In Memory of Our Founder

Gerda Deterer, Founder and President of Wildlife Rescue, Inc. passed away on October 2nd, 2009 and crossed over Rainbow Bridge to be with the thousands of animals she saved and her beloved husband Wayne who co-founded Wildlife Rescue with her. For over three decades they traveled all around the state of Maryland to help citizens with wildlife that was injured, orphaned and in dire need of emergency help. She never could understand how people could love their cat or dog and then turn a blind eye when wildlife was injured and killed.

One of our volunteers wrote, “it is safe to say, you would find Mother Nature in her DNA”. Well we think it is safe to say they were working much closer together than we knew. When Gerda received the devastating news that she had cancer, she said she just wanted one more baby season to be there for the our little wildlife patients who needed her. Well, she and Mother Nature did their magic and Gerda got her one more baby season and the babies had her for one more year. She left us at a time when the calls for wildlife help will be at their lowest in the upcoming months, peaking in the spring and summer with the influx of new wildlife babies. We have moved to our new location and we will be ready just in time for the new arrivals.

Gerda had an intense desire to help wildlife in need. Our great team of volunteers and donors inspired by her 24-7 year round efforts to help wildlife, made her dream come true. There is no one person who could ever replace Gerda, these types of individuals are extremely rare. However, with the help of our incredible group of rehabilitators, our volunteers who worked closely with Gerda, and our donors who are vitally important, we are dedicated to assuring Gerda's great legacy of helping wildlife will continue. Gerda always said "The reward of being able to be there for the animals in their time of need is all the compensation I want."

Gerda was the heart of Wildlife Rescue, Inc and even though our hearts are broken right now, we will heal and carry on. Wildlife Rescue will successfully continue her great efforts as a lasting tribute to Gerda and we will continue to help the wildlife who are so dear to her and to all of us.

Gerda asked that donations be made in her memory to Wildlife Rescue, Inc., Box 330, Monkton, MD 21111 so her dream could live on.