This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
A mother and daughter drive anxiously along the 28th Division Highway, their hearts pounding as they cradle a wounded opossum they lack the skills to save. Amid a chorus of chirping birds, they turn onto a gravel driveway toward Centre Wildlife Care, central Pennsylvania’s only wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary, a haven for the injured, orphaned, sick and displaced for the last 20 years.
The road winds through towering trees into a clearing where a house, nestled seamlessly into the forest, blends with the ecosystem — its sole standout feature a sparkling swimming pool glinting in the summer sun.
The clucking of chickens and whistles of songbirds welcome every visitor without judgment at Centre Wildlife Care, the region’s sole registered wildlife rehabilitation center and a beacon of hope for distressed animals. Tucked away in Worth Township, this nonprofit, funded entirely by donations, cares for up to 2,000 animals each year. From ducks and hawks to foxes and reptiles, the center works under the dedicated leadership of founder Robyn Graboski.
Emerging from the car, the daughter, eyes brimming with tears and cheeks flushed, sniffles as she and her mother approach the house. A compassionate volunteer meets them at the entrance, ready to ease the daughter’s distress and guide the injured animal toward recovery, a routine yet heartfelt act of care at this bustling sanctuary.
Founded in 1995 by Graboski, a trained and licensed wildlife rehabilitator with permits from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service and the Fish and Boat Commission, Centre Wildlife Care has grown into a vital community resource.
“I used to think this is an animal service, but now I realize this is also a human service because it provides comfort to people that bring us animals, we educate on natural history and submit samples for testing for West Nile Virus, Rabies, COVID and highly pathogenic avian flu that ultimately helps people,” Graboski said.
Graboski’s passion for wildlife began 37 years ago as a volunteer at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, sparking a lifelong commitment to protecting Pennsylvania’s creatures. Living on-site at the center’s facility, she embodies her mission, blending personal sacrifice with professional dedication to serve Centre County and beyond.
The opossum that was brought in, now in the hands of the Centre Wildlife Care volunteer, wrapped in a blanket and waking up from its nap, seems to have a floppy ear. The mother, concerned, asks if the injury signals deeper harm. The volunteer quickly reassures the mother and daughter that the opossum will be completely fine and appear to be in good health.
This is just one of the many sets of hands that assist Graboski in her day-to-day operations.
At Centre Wildlife Care, Graboski is assisted by a handful of interns and more volunteers than she can handle. Centre Wildlife Care has annual support from about 70 to 80 volunteers, and four to six of them work each day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. With even more volunteers on a waitlist, the organization is in no shortage of help.
Although she has always found her line of work gratifying, Graboski uncovered that the learning experience and real-world practice for her many interns and volunteers make for an immersive and valuable practice that inspires them to go on and further their education in related fields.
“Seeing animals released [is the best part of rehabilitation], but also seeing the wonder and growth in our young volunteers that go on to bigger and better things in their lives, such as veterinarians and biologists,” Graboski said.
Because of the growing number of animals that are in need of care and the vast region in which Centre Wildlife Care is responsible, including beyond Centre County, Graboski’s facility is often filled to capacity, forcing her to turn away certain animals and non-native species.
“We stopped taking non-native species such as starlings. I personally love them and tell people that, but we do need to concentrate on the native species,” Graboski said. “When our space is full for raccoons, for example, we can’t take more. We try not to dwell on it and concentrate on the hundreds of animals here that need our help. If we kept taking animals that we could not care for properly, then we become hoarders.”
As the volunteer carried the opossum inside for care, the mother and daughter returned to their car, holding each other with relieved smiles, confident in Centre Wildlife Care’s expertise. The opossum will join others in a meticulous rehabilitation process — incubators for stabilization, tailored treatments and daily check-ins — ensuring it thrives again.
Reflecting on the center’s journey, Graboski never imagined her small nonprofit would become such a cornerstone. Now, she dreams of expansion.
“I want to build a new facility someday. One that is less ‘homey’ and could support more staff members,” Graboski said. “A new facility would allow us to take more animals and serve the community better. This is important since we are the only facility in Central Pennsylvania.”
To realize this vision, donations are critical, as the center receives no government funding. Graboski also seeks new board members to guide growth. By visiting centrewildlifecare.org/donate, supporters can help keep the lights on and ensure more animals, like the opossum, find a second chance in the wild.
Centre Wildlife Care is located at 156 Natural Way, Port Matilda, and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It accepts animals by appointment. The organization can be reached by phone at 814-692-0004 for any emergency assistance or by email at centrewildlifecare@gmail.com for any further questions.
