| The Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers Ranch is home of three groups, working together, dedicated to improving the practice of wildlife rehabilitation across America. First and foremost, WCCR houses the FIRST National and International School for Wildlife Rehabilitation. The WREN (Wildlife Rehabilitation Education Network) Project is the reason that the Wildlife Center came to be. The WREN project is the most comprehensive education program available to the general public in the United States today. It has been developed to be run at pre-approved existing wildlife centers around the nation and eventually the world. The goal of this group is to maintain a program that can smoothly transition from state to state and provide a proven and accepted wildlife rehabilitation education program that offers multi-faceted benefits for centers, permitted rehabilitators, for people wanting to learn the accepted and proper techniques for working safely and effectively with wild animals, for wildlife departments and for the general public. Students at the school work with all of the groups on site and have the opportunity to learn all aspects of wildlife rehabilitation in a guided hands-on method that allows each student to become comfortable and experienced with all species that they might run across while rehabilitating in their own homes. Second, we house one of the busiest rehabilitation centers in Northeast Texas. The Wildlife Center is dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of native Texas wild animals. We work very closely with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Animal Services Departments all over Northeast Texas, Law Enforcement, and the general public. We are proud to say that, due to our reputation, animals have come to us from all over the state and have been successfully released back to the wild. Third, WCCR also houses the National Bobcat Rescue & Research Foundation dedicated to the rehabilitation and understanding of these elusive animals. Behavioral studies and disease epidemiology is at the forefront of the funded projects at this time. In time, we hope to move the bobcat rescue to a secluded site near the ranch where we can truly study them the way they were meant to be. |
The Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers Ranch
About Us
Our Instructors
Instructors for the WREN Project must meet many requirements to be approved to teach with WCCR. We are proud to say that we work with some
of the finest rehabilitators in the field and look forward, as we grow, to bringing in many more people with background and experience in the
field of Wildlife Rehabilitation. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact us, and we will send you further information on
requirements and how to get involved!
of the finest rehabilitators in the field and look forward, as we grow, to bringing in many more people with background and experience in the
field of Wildlife Rehabilitation. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact us, and we will send you further information on
requirements and how to get involved!
Valeri Marler is one the founders of WCCR and is the force behind the development team. She has
worked in the field of Wildlife Rehabilitation since 1999, with prior experience in the late 80's. Valeri
got involved in wildlife rehabilitation after college at the University of Maryland where she studied
marine microbial genetics. During her first years as a rehabilitator, she also worked as a biologist and
consultant for several businesses and organizations. In 2003, She met her now husband, Mike while
becoming a certified Master Naturalist. She is also certified in Project WET, and is a facilitator for
Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and the Leopold Education Project. Valeri and Mike Opened The
Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers ranch in 2008 in response to a call for help in the Northeast Texas area.
During the fist year of operation, it became abundantly clear that an organized effort needed to be
made to begin training people to more effective work with larger numbers of wild animals. North
Texas' expansion is growing faster than the animals have time to get out of the way. The long time
dream of Mrs. Marler's came true with the development of the FIRST national school for Wildlife
Rehabilitation.
worked in the field of Wildlife Rehabilitation since 1999, with prior experience in the late 80's. Valeri
got involved in wildlife rehabilitation after college at the University of Maryland where she studied
marine microbial genetics. During her first years as a rehabilitator, she also worked as a biologist and
consultant for several businesses and organizations. In 2003, She met her now husband, Mike while
becoming a certified Master Naturalist. She is also certified in Project WET, and is a facilitator for
Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and the Leopold Education Project. Valeri and Mike Opened The
Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers ranch in 2008 in response to a call for help in the Northeast Texas area.
During the fist year of operation, it became abundantly clear that an organized effort needed to be
made to begin training people to more effective work with larger numbers of wild animals. North
Texas' expansion is growing faster than the animals have time to get out of the way. The long time
dream of Mrs. Marler's came true with the development of the FIRST national school for Wildlife
Rehabilitation.
Mike Marler was dragged kicking and screaming into wildlife rehabilitation. After marrying a
rehabilitator, and having raccoons and opossums stuck in every corner of his home, he finally conceded
that rehabilitation, when done correctly, has its place in our society. Mike is Valeri's balance in this field.
