A Perfect Fit!

When you visit the Wildlife Wanderland to see our collection of native animal ambassadors, there are several things to keep in mind:

All of our animals have permanent injuries that prevent them from returning to the wild. When an injured animal is found, it usually goes to a wildlife rehabilitation facility where the injuries are treated and the animal is released. Some injuries are not treatable and the animal must be euthanized. If an injury is not detrimental to the quality of life of the animal, then the animal is placed with an education facility like the nature center. When the animal arrives at our facility, we are prepared to house the animal in the correct size enclosure based on the animal’s needs. 

There are captive animal enclosure guidelines that we follow and often times our enclosures are larger than recommended size.

If we receive a non-flighted bird meaning it cannot fly, the enclosure that bird(s) is in will be smaller than a fully flighted bird. Furniture such as perches, platforms and nest boxes are appropriately placed for the abilities of the animal.

So as you tour our Wildlife Wanderland that is snugly nestled in the natural woods, remember the trauma some of our animal ambassadors have been through and the wonderful life they have now. A nice enclosure, quality food and care and the admiration and love of its keepers.

Pruetts provides healthy diet for animal ambassadors

Every day we make diets for all of our animals. 

Some animals get rats and mice, other meat items, dog food or cat food while others get a variety of produce. 

We use a lot of produce each week and we are fortunate enough to receive produce donations from Pruetts Signal Mountain Market. The quality we receive is excellent and it allows us to give our animals the balanced and varied diet they need and deserve.

HUGE thanks to Pruetts! 

Check them out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pruettssignalmountainmarket

A Web-tastic Fall

Have you noticed a large increase in spiders this summer? 

We certainly have at the nature center. While we are accustomed to running into spider webs while we are working with the animals, we have most definitely noticed lots more webs than years past. Here’s a link to an article explaining why I’m not the only one noticing this!

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/09/is_it_the_year_of_the_spider_b.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Do you know Whooo packs the hardest punch?

Did you know that the Great Horned Owl has 750 pounds of pressure per talon? 

That's stronger than an alligator bite! 

No wonder when we carry these birds, we wear gloves that have 2 layers of thick leather with Kevlar in between! 

Snack time!

Opossums enjoy picking out their own lunch! 

Unable to survive in the wild

When you visit our Wildlife Wanderland, you must keep in mind that our animal ambassadors have permanent disabilities and cannot return to the wild (except for the Red Wolves which are part of the Species Survival Plan). 

These pictures show our female Red Tailed Hawk stuck in the grill of a car. She was hunting and flew into the grill, permanently injuring her shoulder rendering her non-flighted. Fortunately she was rescued by a wildlife rehabilitator. 

When it was determined she could not return to the wild, she was placed with us where she goes into the classroom and teaches people about her species and why Red Tailed Hawks are important. 

Every animal on our earth has a job, no matter how big or small, they are all vital to 

nature's balance! 

Every day is a special day, when working with animals

I have a very unique job! 

It seems obvious to state this, but each day I marvel at the chances I have to engage with our native wildlife. It is truly a gift to be trusted by my animal ambassadors and welcomed into their lives. I often think as I’m getting an animal ready for a class or simply preparing diets, I wonder how many other folks might be doing what I’m doing today. 

As I look into the eyes of our Great Horned Owl, I feel privileged to be his co-worker. I can have discussions with my human co-workers while cleaning bird cages about Druidism, Spirituality and God and how nature is part of all of these. One co-worker commented I don’t even know what a normal job is anymore! 

How great it is to work in the forest, to feel the strength of an owl’s talons as you carry him on your gloved hand, to feel the opossum’s tail and soft fur, to feel the power and softness of a snake’s scales, to watch the young crow figure out how to eat a newly introduced food and to be amazed when you find wild vultures sitting on top of your captive vultures’ enclosure, just visiting! 

To hear the sound of a bird, find a mushroom or plant, not know what any of them are, find a field guide or co-worker to search it out and learn! I count myself lucky everyday to be part of this great earth and to be entrusted with the care of these impressive and laudable animals.