North Texas wildlife rescue sees demand soar as animals struggle amid extended drought

Humans aren’t the only ones feeling the stress of the heat this summer. It’s also affecting wildlife, and that’s where folks like Brandi Nickerson and her husband Mario can help.

They are the founders and directors of Nature’s Edge Wildlife and Reptile Rescue (NEWRR) near Lake Worth. For more than two decades, including the past 10 years with NEWRR, they have been working with wildlife in a rescue and rehab capacity.

“This summer has been very hard on larger insect eating birds, such as Mississippi kites and herons/egrets,” Brandi said. “Mississippi kites are primarily insect eaters and herons/egrets eat lots of insects and fish during baby season. The drought and high temperatures have made finding food very difficult as the insects are scarce during the day, ponds are drying up and fish are in deeper water hiding from the heat.”

Nature’s Edge has taken in record numbers (for them) this summer. They had more than 300 herons and egrets and more than 100 Mississippi kites brought to them in less than two weeks, Brandi said. In fact, they had to stop taking in smaller mammals such as squirrels and opossums.

“The heat and lack of food are causing babies to literally bail from the nests. Mississippi kites will not typically feed babies on the ground, so a baby on the ground most likely needs help,” Brandi said. “Herons and egrets also won’t feed babies on the ground. In a normal rookery for herons and egrets, the trees and underbrush enable the babies to climb back up high enough that parents will still feed.

“In neighborhoods where we are seeing more and more rookeries due to habitat destruction, the trees are trimmed and there is no underbrush for babies to climb, so once they hit the ground, they also need help.”

The Nickersons operate Nature’s Edge, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, out of their home, which Brandi said is the case for 95% of wildlife rehabilitators.

“Wildlife rehabilitators receive no funding, so we do this from our own pocket and donations. Most of us do not have the money to purchase land and build large centers,” she said.

“In the DFW area, there are only two actual rehabilitation centers. We do what we can with what we have available. My husband works a full-time job, which helps fund the rescue, and I take care of the animals full-time. When he gets home from work, he jumps in and starts helping me.”

Life’s passion for couple

Brandi was attending Texas A&M University pursuing a degree in wildlife ecology and management when she learned of wildlife rehabilitation. She started volunteering with a local rehabber in Bryan and got hooked.

“This is truly my passion in life. My husband has always had a passion for birds and reptiles, having both as pets growing up,” Brandi said. “He rescued reptiles and worked with birds of prey for 20-plus years as well, so we decided to officially start NEWRR in 2012.”

Nature’s Edge rehabilitates a large variety of wildlife, but focuses primarily on birds of prey (hawks, owls, vultures, etc.), water birds (ducks, geese, herons, egrets) and predatory mammals (bobcats, foxes and coyotes).

“We sort of adjust animals we take in based on numbers as well. We do not rehab skunks or raccoons as we only have a limited amount of space,” Mario said. “We are also a pet reptile rescue, so we take in unwanted pet reptiles, ensure they are healthy and then adopt them back out, much like a typical dog/cat rescue/shelter.”

Animals are mostly brought to Nature’s Edge. Mario said with them taking in so many animals, it would be almost impossible to go pick them up, so when a person finds an animal, they ask that they secure it and bring it to them.

“We can walk callers through how to catch an animal if needed,” he said. “When people find wildlife they think needs help, they need to contact a rehabber. Get the animal into a box with a lid, no food or water, and keep warm. It’s very important to never give food or water.”

Both came from a family that loved animals.

“I always had pets growing up and a love for all animals. I would play outside and find snakes, frogs, etc., and want to keep them all,” Brandi said. “Same with Mario, he grew up with exotic birds, reptiles and dogs as pets.”

And now?

“Our families think we are crazy,” Brandi said with a laugh. “No, seriously, our families know our passion is helping animals and they support and encourage us always.”

Nature’s Edge relies solely on donations and adoptions of their reptiles to help fund the rescue. They have Facebook fundraisers, have a donate button on Facebook, along with PayPal, CashApp, Omella and Venmo.

To donate or for more information, visit newrr.org or call 682-463-9453.

This story was originally published August 26, 2022 at 6:00 AM.