The mission of Peace River Wildlife Center is to contribute to the survival of native Florida wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation, and education.
Peace River Wildlife Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives no local, state, or federal funding. We depend on the generous support of our community and guests to meet this mission.
Peace River Wildlife Center provides the essential service of medical care and wildlife preservation across Charlotte County and Southwest Florida.
JUNE RESCUE AND REHAB STATS
Admissions: 243
Releases: 18
Transfers: 10
Year-to-date admissions: 1,389
EXCITING PROGRESS ON OUR NEW EDUCATION CENTER
TRICIA LAPOINTE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
We are thrilled to share the latest updates on our much-anticipated new education center. After months of careful planning and collaboration, we’ve completed our review of the architectural drawings. With this major milestone behind us, we are preparing to submit for permitting within the next several weeks.
Pending approval, we anticipate breaking ground and beginning construction by August.
This new facility will expand our ability to connect with the community through hands-on learning, wildlife education programs, and outreach events. It will also enhance the care we provide for our non-releasable animals, giving them an upgraded space tailored to their unique needs.
We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from our donors, volunteers, and the Punta Gorda and Charlotte County community as we take this exciting step toward a brighter future for native wildlife and environmental education. Stay tuned—there’s more to come!
If you would like more information on how you can be a part of our – your – new education center, please email me at [email protected] or call me at (941) 637-3830.
If you have any questions about any aspect of our project and the building process, I encourage you to contact me rather than relying on information put out by other sources. I am happy to answer any question and address any concern.
BLUE JAY FUN FACTS
NATURE’S MIMICS
Blue jays are excellent impersonators! They can mimic the calls of other birds – especially hawks. Scientists believe they do this to scare away other birds from food sources or to warn their own flock of predators.
BRILLIANT, BUT NOT ACTUALLY BLUE
That vibrant blue color? It’s a trick of the light! Blue jay feathers contain no blue pigment. Their unique feather structure reflects light in a way that makes them appear blue, which is a phenomenon called structural coloration.
ACORN LOVERS AND FOREST HELPERS
Blue jays love acorns and often bury them to eat later. Many of these acorns are forgotten, leading to new oak trees. In this way, blue jays play a role in forest growth and regeneration.
FAMILY-FOCUSED BIRDS
Blue jay families are tight knit! Mated pairs often stay together for life and share parenting duties. Older siblings sometimes help their parents raise the next brood.
HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND CURIOUS
Blue jays are among the most intelligent birds in North America. They can problem-solve, use tools, and are known for investigating shiny objects or new items in their environment—making them the curious characters of the backyard bird world!
The blue jay belongs to the following scientific classification:
• Family: Corvidae (the crow and jay family)
• Species: Cyanocitta cristata
This family includes other intelligent birds like crows, ravens, and magpies, who are known for their smarts and complex social behavior.
JULY GUESSING GAME – WHAT AM I?
This young bird arrived at PRWC in April 2024 after a suspected predator attack caused it to fall from its nest. While our team attempted to reunite it with its parents, the renesting was unsuccessful, and further care was needed to treat injuries to its leg and eye. Thankfully, the leg healed well, but the damage to one eye was too severe to save. After careful evaluation, our rehab team performed surgery to the nonviable eye.
Due to the loss of vision, this bird cannot return to the wild. Instead, it has found a new purpose as part of our education team. After months of dedicated training by our rehab and curating staff, he made his public debut in June at Sunseeker Resort as part of our “Wild About Fridays” outreach program.
Take a guess—what species is he?
Scroll down to reveal the answer and learn more about this incredible new ambassador!
2026 CALENDAR SPONSORSHIPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Contact [email protected] for information about how you, your business or club can showcase your love and support of wildlife and PRWC!
PRWC WILDLIFE HOSPITAL
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for injured or orphaned wildlife intake only.
223 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.,
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
This facility is for wildlife animal medical care only and not opened to the public for tours.
PRWC EDUCATION CENTER AND GIFT SHOP
Open daily to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for visits and tours.
ADA service dogs allowed only. No pets or emotional support animals.
3400 Ponce de Leon Parkway, Punta Gorda
Shop our online gift shop at Shop for a Cause!
GUESSING GAME – REVEAL!
Did you guess red-shouldered hawk? Great job!
Meet Tobie, PRWC’s newest education ambassador, pictured here with our Curator, Valerie Wolfrey.
Tobie will be making more public appearances soon, so don’t miss out! Stay connected by signing up for our monthly newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and events.
