charge service fees for contributions.
Monthly contributions can also be set up through the credit card link on our website or through billpay at your online banking site.
If you’d rather donate products and supplies, our wish lists are online at: redcreekwildlifecenter.com/donate/. We also accept newspapers and used blankets.
A Winter Haven for Injured Turtles
As fall settles in, our reptile room fills with turtles needing extended care and time to heal—a vital step before they are ready to return to the wild. This year, we have twelve turtles preparing to spend the winter. Among them are painted turtles, eastern box turtles, snapping turtles, and a wood turtle.
Most of these turtles arrived with injuries from vehicle encounters, while others are fighting respiratory and ear infections.
With a naturally slow metabolism and sometimes severe trauma, turtles often need extended periods—even years—to fully recover. Winter provides a critical window of care, allowing them the time and treatment they need to restore their health.
As we help each turtle along its healing journey, we look forward to releasing them back into the wild come spring, healthy and ready to thrive in their natural habitats.
Wood Turtle Box Turtle
Snapping Turtle Painted turtle
From Fragile Kit to Fearless Fox: A Gray Fox’s Journey to Freedom
In late May, a tiny, gravely ill gray fox kit was found all alone at a busy construction site. She was in critical condition and so frail that she required round-the-clock care from one of our lead rehabilitators for several weeks. Slowly, she began to gain strength, and when she finally started eating on her own, her playful spirit blossomed—each day, she grew bolder, her personality shining through. Now, she’s on a promising path to freedom, with plans to release her this spring.
While gray foxes are just as common as their red counterparts in Pennsylvania, they’re far more elusive.
Facing threats like habitat fragmentation, gray foxes are especially vulnerable to canine distemper virus, a devastating disease that takes countless lives. In our 33 years of wildlife rehabilitation, only a handful of gray foxes have crossed our doors, 
and this brave little kit may soon join the rare few we’ve successfully released—our last gray fox release was nearly nine years ago.
Watching her transformation from a weak, tiny kit into a fierce, vibrant young fox has been deeply rewarding. She is a reminder of the powerful spirit within all wildlife, and we can’t wait to see her claim her place in the wild where she belongs.