As Told by Margaret Stemler: Dedicated Wildlife Volunteer
This week, as we continue our Volunteer Appreciation Week celebration, we are excited to spotlight Margaret Stemler. For nearly three years, Margaret has been a vital part of our Wildlife Center team at the Elburn Forest Preserve. Her journey began with a simple curiosity – a desire to learn more about the wildlife living in her own backyard, and it evolved into a deep commitment to the rehabilitation and protection of our local ecosystem.
The Empowering Moment of Release
For Margaret, the most profound part of volunteering is witnessing the full circle of care for our transient patients. After weeks or months of feeding orphaned babies and watching them grow, the “scary but empowering” moment of release stands out as the ultimate reward. Knowing that she played a role in an animal’s journey from a vulnerable state back to the wild is a feeling like no other.
Ambassadors and Education
While many animals return to the wild, others stay with us as residents to help teach the public. Margaret has a special bond with our favorite animal, Wanda the Groundhog. As a university-level educator, Margaret understands the power of these animal connections. She has been instrumental in the thorough development of our Wildlife Education Program, putting hundreds of hours into the project. By utilizing her professional teaching background, she ensures the program is comprehensive, helping the community learn how to better coexist with their wild neighbors.
Learning in Her “Happy Place”
The Wildlife Center has truly become Margaret’s “happy place.” She thrives on the fact that every shift brings a new lesson, whether she is working alongside our expert staff or mentoring our dedicated interns. To Margaret, volunteering is about recognizing the weight of our fragile ecosystem and understanding that saving even one life makes a significant difference. She takes great pride in the hard work that gives our wild neighbors a second chance – from managing feeding schedules to maintaining habitats.
Join Our Volunteer Family
By volunteering with Anderson Humane, you join dedicated individuals like Margaret in our shared commitment to animal welfare and community connection. Your involvement ensures that we can continue to provide the social interaction and hands-on attention that our wildlife patients need to feel safe and secure. By spending quality time with them and helping them recover in a supportive environment, you play a vital role in helping support animals through their rehabilitation, preparing them for the day they return to the wild.
If you are inspired by Margaret’s journey and are interested in making a difference through our wildlife or volunteer programs, we would love to hear from you. Your compassion provides the care these animals deserve while they wait for their next step.
Visit us at ahconnects.org/wildlife-2/ for more information.
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Visit us at ahconnects.org/volunteer
