Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It awakens awareness of all there is to be grateful for in my life. Right now, I’m feeling especially blessed by the enthusiastic response to my exhibit, “Impermanence: The Transitory Nature of Experience,” which I wrote about in my last River Talk column. Thank you to all who shared the opening event and also to those who are visiting the gallery through November.

While many of the images focus on the end of the life cycle, a few days ago I was reminded of the important work being done by the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center (PWREC) in Stroudsburg, PA (https://www.poconowildlife.com/wp). The nonprofit organization’s longtime, dedicated efforts often make it possible to reverse the devastating outcomes of unfortunate impacts to regional wildlife.

The reminder came in the form of the e-newsletter, “The Wildlife Center Report,” sent to supporters of PWREC. In it, I learned that PWREC has admitted more than 2,500 animals this year, including three orphaned bobcats; four bear cubs; and numerous squirrels, rabbits, opossums, skunks, raccoons, birds and more.

All of this, despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic, which severely reduced wildlife presentations and caused the cancellation of PWREC’s open house, both of which are important to the organization’s sustainability.

Director Kathy Uhler thanks the volunteers and supporters who help to “keep our doors open, the lights on, medicines on hand, and foods in the freezers.” Become a supporter of PWREC and you’ll receive the informative newsletter. This one contained photos of a beautiful milk snake stuck to a strip of duct tape; the snake was successfully freed from its plight.

As you may know, another important and impactful nonprofit reached the end of its long service to our region’s birds of prey, when the Delaware Valley Raptor Center (DVRC) stopped receiving new admissions following an honest assessment of its capacity to continue providing adequate care for the wounded birds brought there.

Providing for the raptors already in their care was never in question. The beloved birds we’ve come to know through the thrilling presentations given by Bill Streeter and Jan Lucciola, not to mention the birds unable to return to the wild, will live out their days at the center. In this season of gratitude, consider a gift in support of the food and medical attention needed to make this possible, at https://www.dvrconline.org.

Please catch “Impermanence” if you can. All aspects are free and open to the public. Learn more at www.heronseye.com/impermanence. As always, thank you for all that YOU do to support our regional wildlife.