Animal Education & Rescue Organization
Meet the Team
A.E.R.O. is powered by a passionate group of licensed wildlife rehabilitators and volunteers dedicated to protecting native wildlife and fostering coexistence across Northern Virginia.
Our Story
Who We Are
Established in 2012 and officially granted our 501(c)(3) status in 2014, A.E.R.O. has been passionately dedicated to safeguarding wildlife and fostering harmonious coexistence between humans and our wild neighbors.
Our mission goes beyond conventional rescue efforts. We offer rescue, rehabilitation, and release services for native species, advocate for the preservation of their natural habitats, and educate the public on wildlife conflict resolution and sustainable coexistence. We recognize the intricate interconnectedness of ecosystems and the pivotal role each species plays.
Through our initiatives, we inspire individuals to become stewards of their surroundings — cultivating a sense of responsibility towards the welfare of both animals and the environment. Together, let’s pave the way for a brighter, more compassionate world for all beings.
Our Rehabilitators
The People Behind A.E.R.O.
Olivia grew up with animals her entire life. She became an apprentice under Janette Wright and received her rehabilitator license in 2017. Her favorite animals to work with have been turtles and bats, and she is currently focused on educating new care providers, apprentices, and rehabilitators.
Olivia lives in Gainesville with her husband Anthony, their kids Ari and Ciro, two dogs Chunk and Nina, and two cats Chewie and Patrick. Her long-term goal is to create a deeper understanding of nature — and how we as humans can better coexist with and support the natural world. When she finally gets there, she plans to retire near the beach to work with sea turtles and drink wine all day.
Deb is a Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources rehabilitator licensed to care for small mammals, fawns, rabies vector species, and reptiles. She especially loves working with squirrels of any age, caring for them until they are ready for release on her property.
Deb has been interested in wildlife her whole life but got involved in rehabilitation after moving back to the area. She lives with her family in McLean, not far from Great Falls Park, and was inspired by the animals living close by to apprentice with Olivia and learn how to care for Virginia’s orphaned and injured wildlife.
Annie is a licensed Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources rehabilitator caring for small mammals, fawns, and foxes. An animal lover raised with horses, dogs, cats, and rabbits, she has since been blessed to rehabilitate squirrels, cottontail bunnies, fawns, raccoons, and foxes.
Annie and her husband live on 5 acres in Centreville on property that adjoins Bull Run Regional Parkland.
Tessa is a Category 2 rehabber in Fredericksburg working with many species of wildlife. In addition to her rehabilitation work, she brings a wealth of expertise as a Licensed Veterinary Technician — making her an invaluable part of the A.E.R.O. team.
Tanya is a Category 2 rehabilitator and the leader of Tanya’s Turtle Project (TTP), which she founded in March 2021 to rescue box turtles trapped in black plastic silt fencing at construction sites. TTP has partnered with Van Metre Homes, W.A. Hazel, and S.W. Rodgers to raise awareness on construction sites.
In April 2022, Tanya graduated from the Virginia Master Naturalist program and serves as chair of the Outreach Committee for VMN’s Banshee Reeks chapter. She loves removing invasive plants, spending time in nature with her two boxers, and is enjoying her first experience with horse ownership.
Jenny is a Category 2 rehabber based in Warrenton. She has adored animals of all shapes and sizes since childhood and has always been the person her friends called when they encountered a stray animal. As the owner of Doodlebug Dog Walker, she first learned about wildlife rehabilitation after finding a bat in a client’s home and bringing it to Olivia — and immediately began her apprenticeship.
Jenny also brings 10 years of fundraising experience for dog and cat rescues to the A.E.R.O. board, where she is dedicated to helping reach all fundraising goals to continue rehabilitating wildlife and educating the public on conservation and coexistence.
Christian is a Category 2 rehabber in Fredericksburg with a wonderful background working with reptiles as well as Schnauzer rescue. He has a special place in his heart for baby squirrels and brings both enthusiasm and experience to the A.E.R.O. team.
Lori just completed her apprenticeship and is now a Category 2 wildlife rehabilitator. The opportunity to apprentice arose through her volunteering at AWLA, and she was thrilled at the chance to help a wider variety of animals. What began as enthusiasm quickly grew into a true passion for wildlife over her two-year apprenticeship.
Her experience so far is with orphaned baby squirrels, and her goal is to expand her skill set to include flying squirrels, bats, and other small mammals.
Join Our Mission
Interested in volunteering, apprenticing, or supporting A.E.R.O.’s work? We’d love to hear from you. Together, we can make a difference for Virginia’s native wildlife.