Conversations with Kathryn Neil

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathryn Neil.

Hi Kathryn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always worked in agriculture caring for the typical animals; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, etc., and even exotics like llamas, zebras, buffalo, and ostriches! After 10 years in that industry and obtaining lots of husbandry and medical info, I started focusing on wildlife in the areas we lived in to try and preserve what remained for their habitats. I worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department living at a state park and had the duties of wildlife management, trail maintenance, and nature interpreter teaching programs on many different subjects including reptiles and how to respect wildlife.

My husband’s job was transferred and we moved from East TX all the way over to the West of Fort Worth. When searching for a house to purchase there were many factors that drew me to Mineral Wells, one of them being the Bat Sanctuary! Within a couple of weeks of moving here, I started volunteering on Sundays to help with the fruit bats. After a few months, and becoming good friends with the directors, we were having a conversation that there wasn’t a reptile-specific rescue/rehab for the area. All of them have some other name with “and exotics” tacked onto the end meaning reptiles accepted as well.

This translates to we take them but probably cannot provide the specific care that reptiles require to heal properly. They joked that with my experience I should open one up! So, after consulting with my family, we decided to give it a go. It all started at the end of December 2020 with a request for a few tanks stored in a spare bedroom and saving up donations. Over the months, it snowballed and we have grown to many outdoor enclosures, and a remodeled 12×12 shed that we now call the Reptile House! There are several ambassadors that live here full-time for the educational programs. and the rest get adopted out to screened adopters.

Wildlife that comes here to heal are released back into the geographical area they were found if possible. Unfortunately, there are a couple of large Red Eared Slider Turtles that cannot be released after healing; crush has a huge piece of her shell missing and Peg had to have a back leg amputated. These girls live together in a tank doing their wild turtle thang! It was very unexpected to have SO much of community response in our counties and online, we are always getting donations from our amazon wish list and the LWO PayPal account. One of my side hobbies involves the oddity community on Facebook and they just held a big auction that helped raise up over 1K to pay for the new tortoise enclosures.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that in less than a year we would have exploded into this huge facility caring for so many awesome reptiles! Our reach has stretched not just for the DFW and North TX but all over! We work with several animal control offices/shelters all over the state and have a good relationship with our local game wardens. None of it would be possible without the real heroes though- the amazing people willing to adopt a second-hand reptile that might have some special needs.

It is documented in the binder but off the top of my head, I have lost count of how many adoptions have happened! We stay in contact and get updates with pictures randomly which really warms my heart. Not only do people travel from literally all over TX to come to adopt, but even out of state as well! I truly feel like all of this was meant to be and I’m not stopping here!

The two-year plan is to have at least 10 acres to expand our operation and set up larger outdoor enclosures with a huge custom-built facility. Reptiles have always been feared and unloved, unfortunately, but now that I have stepped into this world the ones that have met me will want for nothing the rest of their lives. I’m here to stay.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing done right is ever easy! Because we only have so much funding anything that has to be built is labor that is strictly on us, so projects take longer than usual to complete. It’s very hard to juggle life on top of construction and then the many chores that come along with running a rescue.

Some days are harder than others but luckily we have some awesome volunteers that help us with cleaning and transport. It’s a collective effort from others that understand how amazing these creatures really are.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve always been the outdoor type for adventures and learning. Connecting with nature on an animal level is a different experience than anything else on earth. Being able to handle a venomous snake with confidence and knowledge that your safety is a big deal. We get messages all the time stating that “I used to be scared of snakes but now after following your page they don’t bother me anymore”.

This is what I live for, erasing that fear that has been hardwired into our brains. There are complete ecosystems even in your backyard that you’re not aware of. Snakes in the wild help more often than hurt and I’m an advocate for them. They don’t have a voice to defend themselves, so I do. Many accredited herpetologists follow our page and I get messages all the time giving us praise and asking for assistance in one way or another.

I have developed a “Reptile Network” in my state and throughout the US so that we can come together and expand our resources. Working together we can accomplish so much more, and have a wide reach to help the reptiles that are in need.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
More often than not we see “reptile rescues” pop up all the time. It’s so awesome that people feel the need to help, but some don’t do it with the best of intentions; reptile flippers are a major concern. It’s hard running a rescue, and there is a lot involved. Not only filling with the state for permits but also the IRS for status. So much money goes towards vet bills, and whether you think they need to go or not every rescue needs a check-up and fecal test right when they come in.

The knowledge of all the different species can be overwhelming, and their care is super specific especially when healing. Something that no one likes to talk about is that you can’t save them all. Some days are going to be hard when you lose the creature you have worked so hard to keep alive. It’s not for the faint of heart and there is quite a bit of scientific knowledge that has to be applied.

If you want to get involved please contact your local reptile rescue, we always need help with chores and transport. Even the smallest donation makes a huge difference. No rescue big or small could do it without the support from so many generous individuals willing to go the extra mile to help out.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.livingwildoutside.com
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Image Credits
Living Wild Outside