Willow the Beaver under rehabilitation at Wild at Heart Rescue

Wild at Heart in Vancleave specializes in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured sick or orphaned wildlife native to Mississippi.

Meet Willow, she’s an orphaned baby beaver that is in rehabilitation at Wild at Heart Animal Rescue. Wild at Heart Founder Missy Dubuisson said, “A gentleman and his son were out and they noticed this little baby just swam up to them. Glad they did. She had a big laceration on her leg. It turns out her mother and other baby siblings were killed by an alligator in the swamp.”

Willow now has a new temporary family at Wild at Heart. She’s under the 24/7 care of her foster mom Missy Dubuisson. “I’m going to have to teach her how to carry a stick and make a dam out in the bathtub. I also have another little beaver in quarantine that will join Willow because the family dynamic is big. So, they’re going to need each other to get through the rest of their rehab.”

Dubuisson opened the animal rescue center in 2012 to help rehabilitate critters like Willow so they can be released back into the wild. “You see these animals come in and you think they’re in a hopeless situation, but you see it in their eyes and think ‘well, let me give it a little try.’ It’s probably one of the most rewarding things to do what we do. We are very blessed.”

Wild at Heart is always looking for volunteers to lend a helping hand. “So much goes into it other than just the care of the cute little fluffy animals. It’s not like that all the time. It’s not always rainbows and sprinkles. People need to understand that it’s not always a pretty job, but it’s a good job. And they would feel so good if they helped us.”