President, David T. Aichele

David is the President of Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation. His life has focused on helping others. Out of high school he volunteered as an Emergency Medical Technician and as a firefighter. Then he proudly served his community as a Police Officer for 18 years. David was on the Board of Directors and is a former President of Musser Park Civic Association. He is currently the Mayor of Millersville. Prior to accepting the Mayoral appointment David served on Millersville Borough Council for 4 years. Professionally, David is the Executive Director for the Lancaster Downtown Investment District and the Director of Clean and Safe Services for Lancaster City Alliance; both organizations are focused on helping improve the community, as well as economic vitality.

David was born and raised in Lancaster. He is a graduate of Penn Manor High School and Willow Street Vo-Tech for carpentry. He is also a graduate of The Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Pennsylvania Fire and Criminal Justice Academy and has received numerous Certifications of Training from federal, state, and local agencies. He is a graduate of the Leadership Lancaster Class of 2007. David has also attended workshops focused on Conflict Resolution, he is a Certified Specialist in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, and most recently he attended a workshop hosted by Millersville University for Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion.

When asked about his influencers and mentors David thought for a while. He has had many people pass through his life that offered opportunities and guidance both professionally and personally; however, the two constants that influenced him the most and were his biggest fans, were his parents, Patricia, and Tom.

In his spare time David enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren. David did not have much of a choice as to whether he was attracted to our cause or not, his wife is our Executive Director. He did respond with a smile and said “My wife and I have our own passions and we support each other fully. I enjoy watching and helping her dreams come true.”

His expertise in carpentry makes him our lead nest box maker too. While David does not interact with the patients daily, he does enjoy their antics and watching them go free on release day. He is particularly fond our educational squirrel, Snags.

Executive Director, Betsy Shank, CWR

Betsy is our Founder, Executive Director, and Rehabilitator. She was enjoying life in the fast lane of corporate America, working on her education in Business Management and reaching for milestones when she stumbled upon a baby squirrel. That was April 16, 2010. Since that day, it has been virtually nothing but wildlife for Betsy. Her fast-paced life came to a screeching halt about a year later when 5 baby squirrels were given to her.

In order to keep an income, she started her own business sewing bedding for small caged animals; with a direct concentration on sturdiness for the “wild” ones. In between projects she was navigating through the process to become a wildlife rehabilitator. She trained under several rehabilitators in many states and learned as much as she possibly could.

It didn’t take too awfully long (only 10 years) before her husband realized this was the new normal and embraced her desire to open her own facility specializing in squirrels, cottontails, and woodchucks. Betsy says, “I feel that I am doing exactly what I was put on this Earth to do, I am most alive while working with my critters.”

Having served on several non-profit boards over the years she wanted to found her own. “My husband’s last name means “little acorn”, of all the trees in our nearly 1-acre yard my favorite is an Oak, and my favorite wild animal is the squirrel. Acorn Acres felt natural, it was the right thing to do.”

She wrote her Pennsylvania state test for wildlife rehabilitator, then tested for and earned the Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) designation (a professional designation for individuals in the field of wildlife rehabilitation), while waiting for the IRS to provide the letter of determination for the non-profit. She remembers days of the past fondly and would like to eventually obtain her MBA.

Treasurer, Open Position

Secretary, Cierra Noetzel

Director, Open Position

Open position

If you're interested in joining our Board of Directors please send us an email.

Director, Open Position

Open position

If you're interested in joining our Board of Directors please send us an email.

Director, Open Position

Open position

If you're interested in joining our Board of Directors please send us an email.

Fundraising Manager, Melissa Hilton

Melissa is our Fundraising Manager and she also assists with animal care. For as long as Melissa can remember she’s had the uncanny finesse of understanding and interacting with animals, particularly wildlife. No one taught her how, she just did it. Even as a child, growing up on a farm she was curious to know what was going on in the animal’s minds. She recognized that each animal is its own intelligent being with its own behaviors.

Growing up, if Melissa was not out fishing, she was bottle feeding calves and displaced kittens, or searching for critters in the woods. She not only thoroughly enjoyed interacting with all species of wildlife she learned to respect them, as well.

As an adult, Melissa volunteered for another wildlife center for more than 3 years. “In my years of reading wild patients’ charts, there was one thing that’s stood out to me: The fact that most of them were admitted because of direct or indirect human activity. Hawks poisoned. Opossums trapped. Turtles crushed by cars. Songbirds that crashed into windows. Baby birds and bunnies unnecessarily picked up by people. Squirrels orphaned after trees were cut down and nests destroyed. Many animals died, sometimes her arms or hands as I tried to provide aid. I quickly learned to accept death as a side effect of life — and found great passion in doing everything I could to save their lives...though each individual animal lost stung me.”

Melissa’s way of showing recognition for the lives of all living beings as valuable: human, bunny, squirrel or otherwise is by wildlife rehabilitation. She hopes that her efforts help others realize why each nonhuman life is worth saving.

Melissa has shared her love and admiration for animals, specifically wildlife with her boys. Her eldest is in his 3^rd year of college for Wildlife Management, Conservation, and Forestry. He will be seeking opportunities to be a Pennsylvania Game Warden.

Melissa is looking forward to continuing her Capture and Transport work, expanding her knowledge by becoming sub-permitted, and is currently studying for her Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) designation. Melissa also enjoys sharing her passion for our mission with others by fundraising.

Professionally, Melissa is a Licensed Medical Aesthetician, Laser Technician and has her license in phlebotomy. Additionally, Melissa holds a Master Scuba Diver Certification and a Cemetery Relator License.