Who We Are

Laura is the Executive Director of Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, Inc. She is an IWRC Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator and has been a multi-species wildlife rehabilitator and public educator for more than 20 years. Laura has extensive experience in animal-related fields – She has worked as a veterinary practice manager; was the executive director of a humane society and conducted cruelty investigations for the state of Minnesota; and has served on disaster relief and wide-scale rescue teams for the HSUS. She has spent part of her professional career in the financial services industry and all of her adult life involved in the operations of small non-profits – as an employee, board member, or volunteer.

Avery started working in wildlife rehabilitation in high school in their home state of Oklahoma and hasn’t stopped since! They attended veterinary school at Tufts University, where they had the opportunity to gain significant knowledge about wildlife medicine from the Tufts Wildlife Clinic. Avery’s areas of particular interest include wildlife ophthalmology, avian orthopedics, and baby bird identification. They have been happy to be able to experience wildlife rehab in various places across the country and are very interested in expanding techniques and successes with tiny animal orthopedics, such as with Nebraska’s many bats. Avery is very happy to be a part of the NWR team and to help build upon and expand the possibilities for medical care at NWR.

Erin is 21 years old and a recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.S. in Zoology. She is originally from Palos Verdes, CA, and grew up with dogs and riding horses (naturally, she has always loved animals). She got into wildlife medicine during her second year of college in an internship working under Avery (Dr. Berkowitz). Her favorite animals to work with so far are pelicans- she has no idea why she loves them so much but it is certainly an obsession! She will be starting veterinary school in the fall at UC Davis, but in the meantime is excited to help get the Hubbard Family Hospital fully operational and help with the flow of summer patients.

Lauren Darnold is from Waverly, IA and holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Iowa State University and a teaching certificate in Environmental Education from Hamline University where she is also pursuing her Masters of Education in Natural Science and Environmental Education. She has previously worked with the Wildlife Care Clinic of Ames, Girl Scouts of Iowa and Utah, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Her goal is to generate passion and respect across all demographics for wild animals by creating personal experiences and bonds between people and our natural world.

Erin Higgins graduated from The University of Tampa with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska she has previously worked at a vet clinic and at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Erin started her wildlife rehabilitation career as an NWR intern while still in college and started working seasonally with us as a Wildlife Care Specialist in 2019.

Ayet is from Lincoln, Nebraska and graduated from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She started as a summer intern in 2017 and has been involved with NWR ever since! Ayet is excited to continue working with animals and educating others on native wildlife. You can usually find her hanging out with her dogs or doing whatever is necessary for animal rescues (including going headfirst into a badger den!).

Alex is a filmmaker, photographer, and storyteller based out of Omaha, NE. His interest in conservation initiatives takes him around the world where he documents the challenges faced by wildlife and the work of those who wish to protect it. He is an Emerging Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers and a recipient of the 2019 Jackson Wild Media Lab Fellowship.

Erin Stuckey is from Crescent, IA and graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Animal Ecology. In college she completed two summer internships at NWR and spent two years as a staff member at the Wildlife Care Clinic in Ames, IA. After graduation she became an animal care specialist at NWR. Erin has always loved wildlife and nature and is grateful to be able to work everyday to help our native wildlife have a second change in the wild.

Alex Larsen graduated from the University of Nebraska - Omaha with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. Throughout her time in college, she assisted in research focused on White Nose Syndrome and insect surveys at Glacier Creek Preserve. It has always been her passion to help animals in need and educate others about the natural world.

Monica graduated from UNL with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife. She started as a summer intern in 2020 and immediately fell in love with the wildlife rehabilitation field and have been with NWR since. She also works at the Nebraska Humane Society, and her favorite animals are raccoons! She loves being able to care for our wildlife in Nebraska and the reward of seeing them released back to the wild. Monica also loves educating people on our wildlife & how to peacefully coexist with them.

Lilia Alvarez is currently pursuing a degree in veterinary science and technology. Attending the University of Tennessee at Martin working with domestic and livestock animals on the university farm. Lilia is on the track and cross country team. She attended Omaha South High School and was a part of the zoo academy at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has shadowed veterinarians with exotic and domestic animal patients. Lilia started her rehabilitation passion as a intern last year. Lilia enjoys nature and the outdoors and is passionate about nurturing native wildlife for release back into the wild.

McKenna Yohe graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with Bachelor of Science degrees in Veterinary Science and Psychology. McKenna’s passion for nurturing wildlife was ignited after spending a summer in Costa Rica where she cared for a diverse variety of rainforest animals. As an intern with Nebraska Wildlife Rehab last summer, she found a new appreciation for the native wildlife of Nebraska, and enjoys observing these animals in their natural habitats when she spends time outdoors.

Briana Kouma graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Management with a minor in Environmental Studies. She has studied abroad in Botswana, Africa, and was born and raised in Nebraska. Previously she has worked at a vet clinic, Lincoln Children's Zoo, Nebraska Humane Society, and helped with a bunch of different wildlife and agriculture research projects.

Bre Dobesh is from Grand Island and graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in 7-12 Biology. She has taught Sophomore Biology in Grand Island and currently teaches Middle School Science at Fort Calhoun. Bre has always held a strong passion for animals and the outdoors and is always eager to educate others on the importance of Nebraska native wildlife and conservation.

Laura grew up in Batavia, Illinois. She got her bachelors degree in Biology with a minor in Spanish from Augustana college. She has always had a passion for animals and wildlife and has found herself working at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium as animal care staff. She has a bearded dragon that she likes to take on walks. She loves being outdoors identifying plants and birds and taking in the beauty of nature!