Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission
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All programs take place at the Prospect Heights Public Library's AB meeting room or on Zoom. Talks start promptly at 7:00. Nature Speaks is free admission but registration is necessary.
Sarah Holmes Bookbinder
Paul Bookbinder
January 14th, 2027 - 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Sarah Holmes Bookbinder and Paul Bookbinder
"Where the Wild Things Grow - The Charles N. Gordon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center" - A film by Jay Lurie.
Please join us for the Midwest premier of the newly released documentary film "Where the Wild Things Grow - The Charles N. Gordon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center" - A film by Jay Lurie. Founded in 2018 by the husband and wife team of Sarah Holmes Bookbinder, a certified wildlife rehabilitator and Paul Bookbinder a veterinary surgeon. The Gordon Wildlife Center is located in central New York state and is their life's work, specializing in raccoons. This a Zoom presentation in the library meeting room or on line.
Who on earth is crazy (some might say inspired) enough to dedicate their lives to hand-raising and rehabilitating hundreds of orphaned raccoons? What happens behind the scenes at a wildlife rehabilitation center during orphaned “baby season” – caring for the orphaned, injured, needy and sick? How do wildlife rehabilitators prepare these clever, mischievous, and magical animals for a second chance at life in the wild?
Following the screening, join Gordon Wildlife co-founders Sarah and Dr. Paul Bookbinder for a lively Q&A about the film, and have your questions answered about the joys and challenges of raccoon rehabilitation, and how their passion for these unlikely animals grew into a nationally recognized center for wildlife care, education, and sanctuary.
Come for the raccoons. Leave seeing your wild neighbors in a whole new light!
Paul Bookbinder, DVM, DACVS
Dr. Paul Bookbinder is a board-certified veterinary surgeon and co-founder of the Charles N. Gordon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (www.gordonwildlife.org).
Paul graduated valedictorian from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986 and established and operates a successful small animal surgical referral practice in Central New York, performing complex soft-tissue and orthopedic surgeries on dogs and cats from around the state. More than for his credentials, however, Paul is known for his kind, gentle, and generous spirit—and his dry sense of humor.
Because so few veterinarians in New York State are willing to treat raccoons, in the after-hours, Paul has become a de facto specialist in the medical treatment of raccoons, and the Bookbinders provide free medical and rehabilitation advice to rehabilitators around the country.
Together with his wife, Sarah, Paul has helped grow Gordon Wildlife into a nationally recognized center for raccoon rehabilitation, veterinary care, education, and sanctuary.
Paul’s surgical expertise and willingness to take on the treatment of raccoons have made him an invaluable resource to wildlife rehabilitators and their patients throughout the state. In recognition of his contributions, Paul was named New York State's Wildlife Veterinarian of the Year in 2024. His love of raccoons began early in life, during family camping trips to Letchworth State Park, and has grown exponentially the more he has come to know these remarkable animals. Today, "Anything for the Raccoons" has become a mantra in the Bookbinder household.
Sarah Holmes Bookbinder, CWR
Every morning, Sarah Bookbinder wakes up and asks herself one question: what can I do today to make the world a better place to be a raccoon? Every day there is a new challenge and a new answer.
Sarah Holmes Bookbinder is co-founder of the Charles N. Gordon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Central New York, an organization nationally recognized for its work in raccoon rehabilitation, veterinary care, education, and advocacy. She is a CWR, and holds state and federal wildlife rehabilitation permits, including an RVSII license for rehabilitation and teaching. In addition to her work as Executive Director of Gordon Wildlife, Sarah served for a number of years as Vice President of the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.
Together with her husband Paul, a veterinary surgeon, Sarah has now devoted all of her time, future, and savings account to improving the care and treatment of one of North America's most familiar—and frequently misunderstood—wild animals.
The Bookbinders’ pioneering work has established professional standards for raccoon rehabilitation, including co-authoring the comprehensive textbook of protocols used by wildlife rehabilitators and veterinary professionals around the world, often referred to as the Raccoon Bible.
Central to Sarah and Paul's philosophy is a deep commitment to mentorship, collaboration, and the sharing of knowledge. Since its establishment in 2018, Gordon Wildlife has become a national teaching resource, attracting students, veterinarians, and wildlife professionals from across the country.
The organization also holds New York State's only active permit for the permanent care and exhibition of non-releasable raccoons, providing lifelong sanctuary for a growing collection of animals whose disabilities or medical conditions prevent their return to the wild.
Where the Wild Things Grow offers a glimpse into the daily workings—and chaos—of baby season at the Charles N. Gordon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Central New York.
3 siblings
Sarah and Paul in the OR
Campus one
Three ready to go!
Boop
Baby - Photo Andy Daddio
Whatcha Doin?
All photos Sarah Holmes Bookbinder unless otherwise Noted
Tiny Pink Snuggles
Little Witches
Gordon N. Wildlife Center is a volunteer and donor driven 501(c)3. They receive no federal funding. Please consider making a donation. Donations are 100% tax deductible. Click here to donate.
Admission is free of charge but you must register for this presentation. This program will be recorded for distribution at a later date. Registration will be open in December 2026.
