Rogers County Woman's Love For Wildlife Making A Difference

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

ROGERS COUNTY -- A Rogers County woman has made it her mission to help injured animals get back to the wild. 

Annette Tucker has an odd assortment of sidekicks. There's Kiara the cougar, Trooper the horse, Ducky the opossum and even a couple of bobcats.

"This is a bobcat cub that he came to us last year. He had parvo. He was four days old," said Tucker.

Tucker takes care of nearly 1,000 animals every year at her Wild Heart Ranch, think of it as a rehab center for critters.

"We're about ending suffering. We are about having an option for animals that are suffering," said Tucker.

Some animals come in as newborns abandoned by their parents and have to be hand-fed. Others are a bit older, and injured or abused at the hands of humans.

Tucker's knowledge and experience have made her the go-to gal in northeastern Oklahoma when a wild animal gets a little too close to civilization. Just this past week she was called into action.

She's the one responsible for coordinating the rescue of an American black bear after it got stuck in a neighborhood tree north of Claremore. Tucker's proud the bear was able to be relocated instead of put down.

"So that bear rescue the other day is probably one of my favorite rescues in fifteen years and 15,000 animals," said Tucker.

5/19/2010  Related Story: Black Bear Found In Rural Rogers County Being Relocated

For Tucker, it's simple -- every animal deserves a good life, even those who are wild at heart.

"They're looking for food, water and shelter. And we moved in on them, they didn't move in on us," said Tucker.

Tucker is teaming with the Skunk Whisperer and his new show on Animal Planet.

Learn more about the Wild Heart Ranch.