Building Red Creek Wildlife Center
Book One of the Wilder Than Fiction Memoir Series
What happens when a love of wildlife turns into a life filled with extraordinary animals, unforgettable people, unexpected challenges, and situations so outrageous they seem almost impossible to believe?
You get Chaos & Characters.
In this first installment of the Wilder Than Fiction memoir series, Peggy Hentz takes readers back to the early years of her journey in wildlife rehabilitation, long before Red Creek Wildlife Center became the organization it is today.
With warmth, candor, and a healthy dose of humor, Peggy shares true stories from a life that rarely went according to plan. From remarkable encounters with wild animals to the eccentric personalities who crossed her path, each story offers a glimpse into a world most people never get to experience.
Some stories will make you laugh out loud. Others may leave you shaking your head in disbelief. And some will touch your heart in ways you won’t soon forget.
But beneath the chaos is something more: a story of determination, compassion, resilience, and the unexpected ways animals and people can change the course of a life.
This isn’t a textbook about wildlife rehabilitation. It’s a collection of real-life adventures about what happens when you follow your passion, even when you have absolutely no idea where it might lead.
Who Will Enjoy This Book?
Chaos & Characters is written for more than wildlife enthusiasts.
- Animal lovers who enjoy stories about the remarkable creatures that share our world.
- Readers who love true-life adventures filled with unexpected twists, unusual situations, and unforgettable characters.
- Fans of humorous memoirs who appreciate the absurdities of everyday life and can laugh when things go spectacularly wrong.
- People who enjoy stories of perseverance and the determination it takes to build something meaningful from humble beginnings.
- Wildlife rehabilitators, rescuers, and animal care professionals who will recognize the challenges, rewards, and occasional madness of working with animals.
- Anyone who has ever followed an unconventional path and discovered that life’s greatest adventures rarely come with instructions.
You don’t need to know anything about wildlife rehabilitation to enjoy this book. All you need is curiosity, a sense of humor, and an appreciation for a good story.
What Will You Take Away?
Beyond the laughter and adventures, Chaos & Characters offers a look at what it really means to dedicate your life to something you believe in.
You’ll discover that compassion isn’t always easy, determination doesn’t guarantee success, and even the best intentions can lead to spectacular chaos.
You’ll meet animals whose courage and resilience are extraordinary, people whose kindness makes a lasting difference, and characters whose behavior proves that sometimes the humans are far more unpredictable than the wildlife.
Most of all, you’ll discover that an ordinary life can become an extraordinary adventure when you’re willing to take the road less traveled.
Every animal has a story. So does every person. And sometimes, those stories are wilder than fiction.
Expected Release: March 20, 2027
Chaos & Characters is the first of three books in the Wilder Than Fiction memoir series, followed by Morrie & Me and Losses & Legacies.
A Note to Readers: This memoir contains honest accounts of wildlife rehabilitation, including animal injuries, suffering, loss, and humane euthanasia. While many stories are humorous and uplifting, others explore the difficult realities of caring for wild animals.