About

Return To The Wild is a 501©(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 2001 by Patti Reynolds for the purpose of rehabilitating injured and orphaned birds, and educating the public about their inherent value to the environment. Reynolds remains the president and executive director, and is fully permitted by the United State Fish and Wildlife Service and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (a list of board members is available on request). RTTW moved to Nashville, IN, in June of 2004 and is up and running!

Funding is provided by private donation, fundraising events, and other nonprofit groups. RTTW admits about 100 birds of prey per year, and covers six Indiana counties. Calls regarding injured birds come in through citizens, the IDNR, sheriff’s and police offices, veterinarians, parks departments and falconers.

President and executive director Patti Reynolds has been rehabbing wildlife for ten years. In spring, 2004 she retired from 30 years of service with Eli Lilly and Company, and now devotes full time to this endeavor.

Beyond the knowledge base of 30 years in hard science, Patti has completed training offered by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and has numerous hours of continuing education from the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association.

Laura Edmunds joined RTTW in 2003 as the education director. She is a master falconer and is permitted by the USF&W Service and the IDNR for rehabilitation, education, eagle display, and falconry. Building on a medical background, her training includes four externships at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, completion of Raptors in Education and Raptory Theater symposia at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, and numerous continuing education hours from the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association. Before moving to Indianapolis, she founded Soarin’ Hawk Avian Rescue in Fort Wayne.

To date, Laura has given over 800 programs to schools, parks, scouts, museums, church groups, festivals, and other special events.

KayLee Witt, seen here resting in the shade with Thunderin’ Ben at the 2005 Eagle Watch Weekend at Lake Monroe, is a member of our board of directors. She has been volunteer working with raptors since 1998. She has many education hours at NWRA, and has completed the Raptory Theatre program at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis. KayLee is indispensable at RTTW and is capable of wearing any hat that we ask her to don!