Hi, I’m Heather Federwisch from Waxahachie, Texas. I’m a wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated the past 25 years to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured and orphaned wildlife. As a permitted wildlife rehabilitator through Texas Parks and Wildlife, I have served communities throughout Ellis and Dallas counties, caring for small and large mammals as well as a wide variety of birds. My work includes everything from raising orphaned animals and treating injuries to preparing each animal for a safe and successful return to the wild. Wildlife rehabilitation has been a lifelong commitment for me, and I am passionate about expanding the resources and support available to the animals and communities we serve.

Hi, I’m Vallory with Val’s Little Rescue in Midlothian, Tx. I retired from nursing in 2007 after a rewarding career and have now dedicated more than 25 years to wildlife rehabilitation. For the past three years, I’ve served Ellis County under the leadership of Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Heather Federwisch. I specialize in the care and rehabilitation of small mammals, providing everything from bottle feeding orphaned babies to treating minor injuries and preparing wildlife for a successful return to their natural habitat.

Barney Lipscomb, botanist, explorer, collector, author, writer, lecturer, researcher, editor, Director Emeritus of BRIT Press, Director of the Texas Floras Program, and Leonhardt Chair of Texas Botany. Fifty-one years and counting, Barney launched his botanical career in 1975 at the SMU Herbarium in Dallas, now the Botanical Research Institute of Texas at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Botanical Explorer…collected, pressed, dried 10,000+ plant specimens for science.  Author/Editor/Researcher…49 years editing/publishing a botanical journal; 30 years and untold hours of blood, sweat, and tears—with co-authors—in research and publishing four Texas flora books. Circuit Riding Botanist…150,000+ miles, 1,200+ lectures, tours, guided walks; engaging 75,000+ people of all ages and backgrounds; notable expert, presenter on poisonous plants; history of botanical art; forensic botany; Texas Botanical Heritage; Texas Ecoregions; etc. Forensic Botanist…in 30 criminal and civil cases; expert witness testimony given in two criminal cases. Career Day Presenter…30 years giving career day programs as Barney the Botanist, motivating 10,000+ students, mostly 3rd grade elementary kids of Fort Worth ISD.