06/05/2026
Marie here with some very unfortunate news. Last weekend, our rescue family suffered several losses. A raccoon broke into the bird enclosures overnight and tragically killed our ducks, Rupert and Dorothy, our hen, Chickala, and our rooster, Tony. It’s incredibly difficult to find the right words knowing many of you loved our feathered friends right alongside us.
We do our best to provide a safe, healthy and happy forever home. Living alongside wildlife is a delicate balance and we aim to respect the space of both our rescue family and the animals who also call this place home. Despite best efforts, this tragedy occurred and has brought on a mix of emotions. I miss my friends. They were not only family to me, but to everyone here.
Assessing next steps while grieving is a part of rescue work. However, this is an experience we have never been through before. To have our rescue family suffer this much loss so quickly is heavy. Remembering the joy and beauty of their sanctuary life provides some comfort, though. Dorothy and Rupert were with us since 2019. Chickala and Tony were family members since 2024. Every chirp and quack made the days brighter. Every feathery quirk was embraced and their personalities shone brightly. They are sorely missed but we’re grateful for the time we shared with them.
The path ahead of us is clear and one of paramount importance. We not only need to repair, but improve, the enclosures and implement additional security measures. I’ve been in contact with the Wildlife Rehab Center to gather more information. Their expert input and guidance has been very helpful. This is a very unexpected expense and we need your support.
It’s important to clarify- Herbivorous Acres operates on donations alone. We are a grassroots organization fueled by individual donations from people who believe in our mission. It’s because of our community that we’ve been able to do this work over the years. Your continued support is how we keep moving forward, especially now.
Please help lighten the load of these losses and the projects ahead to overcome this. You can make a donation through this post, through our website, or via PayPal and Venmo: . Your pain is shared and we thank you for the love you’ve shown our beloved rescues. To Dorothy, Rupert, Tony and Chickala- I’ll see you on the other side. 💔
