Born to be wild
Pandemic layoff pushes writer to pursue passion
Larry the opossum hisses at Sami Harvey after getting a dose of medicine. Larry had a brief stint at Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab after being attacked by a cat and suffering minor injuries. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Diane the squirrel reaches out to touch the finger of Sami Harvey as she preparers her lunch at Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab. Diane and her brother, Jack, suffered injuries after falling out of a tree. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Sami Harvey is happy to see Scarlet the raccoon, who dropped in for a visit. Scarlet was released into the wild at Shelby Forest several weeks ago after being nursed back to health at Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
A flying squirrel named Knuckles prepares to leap from Sami Harvey's hand. Knuckles was rescued after being chased by a cat. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Sami Harvey bathes an injured opossum she's named Barnaby Jackson at her wildlife rehabilitation facility in Shelby Forest. She started Out of Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab in August 2020 after being laid off due to the pandemic. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Eight-year-old Lorelei Harvey helps prepare food for the animals being cared for by her mom, Sami Harvey at Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab in Shelby Forest. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Barnaby Jackson doesn't put up much of a fight as he has gets a round of topical ointment for a lingering wound. The opossum suffered a spinal injury after a dog attack and had to receive special medication on his stomach wound to fight an infection. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
After being laid off during the pandemic, Sami Harvey decided to follow her passion and open a wildlife rehabilitation facility in her backyard in Shelby Forest. “It’s just so rewarding,” she said. “It outweighs all the heartbreak and the stinky cages and the raccoon poop in your hair.” (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Sami Harvey (in a Dec. 9, 2020 photo) helps Henry, an old, blind opossum, find his food and water bowl at Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab. Henry was taken to the wildlife rescue so he could live out his last days in comfort. He died of natural causes in January 2021. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Barnaby Jackson seems to pose for the camera after getting a bath from Sami Harvey at Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab. The opossum is still in the process of regaining mobility in his hind legs after being attacked by a dog. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Sami Harvey helps Falkor the albino raccoon get settled in after being treated for his wounds. Falkor was hit by a car and will remain at Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab until his extensive leg wounds heal. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Sami Harvey shares a moment with her daughter Lorelei after feeding, medicating and cleaning up the roughly half dozen wild animals Harvey is caring for at Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
After being laid off from her writing job, Sami Harvey used her newfound free time to rack up the 200 hours of training need to become a certified rehabilitator and open her own nonprofit, Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab.
Topics
wildlife rehab sami harvey ralph pope all creatures animal hospital shelby forest out of the woods wildlife rehabPatrick Lantrip
Patrick Lantrip is an award-winning writer, photographer and videographer based in Memphis, Tennessee. When not exploring the outdoors, Patrick enjoys spending time with his son, Aaron.
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