DANA SIMS - President, wildlife rehabilitator PETER SIMS - Vice President, wildlife rehabilitator SHERRY CARTER - Board of Directors, medical consultant Kindred Spirits Wildlife Center P.O Box 1222 Graham, NC  27253 336-376-8602

ABOUT US...

Kindred Spirits has been giving assistance to sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife since 1991. Our facility is both state and federally licensed. We also hold special permits from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission that allow us to take in animals that other facilities cannot. 

In May of 1991, Dana's sister brought her an injured baby bluejay (which she named G.P., short for Guinea Pig. Hmm. Did she know then that this was just the first of many?). Dana was aware that working with wildlife without a license was illegal so she made a call to a local wildlife official asking how to go about getting the proper permits. He put her in touch with Sherry Carter who was doing wildlife rehab at the time. (Later, Dana fussed at the biologist for not trying harder to talk her out of it!) Sherry took Dana under her wing, and began training her. Armed with a few old aquariums and a great desire to learn, Dana's devotion to wildlife was on its way. (To make the story even better, Sherry and Dana became best friends and are inseparable to this day.) Dana had done charity work all her life - working with the local Humane Society, Friends of the Court, Family Abuse Services, etc. - but never has anything fulfilled her like this does. Must be so because she's been at it over 16 years now.

Today Kindred Spirits is a highly respected wildlife rehab facility. There is nary a species they can't tell you all about or that they haven't taken care of at one time or another. It is not unusual for Kindred Spirits to receive requests for information from all over the country about various wildlife issues. They have become well-known for their work, which is amazing given that it is run primarily by two people. While they do not have the latest in technological gizmos and testing equipment, they have what matters...heart, dedication, devotion, and the willingness to give up any semblance of a life in order to save these precious creatures.

Dana expanded her education/training that Sherry provided by attending advanced wildlife rehab training in N.C. and Virginia, receiving hands-on training from a federally licensed rehabilitator, and doing apprenticeship work under Dr. Don Courtney (Alamance Vet). Dana also reads every bit of wildlife and veterinary medical literature she can to stay up to date.  Peter, by necessity, learned from his wife since he found himself thrust in the middle of a "wild" marriage and had little choice! They've gone from a few aquariums to having an indoor wildlife nursery, a separate hospital building - outdoors there are bird habitats, a large bird of prey facility, a black bear compound, and a facility for small mammals. They still need a large aviary and waterfowl facility, among other things. Those will come when (and if) time and money permits.