Helpful Hermit | The Helpful Hermit.

Welcome to The Helpful Hermit

We are a home-based wildlife organization based out of North Royalton, Ohio. We specialize in reptile, amphibians, and certain orphaned mammals like the Virginia Opossum.

The Mission

Our mission is to help our local community through wildlife education and to provide care and rehabilitation for injured and orphaned wildlife. We aim to provide our community with a trustworthy resource that can help guide them when they find wild animals that may need help. From simple advice to taking temporary custody of the animal, we hope to provide our community with the help they need.

About Us

The Helpful Hermit was founded in 2026 by Jonathan and Erin Pollitz. Jonathan has been volunteering and learning about wildlife conservation for many years. He worked in the trades as a Crane operator for 2 decades before slowly making the switch to wildlife rehabilitator. Erin is an army vet who works full time as an RN. She helps out when she can, but her biggest contribution is through love and support! This organization owes everything to her!

A special thanks to all those who have helped us get to this point.

The Staff and fellow volunteersat the Lake Eerie Nature and Science Center wildlife department have been a huge influence and inspiration! The knowledge and expertise they have shared over the last few years has been priceless!

Our Board of Directors

Karen Barefield, Jeff Steinmiller, and Eric Johnson. These three have been amazing friends and influences on us for more than 20 years!

And finally a great big thanks to our family! They have been there through all of it and can never be thanked enough!!