Much like a modern version of the Pied Piper, Robyn Graboski and her husband, Randy Romesberg, slowly navigated their ATV up the trail leading from their forested home, followed by eight spotted fawns.

It was evening feeding time for the orphaned fawns, which run freely in the neighboring woods. Soon, all eight were under roof and drinking special deer formula from nipple-tipped bottles that were provided by the husband and wife team.

“Get your photos quickly,” suggested Graboski. “The milk doesn’t last very long.”

She was right. Seconds later, the bottles were empty and the fawns were looking at us longingly with a deer’s equivalent of a “milk mustache” — perhaps hoping for a second serving.

Graboski is one of a dwindling number of wildlife rehabilitators still operating in Pennsylvania. According to Graboski, there were 65 rehabilitators in the state 15 years ago. Now, that number has dwindled to 37, but many of the remaining rehabilitators accept only limited types of animals and are not generalists like Graboski.

Beth McMaster, in Valencia, Butler County, specializes in songbirds and declines all other species. In Pike County, the Delaware Valley Raptor Center will only accept raptors and endangered or threatened species.

In the entire state, there are fewer than eight wildlife centers that accept white-tailed deer — expensive animals to raise and return to their natural environment.

Wildlife rehabilitators care for injured, orphaned, sick and displaced native wildlife for the purpose of releasing them back into the wild. It is a labor of love and dedication — one that has become increasingly more difficult in our current economy.

Graboski runs Centre Wildlife Care, just outside of Port Matilda. During a typical year, she and a group of dedicated volunteers handle about 1,000 animals, with 50 percent brought in as juveniles during May and June. All of the money for their wildlife pens, cages and animal food originates from donations. Grabowski, herself a volunteer, founded her facility in 1995.

“We are lucky to have 30 to 40 animal care volunteers and another 60 that help with transportation, animal release and in other ways,” Graboski said. “Our annual budget is about $50,000 — all from donations. We spend on average $50 per animal, but the food alone for just a single fawn is about $100.”

Veterinary costs are additional, but Centre Wildlife Care fares well there, too.

“Animal Medical Hospital of State College provides necessary treatment at cost. They are just great,” added Graboski.

The veterinarians and staff donate their time for treating sick and injured wildlife.

Graboski is one of the lucky ones. Successful recruitment of both volunteers and donors has allowed Centre Wildlife Care to remain open. Others are not so fortunate.

The message on Venango County’s Spirit Sky Wildlife Center’s answering machine tells a sad tale that is spreading across the state.

“We are sorry, but due to a serious decline in donations, we can no longer accept animals,” said rehabilitator Mary Jane Angelo’s recorded message.

Lehigh Wildlife Care, near Allentown, recently closed its doors entirely when the rehabilitator left to take a paying wildlife rehab job in Florida. That facility had treated about 2,000 animals per year.

There is no state or federal funding to support wildlife rehabilitation, and the current economic downturn has greatly affected rehabilitators. Donations have dried up and the food needed to support wild animals is more expensive than ever.

“We were greatly impacted by the economy — just hit exceptionally hard,” said Peggy Sue Hentz, who heads the Red Creek Wildlife Center in Schuylkill County. The center takes in compromised wild animals from a five-county area and operates on an annual budget of $100,000.

According to Hentz, other factors also limit the number of rehabilitators. It is not easy to become a rehabilitator and even harder to remain one.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission provides oversight for wildlife rehabilitation services in this state. In order to become licensed, rehabilitators must pass a written exam and be interviewed by the PGC’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Board. Then, if required by their local government, hopeful rehabilitators must secure a zoning agreement to keep animals. Every rehabilitator must be sponsored by a veterinarian, as well as by another currently-licensed rehabilitator. Finally, once set up to operate, each facility must pass regular inspections.

“Most new rehabilitators close their doors within two years of obtaining a license,” Hentz said. “It takes an extreme amount of dedication that most just can’t commit to.

“Many imagine caring for a litter of baby rabbits, a couple raccoons and a fawn, but what happens when they find themselves with 40 rabbits, 20 raccoons, 10 fawns and many other animals?” Hentz explained. “Your phone number is made public and some days the phone rings off the hook. When the funds aren’t there to support what is needed, it is just too overwhelming.”

There are also bright moments, such as when animals have been successfully reintroduced into the wild or the day last April when an army of volunteers descended on the Red Creek Center to tackle a big project.

According to the center’s website, Comcast Cares sponsored a community service day, for which “49 Comcast and Red Creek volunteers came bearing tools, lunch and a ‘let's get it done’ attitude.” In just one very long day, “post-by-post and wall-by-wall a 1,600 square foot enclosure became a reality.”

Hentz commented, “It is solid wood and just beautiful. This is where our foster doe will live and help teach orphaned fawns what it means to be a deer.”

Becoming a wildlife rehabilitator is a lifestyle commitment, and one that must be shared by every family member.

“For my first 17 years as a rehabilitator, I worked a full-time job and spent much of my wages on the animals,” Hentz said. “In the past 12 years, our family has only had two vacations and they were short ones.”

In addition to helping animals, wildlife rehabilitators, such as Graboski, hold educational programs for civic groups and even for birthday parties. Many also have educational websites. Graboski offers a color brochure that outlines the Centre Wildlife Care’s services and offers advice about what to do if you find a distressed a wild animal.

Centre Wildlife Care is a non-profit 501c3 organization, and Graboski does not charge for services. However, donations are always appreciated, as well as being essential to the center’s ongoing operation. Donations can be sent to Centre Wildlife Care, PO Box 572, Lemont, 16851.

“I know that wildlife rehabilitators have a different definition of success and wealth than most people,” Hentz said. “We get internal wealth and satisfaction from helping animals return to the wild.”

I am sure that Graboski would agree.

Mark Nale, who lives in the Bald Eagle Valley, is a member of the PA Outdoor Writers Association. He can be reached at MarkAngler@aol.com.