Editor’s note: A previous version of this story had the wrong email address for volunteers to sign up and misstated that the ICU was not yet open on site. The Tribune regrets the errors.

SOUTH BEND — As St. Joseph County’s only wildlife rehabilitator with an Indiana Department of Natural Resources permit to accept mammals, reptiles and amphibians, Rachelle Marshman has taken in over 1,000 sick, injured or orphaned wild animals this year.

With a team of volunteers, Marshman, whose friends call her a combination of a blonde Snow White and Ace Ventura, has cared for deer, raccoons, geese, foxes and other wild animals at her 3-acre home on Pine Road for the past two years. In 2021, her operation officially became a nonprofit called Rescue Release Repeat.

The organization also takes in sick, injured or orphaned farm, domestic and exotic animals, many of whom eventually are placed in new homes. 

Supported by donations and grants, the nonprofit currently has 26 volunteers. Marshman said she could use 100. “It’s never-ending,” she said of the work to care for injured animals, bottle-feed orphaned ones, keep their cages clean and ensure they all have food and water. 

For the wildlife taken in, the goal is to release them back into the wild. She’s able to do that with some animals at her Pine Road home, but many are taken to a 100-acre parcel of untouched land in Mill Creek protected by DNR that’s owned by the nonprofit’s vice president. 

“We always try to release animals where they were originally found,” Marshman said. “Unfortunately, many times, that isn’t possible.” For example, if an animal is found hit by a car in the middle of the road, or babies are found in someone’s attic after a mother is moved.  

The DNR allows rehabilitators to keep wildlife for six months. After that, they can apply for extensions, if necessary, depending on the animal’s condition. 

Marshman said many wild animals taken in either die or have to be euthanized, unfortunately. “I tell volunteers, you have to look at (an animal’s time with the rescue) as bonus time,” she said. “If an animal is on its way out, and for an hour, they get to be warm and fed, we’ve helped them.”

“The heart of the rescue”

In some cases, rehabilitators can ask the DNR for permission to keep an animal as a “nonrelease,” which means they might become an educational ambassador. 

That’s how Xena, an elderly raccoon, has become the public face of Rescue Release Repeat.

A mail carrier found Xena with a broken hip and pelvis, emaciated and dehydrated on the side of a street. She initially had to be fed every 30 minutes, but with the assistance of a veterinarian Marshman works with, she began improving after a couple days.

These days, she gets pushed around in a baby stroller to educational events the organization takes part in. She’s mostly blind and has few teeth, but seems happy, Marshman said. Her favorite food is peanut butter, she watches cartoons and has a special Cookie Monster stuffed animal that she loves. 

“She’s definitely the heart of the rescue,” Marshman said.

State rules on who can rehab

In a former life, Marshman was a veterinary technician assistant and later worked in public relations. When the pandemic started, she lost her PR job.

One day in 2020, Marshman was at her dad’s house when he noticed something had fallen out of a tree. After discovering it was an injured baby squirrel, she began caring for it and chronicled its rehabilitation on social media, hoping to get advice and assistance from others. The DNR found out she’d taken in the animal without a permit. After learning she needed one, she decided to apply and her rescue organization was born.

Rescue Release Repeat is not an animal removal service. “We’re not allowed to trap (animals),” Marshman said, “but if you trap an animal and need help, I’ll come help.”

The rescue also works closely with other organizations that do trap sick, injured and orphaned animals, namely South Bend Lost & Found Pets, a group that’s expanded to assist many kinds of animals.

Melody Heintzelman is its founder. Of Marshman, she said, “She’s been a godsend. For years, we had no one local (to rehabilitate wildlife). Someone would find injured wildlife or orphaned babies and we’d have to drive them an hour away (to another rehabilitator). There was no place to call.”

Heintzelman said DNR rules allow groups like hers to hold wildlife for 24 hours to find a rehabilitator. 

“Right now,” she said, “we’re working on (trapping) a mangy fox. Once we do, he’ll go out to Rachelle and then (when he’s recovered) he’ll be released right back to where he is at.”

Volunteers needed

Rescue Release Repeat has grown quickly. Marshman sees that pace continuing. She’s applying for a federal license to take in raptors and recently opened a new ICU intake unit where sick and injured animals can quarantine before being placed with other animals. The organization also offers internships for college students and Marshman hopes to expand those opportunities. 

But the rescue’s biggest need right now is for more volunteers, she said, adding it’s hard work that’s not for everyone. 

Through their mutual love of animals, she said, volunteers of all ages have become her best friends over the years.

Laura Olivera, who has volunteered for more than a year, is one of them. She helps out three times a week for several hours at a time, mostly doing feedings, cleaning and laundry. 

Olivera, from South Bend, is a teacher. Caring for animals is another passion of hers, she said. 

“I enjoy the presence of the animals. How many people do you meet who’ve said ‘I fed a raccoon today,’ or ‘I was two feet from a fox.’ That’s special to me.”

Of Marshman, Olivera said, “She takes each situation and does exactly what she can. That’s hard to do. Her motivation is high and she really does care about every single living creature that’s brought in.”

Indeed, Marshman said, although she doesn’t raise enough money at this point to be able to pay herself a salary, she considers her work a job. 

“I know I’m only one person. I’m not going to be able to save them all,” she said of animals in her organization’s care. “But, I wake up every day and am so excited this what I get to do.”

How to help

Time: Interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities or internships with Rescue Release Repeat? Email the organization’s volunteer coordinator at [email protected]

Money: The rescue is also raising money for a $3,000 “Kitty Kottage” to house dozens of cats left behind when an area trailer park was recently demolished. The group plans to care for them, have them neutered or spayed and eventually find new homes for the animals.  Contact [email protected] to find out how to make a donation.