Nala’s Nook
Wild animals belong in the wild, and returning sick, injured, and orphaned animals to their natural environments should always be the top priority for wildlife rehabilitators.
Sometimes this isn’t possible, though – for example because of disability or, in the case of grey squirrels, the law.
It is both my belief and my lived experience that many individuals can and do have a good quality of life in captivity, so long as their unique needs and characteristics are well understood by those who care for them. It’s also my view that this is usually better than ending their lives.
This is why I now concentrate my learning, development, and practice on creating the very best ‘plan b’ that I can for a very small and select number of species; grey squirrels, for which I hold as licence (see below), and the Corvid (crow) family of birds. I provide sanctuary and care for individuals who are unable to return to the wild, but who are formally assessed to be healthy enough to live the rest of their lives in captivity.
I work closely with a specialist veterinarian in my area, and under the very patient and committed mentorship of PJ Garner in the USA. PJ has decades of experience working with a range of wild animals, with a focus on species from the Sciuridae (squirrel) family.
If you’d like to keep up to date with the day-to-day antics of the squirrels and birds at my sanctuary, you can follow the Nala’s Nook Facebook page below.
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Donna Haraway
Research and Practice in Human-Wildlife Relationships
Alongside my wildlife care and conservation psychology practices, I am also an academic researcher. My current project ‘Caring Wildly’, funded by the Open University, explores caring relationships with urban wild animals in the UK. The project aims gather learning about how care happens between humans and wild animals in urban communities, and to use this knowledge to inform wildlife care in rehabilitation, conservation initiatives, and human wellbeing through relationships across species boundaries. You can learn more about Caring Wildly on the My Research page.
Research and Practice in Human-Wildlife Relationships
Alongside my wildlife care and conservation psychology practices, I am also an academic researcher. My current project ‘Caring Wildly’, funded by the Open University, explores caring relationships with urban wild animals in the UK. The project aims gather learning about how care happens between humans and wild animals in urban communities, and to use this knowledge to inform wildlife care in rehabilitation, conservation initiatives, and human wellbeing through relationships across species boundaries. You can learn more about Caring Wildly on the My Research page.
Workshops & Webinars
My work in helping to rehabilitate, and create high welfare conditions for, captive wild animals has led to a great deal of wider learning, too. As well as using this learning to benefit the animals themselves and in my research, I use it to inform my ongoing professional practice in helping my fellow humans to learn, develop and thrive.
Since 2022, I have been delivering learning programmes on this theme. For
more information on these, and how to book, see my Wellbeing, Learning & Leadership page.
Workshops & Webinars
My work in helping to rehabilitate, and create high welfare conditions for, captive wild animals has led to a great deal of wider learning, too. AS well as using this learning to benefit the animals themselves and in my research, I use it to inform my ongoing professional practice in helping my fellow humans to learn, develop and thrive.
Since 2022, I have been delivering learning programmes on this theme. For
more information on these, and how to book, see my Wellbeing, Learning & Leadership page.
Training & Credentials
