WildCare Staff & Volunteers

Full Time Staff

Terrie Girlinghouse moved to Oklahoma from South Dakota with her husband the summer of 2005. Members of Terrie’s church (University Lutheran) encouraged her to seek a job at WildCare because of her experience raising baby parrots and wild baby birds while working for a veterinarian in South Dakota. Terrie enjoys her work especially working with owls, pigeons, pelicans, turtles and nighthawks.

Miranda Vesy came to WildCare in January of 2008 from Youngstown, Ohio. She graduated from Youngstown State university in 2007 with a degree in biology. She interned with Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Texas before joining WildCare. Miranda especially likes working in the outside areas and her favorite animal is the skunks, even if it means sometimes getting sprayed!

Lacy-Jean Rhodes came to WildCare from Murrieta, CA. She graduated from Humboldt State University in 2008 with a degree in zoology and marine biology. In the future, Lacy hopes to pursue a career studying animal behavior as it relates to conservation biology. During her internship this summer Lacy especially enjoyed working with the bobcats and the fawns.

Seasonal Interns & Volunteers

Deb Roppoli first came to WildCare as an animal transport volunteer. In the summer of 2008 Deb joined the Nursery staff. Deb enjoys working with the baby song birds. They grow so quickly yet there are so many of them.

This was Annie Burke’s first summer as an intern at WildCare. She is originally from Wichita, KS. Annie is a currently attending the University of Oklahoma. She is majoring in zoology and hopes to continue her studies with a focus on wildlife epidemiology. Her favorite animals to work with at WildCare were those of the avian variety, especially birds of prey.

Jessica Crytzer began interning at WildCare in March of 2009. She is originally from Falling Waters, WV. Jessica studied Zoo Animal Technology at Pensacola Jr. College, graduating in 2008. She hopes to stay at WildCare to enjoy another Baby Season. It would be difficult for Jessica to pick a favorite animal she has worked with at WildCare, she has loved them all!

This was Charlotte Down’s third summer as an intern at WildCare. She is originally from Claremore, OK and is currently studying zoology at the University of Oklahoma with a minor in anthropology. She hopes to continue working with wildlife and eventually become a high school science teacher. Charlotte’s favorite animal she has worked with has been the raccoons, because they are so ornery.

Kelsey Tipton began working at WildCare in the Summer of 2009. She is originally from Edmond, OK. Kelsey studied Wildlife Ecology and Management at Oklahoma State University, graduating in 2009. In the future, Kelsey hopes to continue working with wildlife. Her favorite animal she has worked with has been the baby beavers because they are so unusual.

Darcy Miller came to WildCare in the Summer of 2009 from Ames, Ia. She graduated in 2009 from Iowa State University where she majored in Animal Ecology/Wildlife Care. Darcy worked with all species in the nurseries but had a special liking for the baby song birds.