New wildlife rehabilitator saves group of baby opossums

Provided photos: (Left) This family of opossums was saved by wildlife rehabilitator Hannah Robillard of Shelby after their mother was hit by a car. (Right) Hannah Robillard is a Medina native who has loved animals all her life. She recently got her license to rehabilitate small animals and non-protected birds.

SHELBY – Hannah Robillard has loved animals all her life, so while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology at Medaille College, it was no surprise she decided to attend Clemson University and get her master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries resources.

“I always loved being in nature, growing up in Medina,” Robillard said. “I had pets and Rose, a horse.”

After graduating from Medina High School in 2018, she knew what she wanted to do, in addition to working for her dad, Arnold Mahnke, at Top Gun Construction.

In 2022, she married Jason Robillard, who is also pursuing his license so he can help Hannah.

Hannah became involved with Western New York Raptors and Wildlife Care, whose director Bernadette Clabeaux was a professor of hers and got her interested in rehabilitation.

Hannah also recently went to Corning for training for rabies vector species. Skunks, bats and raccoons are defined as rabies vector species.

There is a major lack of RVS rehabilitators, which is one of the reason Hannah chose to get involved in it, she said.  She has rabies pre-exposure vaccine, which is why she is able to handle RVS animals.

Hannah recently was brought a family of 10 baby opossums whose mother had been hit and killed by a car. She rehabilitated them and released them. She was also brought a baby bunny, which she also rehabilitated.

Bats are prone to wing injuries, and Hannah is able to rehabilitate them so they can fly again.

She and Jason plan to convert their barn into a facility to accommodate rabies animals by 2026.

A week ago, Hannah spent the day at the Canal Village Farmer’s Market to inform the public of the service she provides and to share the need for donations.

“We have to buy all the food and medications and pay veterinarian bills for all the animals which are brought to us,” she said.

She plans to be at the farmer’s market every week until Christmas, and then every other week after that.

Hannah said there are a small handful of rehabilitators in Orleans County and she would like to contact them to form a support group.

More information on wildlife rehabilitation is available at the DEC website (click here).