On June 10 in the village of Intercourse, more than 70 adults and children gathered in the Perella Schoolhouse at the Intercourse Library to get up close and personal with a few Pennsylvania natives.

Raven Ridge Wildlife Center director Tracie Young, with help from her assistant Molly Snavely, was visiting the library with several Raven Ridge ambassadors. The program, which offered interesting animal facts to the fascinated youngsters was made possible by the Library System of Lancaster County 2025 summer programming dubbed "Color Our World." Raven Ridge is an organization located in Washington Boro. The nonprofit rehabilitates native animals, especially birds of prey, but also mammals and reptiles.

Young opened by introducing a pair of eastern box turtles named Ozzy and Harriet. She pointed out that a turtle seen trying to cross the road may be moved to the other side. "Pick the turtle up and move him in the same direction he is already going," she instructed, noting that taking the turtle elsewhere to be released is not a good idea because that turtle will spend the rest of its life trying to find its way home. Young added that it is easy to tell a male eastern box turtle from a female because the male will have orange legs, orange under his chin, and red eyes.

Young also brought along Oberyn, a black rat snake who could grow to seven feet in length and will climb trees. She explained that rat snakes got their names because farmers used them to clear barns of mice and rats. "Now that it is warming up, (rat snakes) will lay on asphalt to warm up because they are cold blooded. Give them a chance to get off the driveway," Young stated.

Broad-winged hawks, such as Raven Ridge ambassador Meret, may be found at the tops of trees, especially alongside highways. Young explained that the solitary hawk makes a high-pitched peeping sound. A favorite broad-winged hawk food is chipmunk, but they will also eat mice, voles, and crickets. Meret was injured and lost his right eye. "Predators need both eyes, so he is non-releasable," explained Young, who noted that the hawk's feathers are designed to blend in with tree bark.

Another bird of prey that Young brought to the library was a Barn owl named Khonsu. Young stated that barn owls eat up to 1,000 mice in a season. She pointed out that in Pennsylvania only barn owls and barred owls have brown eyes.

The cheetah is known as the world's fastest land animal, but the world's fastest animal is the peregrine falcon, known to fly at the speed of 250 miles per hour. Young introduced Phoenix, a falcon who cannot fly because of an eye issue and now lives at Raven Ridge. "(A falcon's) favorite food is pigeons," noted Young, who added that Phoenix eats quail each day at the center. Young stated that falcons have black under their eyes to reduce glare when they are flying in the daytime.

The largest animal to visit the library with Raven Ridge was Barron Von Vulture, a black vulture who came to the center after being hit by a car. Young stated that vultures are able to eat decaying animals because their stomach acid is stronger than car battery acid. She added that vultures take sunbaths to kill bacteria on their wings.

Young allowed a few questions at the end of the program. One attendee asked how Young became involved in rehabilitating animals. Young explained that in 2010 when the Horizon oil spill occurred, she became interested in helping rescue injured animals. That interest led her to look further into what she needed to do to become licensed to rehabilitate Pennsylvania wildlife and to pursue that calling.

More information about Raven Ridge Wildlife Center may be found by searching for "Raven Ridge Wildlife Center" on Facebook or visiting https://ravenridgewildlifecenter.org.

In July, Critter Connection will visit the library. The presentation, which will feature geckos, a rabbit, and a guinea pig, among other animals, is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, at 10 a.m. To register, readers may visit https://intercourselib.org/.