Gaston pair Keeping it Wild by rescuing injured wildlife

Gail Fallaw
Jun 5, 2018
2 min read

Gaston SC (Gail Fallaw) - Brandy Cameron has a soft spot for animals. She and her dad, Todd Crumpton, head up an organization called Keeping It Wild, Inc., where Brandy nurses sick, injured, or abandoned wild animals back to good health.

It took about a year and a half for Brandy to complete the courses necessary to become a certified wildlife rehabilitator and for Brandy and Todd to file the paperwork necessary to be approved as a non-profit organization. Located in Gaston, Keeping It Wild, Inc. is listed on the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) registry of wildlife rehabilitators for Lexington County.

Keeping It Wild began with one deer that was injured seriously enough that, while healthy now, it should not be released back into the wild. That deer serves as a kind of ambassador to other animals at the facility. Presently, Brandy is rehabilitating five deer. When they are healthy enough, the animals will be transported to and released on undeveloped acreage owned by Brandy’s relatives. While they mostly rehabilitate deer, they have worked with opossums, squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, and birds, as well. Brandy enjoys caring for the animals, and she’s happy to nurture the same love for animals in her 11-year-old daughter, their resident bird expert.

Keeping It Wild, Inc. has no employees, only volunteers, and Brandy is quick to point out that she is very particular about who interacts with the animals. She says that minimal human contact is a necessity in order to help the animals get along in the wild upon their release. So, as cute as baby deer are, they do not handle and pet them as we would kittens or puppies. The group depends on donations to provide food, medical care and all things necessary to rehabilitate wild animals. Brandy says that some of the folks who bring injured animals to her will donate a few dollars to help. They can always use blankets, sheets, towels, wipes, puppy pads, and All Free & Clear detergent. It’s important not to use detergents with perfumes or dyes and not to use dryer sheets or softeners on the items they use with the animals. They also accept donated items that can be sold at auction – they attend an auction in Springfield SC on most Saturdays. The monetary donations and auction proceeds are used to purchase special food, formula and medicine for the animals. They are planning their first official fundraising event for October of this year.

For more information about Keeping It Wild, Inc., see their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Keeping-It-Wild-Inc-1990483174517492/ . They also have a Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com/keeping-it-wild-inc . You may contact Brandy or Todd at (803) 369-4313.

To read more about wildlife rehabilitators in South Carolina, go to www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/rehab/index.html.