My name is Jyl Gaskin. I have been a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for over 30 years. When people ask what I do, I tell them “I rehabilitate wildlife…but only if they are really ready to change.” I get a lot of blank stares. Not everyone appreciates my sense of humor. Some wonder if I have one.

Anyway, I have actually done this most of my life, starting when I was 10 years old and raised a handful of baby cottontails that our DNR friend brought me. My father was not amused, but his friend said “Oh don’t worry Bob, they’ll die” He didn’t know me well enough and from then on, my life was filled with baby and injured animals, reptiles and birds. My mother NEVER opened the top drawer of my dresser if there was a heating pad cord coming out of it. She just didn’t want to know.

I’m 72 now. (you do the math, I’m too tired and old) and for the last 30 of those years, I have been here in the Traverse City Michigan area, raising, treating, and releasing anywhere between 60 to 100+ animals and reptiles each year. Spring and summer are the busiest and there can be fawns, squirrels, raccoons, possums or a bobcat kit running around. Oh, we mustn’t forget the 100-pound tortoise that I somehow got stuck with. He lives in my studio in the winter and farts a lot. I don’t do as much art as I did before he came.

As a wildlife rehabber, we don’t get paid. I have often asked for at least, a free T shirt, but to no avail. What kind of place expects you to work for free and doesn’t even give you a free t shirt? Consequently, all expenses come from our pockets to feed, house and treat the animals. It gets expensive, especially specialized formulas and foods.

Fortunately, people are often generous, slipping a $20 bill in my pocket as they hand over a squirming fawn or a box of squirrels. (Laundry day is always exciting.) Other donations arrive in the mail or from the go fund me page I used to have. I hope this one works just as well, I like it when I can afford cat food, cage litter AND coffee. I’m so much nicer if I have coffee. I can even forgo that free T shirt.

Thank you for looking at this page. Thank you even more if you donate. I may not save the world, but I can maybe save one animal at a time.