Page 41 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2017- Online Magazine

The center has become more than a The biggest surprise about Gail is that
hospital for lost and injured wildlife but she’s a volunteer. Even though she’s the
has become a significant educational executive director of the South Plains
center as well. The campus on Indiana Wildlife Rehab Center, she’s unpaid -
Ave. is fashioned with an amphitheater not paid, no pay, zilch, nada, nil - not
style learning center, and they’re also even a gallon of gas. She works there for
quite adept as a traveling road show. the love of the animals, the thrill of the
Gail’s crew travels to local schools chase, and the satisfaction of releasing
or wherever they are invited to teach a once left-for-dead raptor into an area
the public, of all ages, about wildlife ranch to wreak havoc on the local rodent
and the environment in which they population.
thrive. Indeed, their connection to the
community is so tight that one of their When asked about the most rewarding then we suspect that she’ll find another
favorite ambassadors, the great horned part of the job, besides the wealth feathered friend and reset her clock for
owl “Titan”, is the mascot for Jayne Ann and riches, she mentions the people more time.
Miller Elementary School; recently, they side and the animal side. She really
unveiled at the school a giant bronze enjoys the outings to schools, showing In the meantime, keep a lookout for the
statue of Titan, fashioned by world children the raptors, and she enjoys the open houses that the wildlife center puts
famous artist Eddie Dixon. camaraderie of the wildlife center with on in the Spring and Fall, and leave the
all of the activity radiating from interns, grounded birds alone.
When asked about the rarest and volunteers, and her board of directors.
strangest animals she’s ever come For the animal side, she gets the most
across at the center, she listed a litany satisfaction from releasing wildlife Carl H. Tepper
of creatures from alligators, something back into the wild but without being VP - McDougal Commercial Division
called a serval, and even a Hurricane domesticated or imprinted, which can be 1500 Broadway, Ste 505
Harvey displaced bull snake caught in a great challenge after they’ve been fed Lubbock, Texas. 79401
a glue trap. What most West Texans by people weeks or months at a time. (806) 470-2354
would consider rare and exciting are
annual occurrences for the center, Gail is a senior
animals including badgers, bobcats, and who is youthful,
the occasional Ferruginous Hawk or although looks
American Eagle. and energy can be
misleading. But as
Gail works at the center every day far as her seniority
and many nights. She says she’s been is concerned, she’s
invited to wildlife centers around the adamant that
world but just can’t leave, because she she’ll be around
just can’t get away from her center. She another twenty
thrives on the atmosphere and chaos, years at least,
with a wide array of different animals until her middle
that can be taken in at any time. Raptors, eighties, as her
reptiles, and raccoons come in on any most beloved owls
given day, and because these animals will live about
need care at night too, well, she’s often that long, and
on-site at the wildlife center through the she’s committed JOIN US FOR OUR
night. When you don’t get the evenings to being there
off, a weekend away seems like an for them. Her 30TH ANNIVERSARY
eternity. favorite owl, the CELEBRATION
barn owl, Jasper
(don’t tell Titan),
will be around Frazier Alumni
about twenty more
years, and that’s Pavilion
her goal, to be
his caretaker for April 5, 2018
the duration, but
Call for more information 806-799-2142

Lubbock Senior Link 41