Bonnie has been a significant part of Red Creek since 2006 when she was looking for an outlet for empty nest syndrome. Leaving behind a career in nursing to become a full-time mother, Bonnie brings the best of medical knowledge and a mother’s nurturing to rehabbing wildlife. An amazingly dedicated individual, she is a tremendous asset to Red Creek and is involved in all aspects of our missions.
Bonnie volunteers at the clinic every Wednesday, caring for the wild patients, answering phones, and organizing the clinic building. She is skilled at undoing the mayhem that comes with the day to day care of so many animals by so many volunteers.
When not at the clinic, Bonnie is on call most days as Red Creek’s lead capture and transport permittee for Berks, Lebanon, and Lancaster Counties. She is often called to assist the Berks County and Reading police to help with wildlife situations requiring skilled capture. Her most recent rescues were a 30-pound raccoon that was hit by a car in Sinking Spring, and gadwall duck from the Reading Museum. Because she lives nearby, she monitor’s the duck families at the museum and at the West Reading Hospital, where each year mother ducks nest in the courtyard.
As if that wasn’t enough, Bonnie also serves as secretary for Red Creek’s Board of Directors and is Red Creek’s volunteer coordinator. When a new volunteer applies, it is Bonnie who checks references and talks with the applicant, schedules training, and follows up on their progress. She also oversees Red Creek’s summer intern program and even helps at public education programs when needed.
Red Creek isn’t the only organization to benefit from Bonnie’s dedication. She has served as Committee Chairman for a local Boy Scout troop for over 20 years, remaining involved even after her own three boys had grown and “left the nest.”
When time and the weather permits, Bonnie enjoys going on hikes, kayaking and teaching her two grandchildren about her love for the outdoors. She and her family even take time for an occasional getaway to their cabin in Canada.
Bonnie lives with her dog, three cats, and husband of 37 years, in that order.
