We met with Varleri and her husband Mike well south of Dallas in a remote area near the place where the East Fork merges with the Trinity River. This verdant landscape is the home of the South Forks Trinity River Mitigation Bank which is owned and operated by Mr. Johnny Mack Powers.

For those not familiar with the concept, Mitigation Banking is a government sponsored program designed to help protect our natural wetlands, while at the same time recognizing and accommodating the need for development and progress. Here's how it works... If a company or government agency wants to implement a project that will damage or destroy existing wetlands, they can secure permission to proceed by purchasing an appropriate number of credits from a mitigation bank. These credits are then used by the mitigation bank to restore and protect wetlands that were lost prior to this program being enacted.

The land that is now the South Forks Trinity River Mitigation Bank appears to have once been home to some kind of major industrial operation. Evidence of its prior usage is all around. Contrasted against the background of the Trinity River’s lush riparian forest are large flat plains surrounded by retaining ponds and piles of moved earth. Rusting hulks of old machinery and pipes litter the landscape. Newly planted areas with tagged saplings and green grass offer evidence of the ongoing restoration efforts. It is exactly the promise of this wetland reclamation that makes this mitigation bank such an ideal place for returning the rehabilitated animals to the wild.

We arrived early in the afternoon and soon met up with Johnny Mack Powers and his friends and family at the location chosen for the first set of releases. There were a number of children present, and their excitement was palpable. We spent the rest of the day moving around the property releasing the various species of animals into the kinds of environments best suited to them. The afternoon wrapped up with the exciting release of three bobcats. What a special day!

A couple of weeks later my daughter and I followed up with a visit to the Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers Ranch, and its sister organization, the National Bobcat Rescue and Research Foundation. This beautiful location near lake Tawokoni, is the home of Valeri's wildlife rehabilitation and education efforts. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon as Valeri provided us with a guided tour of her facility, and introduced us to the wide variety animals currently under her care.

The Release

A truck load of Bobcats, Opossums, Fox Squirrels, and Eastern Cottontails.

Approaching the South Forks Trinity River Mitigation Bank.

Retaining ditches filled with water.

The landscape was littered with evidence of its past use.

Ghosts of the Past: Rusted hulks of abandoned machinery.

The location of the first set of releases. We began with Opossums.

The release was a big event, with several families
and a large number of children in attendance.

Valeri releases the first of three adult Opossums.

The juvenile Opossums were next.

Val's associate, Kate Rugroden, used this opportunity to educate
the group about the Opossum unique prehensile tail.

The juvenile Opossums were placed in a canvas bag which was
then hung in a small tree. The bag will act as a temporary shelter
for the young Opossums until they have a chance to adjust to their
new environment.

Preparing the squirrel boxes. The newly released Fox Squirrels will call
these boxes home while they learn their way around their new home.

Looking for a suitable location to hang a squirrel box.

Releasing a squirrel.

The Fox Squirrels sometimes needed a little coaxing
before they would enter the box.

Valeri wore heavy gloves when handling the Fox Squirrels.
Even hand raised squirrels are apt to bite.

Baby Eastern Cottontails ready to be released.

Driving through the tall grass on our way to release the Bobcats.

The location of the Bobcat release.

Valeri preparing to release the Bobcats at the edge of the woods.

Checking on the Bobcats.

This Bobcat is ready to be free!

This Bobcat needed a little verbal reassurance before he
was ready to leave the safety of his carrier.

There he goes!

Once on his way this Bobcat headed straight for the woods.

A final look back.

Disappearing into the trees.

The Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers Ranch

At the entrance to The Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers Ranch.

Arriving at the Ranch.

Exotic residents.

Valeri coming out to greet us.

The animal care area.

Early spring means lots of baby rabbits!

Springtime is also baby Opossum time!

Valeri raises crayfish to supplement the diets of some of her animals.

The Raccoon enclosure.

An adult Raccoon coming out to greet us.

Juvenile Raccoons are every bit as charming as you would expect!

Valeri cares for Raccoons of all ages.

A disarmingly adorable juvenile Beaver.

Tortoises are kept in the deer pen, and help to keep
it clean by eating the deer's leftovers.

Expansion to make room for birds. Enclosures are
styled with a unique western theme.

The garden areas and kennel cage storage.

The squirrel enclosure.

These little guys are clowns!

What a handsome Bobcat!

Many people are following the story of little Caro, the baby Bobcat.
As you can see, he is doing just fine!

These Bobcats were eager to see who their visitors were!

Moose the Bobcat

For more information please follow the links below:

South Forks Trinity River Mitigation Bank

The Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers Ranch

National Bobcat Rescue and Research Foundation