Page 40 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2017- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Gail Barnes

ACCLAIMED ANIMAL ADVOCATE

by Carl H. Tepper

his probably isn’t
the first time you’ve
Theard of Gail Barnes
of the South Plains Wildlife
Rehab Center. She’s covered
regularly on the evening
news, the local newspaper, and although she had her share of her stories include her husband Larry
and has even had national exposure raccoons and squirrels to care for on Barnes, whom she says is her biggest
on Lone Star Law from Animal Planet, the family ranch, wildlife rehab wasn’t cheerleader. “Larry is my biggest
segments on CNN about Texas droughts her first calling. She attended Texas supporter and encourages me and has
and wildlife, and National Geographic. Tech and then transferred to North encouraged me every step of the way. I
Texas State University, earning a degree couldn’t do this without Larry.”
If you’ve seen Gail on television, she’s
taught you quite a bit about wildlife in in Marketing. A few years later, she Gail’s first formal foray into wildlife
three-minute segments; “leave grounded returned to Texas Tech and earned a was due to a bat - one of those flying
birds alone”, and “don’t adopt the degree in Animal Business, the first hint rodents that are mostly known for their
wildlife”, and “...it’s migratory season.” of her future. DC Comics impostor or their nightly
You may have caught Gail on one of She went on to work at a faceless state displays in Austin. She discovered
her many visits to local schools or the agency, but when her daughter suddenly an injured bat, took the bat to a bat
neighborhood garden club. What you and tragically passed away of a cardiac conservancy in Mineral Wells, and came
may not know is much about Gail disease, Gail realized the meaning of back to Lubbock with a bat colony -
herself. life, a meaning even the most skeptical not a problem since there was a spare
of us appreciate. She quit the state after bedroom.
Even after an extensive interview with
Gail, it’s tough to get to know the seventeen years and went on to work at From that bat colony, and yes, she
real Gail Barnes because her activities the wildlife center full time - work that still cares for bats, she
at the wildlife center and her life doesn’t pay a dime discovered Carol Lee and
are synonymous. She doesn’t go to - steady pay at the the South Plains Wildlife
the movies much, she doesn’t go on state exchanged Rehab Center. She
vacations, and her schedule is consistent for feeding mice to worked her way through
day in and day out seven days a week, vultures at 6:30 am a couple of Federal and
because animals have to eat. But don’t seven days a week. State licenses that allow
feel sorry for Gail or raise money for a When asked about her and them to handle
vacation. She’s one of the few people in her family, she and keep the animals.
this world doing what she was meant to perks up about her Those are a couple of
do. She has a passion for wildlife that son and his family, the rarest licenses in the
consumes her days and most nights and including the two nation, but without those
keeps this senior young and active and grandchildren, and licenses, the South Plains
even a bit persnickety. her brother and Wildlife Rehab Center

In the interview, she did surrender the his family in El couldn’t continue.
basics: Gail was raised in Waxahachie, Paso, but most of

40 Lubbock Senior Link