Quick Take
- One animal at the rescue was nearly impossible to save without protective gear, but the owner grabbed it with bare hands anyway. See the porcupine rescue →
- The 2026 flooding hit while the rescue was still rebuilding from a disaster that killed 119 people, and this time it was even worse. See the back-to-back disasters →
- The rescue's owner was completely alone when hundreds of animals needed saving, yet not a single one was lost. How Katie saved every animal →
- After two catastrophic floods in two years, Buck Wild faces a decision that could change where it ever operates again, or even whether it does at all. Read about relocation uncertainty →
Just one year after unprecedented flooding ripped through Kerrville, Texas, the region has been hit by another devastating flood. As devastation continues to be reported from Kerr County, an integral wildlife rescue facility has been destroyed by the Texas Hill Country floods. This has left Buck Wild Animal Rescue and Wildlife Rehab considering their next steps.
Massive Storm Destroyed Buck Wild Animal Rescue
In the span of five days, a year’s worth of rain fell on Ingram, Texas. Extensive flooding was reported in Kerr County, causing widespread destruction.
Within 30 minutes, the Guadalupe River rose 16 feet on July 16, 2026. In the water’s path was Buck Wild Animal Rescue and Wildlife Rehab. The facility, which is home to hundreds of sick and injured wild animals, had half of its property destroyed.
Katie Buck, owner of the rescue, uploaded a video to Instagram, showing how heavy the rain was and how quickly the water was rising.
Flood waters devastated Buck Wild Animal Rescue, destroying half of the property.
©@buckwildrescue / Instagram – Original
“We have an ocean in our creek bed,” Buck stated.
By morning, more videos were uploaded, one video in particular showing the extent of the devastation.
“It’s hard to see a way forward right now,” the video was captioned.
Buck Wild Animal Rescue Was Still Recovering from Last Year’s Flood
To add insult to injury, the storm that caused all the flooding and damage on July 16 was not the first to devastate the rescue. The rainstorm and subsequent flooding that occurred between July 3 and July 5, 2025, in which 119 people were killed in Kerr County alone, severely damaged Buck Wild Animal Rescue.
According to General Manager Haley Caswell, the flooding at the rescue is worse than what happened last year.
All of the enclosures were damaged at Buck Wild Animal Rescue.
©@buckwildrescue / Instagram – Original
“We are losing everything for a second time after just having rebuilt from the catastrophic flooding a year ago,” Caswell explained to NBC News 4 San Antonio. “We were still trying to recover from the damages and this time it’s even worse.”
The damage has left the rescue facing a difficult decision: whether to stay and rebuild or move to a new location.
Where Did the Animals at the Rescue Go?
Buck Wild Animal Rescue is home to hundreds of wild animals. As the rain continued to fall on July 16, a flash flood warning was issued. Buck watched as a creek running through the property turned into a rushing river. Alone at the rescue, Buck did what she had to do and began to rescue each and every animal.
Animals, such as turtles, pigs, turkeys, parrots, and more, were housed in enclosures by the river. Some were easier to rescue than others. One particularly difficult rescue involved a female porcupine whose enclosure was quickly filling with water.
Young porcupine saved from the flood waters at Buck Wild Animal Rescue.
©@buckwildrescue / Instagram – Original
Buck had no time to get gloves or protective equipment to handle the porcupine. Using only her bare hands, Buck grabbed the porcupine and got her to safety.
“I had no gloves, I had nothing,” Buck explained to CBS News. “I had to bear‑hug her and walk through the water to get her to higher ground. I ended up with some quills in my arm and a couple of nibbles… but we saved her.”
Buck managed to move and save every animal at the rescue.
Current Status of Buck Wild Animal Rescue
Now that the water is starting to recede, the extent of the damage caused by the flood waters is becoming apparent. The enclosures by the river and half of the overall property at the rescue are completely destroyed. Equipment used daily by the rescue, including a Polaris, cannot be repaired. Mud and debris are everywhere. Water lines and rebar are exposed. Despite all of this, Buck Wild Animal Rescue continues to take in young animals displaced from their mothers, as well as those who were injured.
The rescue is posting social media updates on the progress of the cleanup and repairs. Even with so much devastation, the team is determined to save the rescue and rebuild once more.
Animals continue to be cared for despite Buck Wild Animal Rescue being devastated by flood waters.
©@buckwildrescue / Instagram – Original
“We don’t know how, but we have to find a way,” one of the most recent Instagram posts is captioned. “We aren’t ready to give this up. Let’s save Buck Wild Rescue.”
For those interested in helping Buck Wild Animal Rescue and Wildlife Rehab, volunteers are always welcome. If you are unable to help in person, the rescue offers several ways to donate. They include:
It is unclear whether, after two years of massive flooding, Buck Wild Animal Rescue will rebuild or relocate to a site away from areas prone to catastrophic flooding. As they determine the right course of action for the non-profit rescue, they continue to nurse sick and injured wildlife back to health, showing just how strong and resilient they are.