He is a biologist and naturalist and understands clearly the circle of life and our impact on it. Mike's more
pragmatic view of rehabilitation has been the inspiration for the development of many of the research
projects currently underway here at the center, and it is through Mike's business contacts that the most
valuable changes are being made! Mike is the National Rail Practice Leader for
Jacobs, International. Jacobs values the environment, and has many wildlife biologists and employees on
staff ensure that all development projects in which Jacobs becomes involved pass rigorous requirements
and environmental assessments before being considered for contracting. COMPANIES LIKE JACOBS
INTERNATIONAL ARE SAVING OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY! Through
Jacobs employees and projects, WCCR has been teamed with landowners and companies who own
mitigation banks and reclamation land, and we are now slowly and intentionally re-introducing wildlife
into these newly forested and re-grassed areas. We start with squirrels, bunnies and opossums. After those
species have taken hold, we begin to introduce the scavengers followed by predators. The program is fairly
new, but has been a tremendous success so far! Mike's strength is that he brings the work of wildlife
rehabilitation back to the earth.
rehabilitator, and having raccoons and opossums stuck in every corner of his home, he finally conceded
that rehabilitation, when done correctly, has its place in our society. Mike is Valeri's balance in this field.
He is a biologist and naturalist and understands clearly the circle of life and our impact on it. Mike's more
pragmatic view of rehabilitation has been the inspiration for the development of many of the research
projects currently underway here at the center, and it is through Mike's business contacts that the most
valuable changes are being made! Mike is the National Rail Practice Leader for
Jacobs, International. Jacobs values the environment, and has many wildlife biologists and employees on
staff ensure that all development projects in which Jacobs becomes involved pass rigorous requirements
and environmental assessments before being considered for contracting. COMPANIES LIKE JACOBS
INTERNATIONAL ARE SAVING OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY! Through
Jacobs employees and projects, WCCR has been teamed with landowners and companies who own
mitigation banks and reclamation land, and we are now slowly and intentionally re-introducing wildlife
into these newly forested and re-grassed areas. We start with squirrels, bunnies and opossums. After those
species have taken hold, we begin to introduce the scavengers followed by predators. The program is fairly
new, but has been a tremendous success so far! Mike's strength is that he brings the work of wildlife
rehabilitation back to the earth.
Kelly Hanna has been with WCCR since its inception. He started as a volunteer in 2006 and has been
heavily involved in all of the building projects at the center. While volunteering at the center, he was
pulled into learning how to rehabilitate and has become one of our most valuable contributors. Kelly is an
artisan by trade and owns Hanna's Art Deck-O in Terrell, Texas. His talent and love for woodworking has
inspired him to move forward with the development of WILDWOOD, a natural wood hand-crafted
furniture company whose proceeds, in large part, go toward wildlife rehabilitation at WCCR! He is a
general contractor as well is currently volunteering as the Facilities Operations Manager. Kelly has done all
of the blueprints for the Education Center Renovation and has agreed to head up the project Pro-bona.
Kelly will be the instructor for the Enclosures course as well parts of the Capture and handling classes.
Kelly's understanding of the Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation (c) 2002 is unmatched. We
are pleased to have Kelly on staff and look forward to seeing what he has in store for site development and
overall feel of the ranch as we move forward!
heavily involved in all of the building projects at the center. While volunteering at the center, he was
pulled into learning how to rehabilitate and has become one of our most valuable contributors. Kelly is an
artisan by trade and owns Hanna's Art Deck-O in Terrell, Texas. His talent and love for woodworking has
inspired him to move forward with the development of WILDWOOD, a natural wood hand-crafted
furniture company whose proceeds, in large part, go toward wildlife rehabilitation at WCCR! He is a
general contractor as well is currently volunteering as the Facilities Operations Manager. Kelly has done all
of the blueprints for the Education Center Renovation and has agreed to head up the project Pro-bona.
Kelly will be the instructor for the Enclosures course as well parts of the Capture and handling classes.
Kelly's understanding of the Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation (c) 2002 is unmatched. We
are pleased to have Kelly on staff and look forward to seeing what he has in store for site development and
overall feel of the ranch as we move forward!
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A non-profit organization
Copyright © 2009The Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers Ranch, Inc. All rights reserved.