ABOUT US

Our Mission

BeWild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Durham, NC that acts a rescue for displaced reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.

Founded in 2018, we have taken in over 700 animals since our inception. These animals are surrendered by members of the public, found roaming outside, or transferred to us by local shelters. Surrendered animals are quarantined for a minimum of 30 days, provided with any necessary medical care, and adopted out to carefully vetted homes. We specialize in medical cases and work closely with a team of amazing, specialized veterinarians. As a secondary mission, we are dedicated to providing accessible education to our community through live animal programs. We have expanded our educational reach to an international level with an active social media and online presence.

Our Values

Meet The Team

Nicole D'Avignon

Co-Executive Director

Nicole graduated from UNC with a BA in Biology and minors in Anthropology and Environmental Science. She spent 2 years employed with the UNC Comparative Medicine Department as their Exotic Species Specialist, and was a veterinary assistant at a local animal hospital. Nicole is currently a student at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and is looking forward to becoming a practicing veterinarian specializing in herp medicine!

Nicole has spent her entire life working with animals. She volunteered for the Columbus Zoo and the Ohio Wildlife Center, gaining years of experience with exotic animals, wildlife rehabilitation and education. During her first year at UNC, she co-founded an organization called Carolina WISE (Wildlife Information and Science Education), which taught students how to care for the WISE animal collection and provided educational programs to the community. She gained further experience working with reptiles and birds of prey while volunteering for the NC State Turtle Rescue Team, Piedmont Wildlife Center, and Raptor Insights. Nicole's role at BeWild includes managing our rescue division, coordinating the volunteer program, and overseeing our educational programs. While Nicole enjoys working with all animals, her true passion lies with reptiles as she strives to educate the world about these misunderstood creatures.

AJ Hallatt

Co-Executive Director

While obtaining her BA in Film Studies from UNC Wilmington, AJ volunteered for several local film festivals and discovered a passion for nonprofit administration. She served as the Assistant Director of Hospitality, Fundraising, and Awards for the Visions Film Festival & Conference, raising over $12,000 for their 2013 festival. After graduating, she decided to combine her lifelong love for animals with her affinity for nonprofit work.

Before co-founding BeWild, AJ spent several years volunteering in a wide range of capacities for a number of wildlife-themed organizations. In 2018, she earned her certification in Zoo & Aquarium Science from the Animal Behavior Institute. Her studies at ABI included courses in husbandry, record-keeping, conservation, education, nutrition, animal health, and avian training. A "jack of all trades", AJ manages BeWild's fundraising, accounting, website design, branding, and photography - as well as participating in the day-to-day care of the animals. AJ loves working with animals of all shapes and sizes but is especially fond of Mustard & Acorn, the Aldabra tortoises.

Stephen Xiao

Associate Director

Stephen graduated from UNC with a BS in Economics. He discovered a passion for animals while volunteering for Carolina WISE. He was one of BeWild's first volunteers and has been dedicated to the organization ever since. He currently is employed as a vet tech and is a student at the NC State School of Veterinary Medicine.

In his work with BeWild, Stephen typically manages our ambassador reptile and invertebrate collection and oversees a team of volunteers. He is an important member of our educational team and assists with many of our programs. While Stephen loves working with the reptiles at BeWild, he has a special place in his heart for invertebrates and keeps a diverse range of tarantula species.

Our Board of Directors

BeWild is lucky to have an incredible team of industry professionals and enthusiasts to guide the organization.

Nicole D'Avingon

President of the Board

Co-Director of BeWild

AJ Hallatt

Vice President of the Board

Co-Director of BeWild

Melanie Mahabir

Treasurer

Volunteer Liason

Ilana Galex, DVM

Secretary

Division of Comparative Medicine at UNC

Ashley Emanuele, DVM, CertAqV

Board Member

Practice Owner, Oak City Aquatics

Salina Locke, DVM, CertAqV, DABVP-Avian

Board Member

Practice Owner at Avian and Exotic Animal Care

Jan Sassaman, Ph.D.

Board Member

Vertebrate Zoologist & Environmental Consultant