Published Articles, Written by and/or about Birgit Sommer

This biography was written as part of the national Mayborn contest under the subject "Unknown People that made a Difference in their Community".

I was very humbled when Erin Russel approached me and asked me if she could write that biography about me. I was even more humbled when we ended up winning the contest.

2012/01/23 - It takes a special kind of person that can take a wild animal into their home for rehabilitation. In today's Through the Lens I met Birgit Sommer, the woman that runs Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Weatherford.

Sommer recently moved her whole operation from her quarter acre home in Stephenville to her new location with more that two acres to accommodate more animals.

Boy Scout Troop 415 volunteered their time on March 15 painting a building that houses rescued coatis, mammals native to Central and South America, at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue, recently relocated to Weatherford.

The volunteers also helped build a kennel for education raccoon "Freddy". Wildlife rehabilitator Birgit Sommer said that a Floor and Decor Outlet in Arlington has been sponsoring the Parker County animal rehab at its new location as well.

Locals build ‘homes’ for orphaned squirrels
Published: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, Empire Tribune

The gray baby squirrels orphaned by Hurricane Ike now have a cozier place to play - and sleep - while temporarily residing in Erath County.

Rescuing Animals
By Joyce Whitis
Published: Sunday, May 2, 2008, Empire Tribune

One local woman works to save abandoned and mistreated pets

Birgit Sommer has been a Stephenville resident since 1991. She was born in Germany and just last month, after passing a test correct answering questions covering U.S. government and history, she took an oath before officials and became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

"It just feels great to become a citizen of this country," Bridget said. "I studied hard in order to pass the test and now I can vote in this important election.".

Honey and Trinity Success Story
By Birgit Sommer
(published by Empire Tribune, Stephenville on April 5, 2009,
but not online anymore therefore available locally)

Not everybody in Erath County knows about the Humane Society Animal Shelter and its adoptable pets. A few of the people that do know about it have the wrong impression.

They often think of it as dog pound-hell.  Maybe after reading the following story of the combined efforts of many people to make happy endings happen, they will change their minds and convince more pet lovers to adopt a pet instead of purchasing one from a pet store or a breeder.

I found a wild baby animal! Can I keep it?
By Birgit Sommer
(published by Empire Tribune, Stephenville on May 10, 2010,
but not online anymore therefore available locally)

A common call received by the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue is, “I have found an abandoned baby or injured wild animal.”

Wildlife Rehabilitation
By Birgit Sommer
(published by Empire Tribune, Stephenville, on February 2, 2010
but not online anymore, therefore available locally)

If you came across a wild baby animal that appeared to be orphaned and helpless, would you know what to do?

The Real Facts about Rabies
By Birgit Sommer
(published by Empire Tribune, Stephenville, on June 17, 2009
but not online anymore, therefore available locally)

Getting the facts about rabies is not easy. Myths and misconceptions are as strong today as they were 4,000 years ago when rabies was first recognized.

Neighborhood Wildlife - The Cottontail Rabbit
By Birgit Sommer
(published by Empire Tribune, Stephenville, on March 2, 2009
but not online anymore, therefore available locally)

Neighborhood Wildlife - The Squirrel
By Birgit Sommer
(published by Empire Tribune, Stephenville, on February 17, 2009
but not online anymore, therefore available locally)

Squirrels endangered by natural disaster, injury or who have become separated from their parents may require human intervention or rescue. There are many key mistakes that people make when trying to rescue a baby squirrel.

Neighborhood Wildlife - The Opossum
By Birgit Sommer
(published by Empire Tribune, Stephenville, on March 28, 2009
but not online anymore, therefore available locally)

Among the mix of local wildlife is an unassuming creature that once roamed with the dinosaurs 70 million years ago.

Neighborhood Wildlife - The Raccoon
By Birgit Sommer, July 20, 2009, updated May, 2016
(published by Empire Tribune, Stephenville, on July 20, 2009,
but not online anymore, therefore available locally)

Most folks in the US have encountered the resourceful raccoon. Coexisting with these intelligent animals is far less demanding once you understand their place in the ecosystem.

'Little Miss Doolittle' doing big things for wildlife
By Amanda Kimble
Published: Monday, February 16, 2009 - Empire Tribune

"Little Miss Doolittle" may be grown up, but she has not outgrown her love of animals. "I have been an animal lover since birth," Birgit Sommer, director of Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Stephenville, said Thursday. "My grandfather started calling me 'Little Miss Doolittle' when I was about five years old."
While she has not outgrown the moniker given to her years ago, Sommer is quickly outgrowing the rescue's current location, nestled in the heart of the city in her own backyard.

One woman’s mission, one baby squirrel at a time
By Alex Harmon
Published: Monday, February 16, 2009 - Empire Tribune

Some folks in Erath County may call her a nut, but when it comes to squirrel rescue, Birgit Sommer knows her stuff

Orphaned squirrels find refuge in Stephenville
By Amanda Kimble
Published: Tuesday, September 23, 2008, Empire Tribune

Appropriately nicknamed "Miss Doolittle" when she was just 5 years old, Birgit Sommer is taking in orphans from Hurricane Ike. Not the humand kind.