THE MISSION OF THE PEACE RIVER WILDLIFE CENTER IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SURVIVAL OF NATIVE FLORIDA WILDLIFE THROUGH RESCUE, REHABILITATION, AND EDUCATION.
In December, PRWC admitted 119 animals, bringing the total number of admissions for 2024 to 2,381. Our rehabilitation team successfully released 12 animals back into the wild and transferred five others to different wildlife facilities.
If you encounter an injured or orphaned native Florida wildlife species in need of care, please bring it to our wildlife hospital at 223 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Punta Gorda. Our hospital is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call us for any wildlife-related questions or concerns at (941) 637-3830. For after-hours emergencies, visit our website at prwildlife.org for additional information.
Our education center and gift shop at Ponce Park remain closed for hurricane recovery and repairs. For the latest updates on our reopening date, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.
Please note that while our education center is an outdoor facility, pets and emotional support animals are not permitted. Only ADA service dogs are allowed. Although we love dogs, our wildlife residents may perceive them as predators, which can cause stress and agitation. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
TORTOISES AND LASER BEAMS!
Recently, we’ve seen a significant increase in gopher tortoise admissions. While we occasionally treat gopher tortoises for upper respiratory infections, the majority come to us after being hit by motor vehicles. As traffic increases, so does our intake of injured tortoises. Fortunately, we often succeed in helping these patients recover.
Thanks to Dr. Joe Parr and Multi-Radiance Medical, we now have access to laser therapy as a noninvasive treatment to aid in their healing. Laser therapy helps improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain. While currently we use it primarily for our gopher tortoise patients, it has proven beneficial for other patients as well, including a fish crow and a red-tailed hawk.
2024 LOOKING BACK
Resilience
If the last three months of the year taught us anything, it was resilience. Like many in our community, the damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton nearly took the wind out of our sails. But when faced with the challenge, we pressed on and kept going. When it’s a calling, there really isn’t a choice.
Gratitude
A word that can’t fully capture the depth of thankfulness we feel for the lifeline you, our patrons and partners, have provided. We are humbled and thankful for the support we’ve received from near and far. Your generosity has allowed us to keep going, keep the lights on, and care for those without a voice. Because of you, we continue to be PRWC.
Courage
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” ~Mary Anne Radmacher~
WHERE WE ARE NOW
Our hospital at 223 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. continues to provide excellent care for injured and orphaned wildlife. As we turn the page on our calendars, we enter baby raptor season. Love is in the air for hawks, eagles, and owls, bringing with it mishaps, renests, orphans, and injuries from territorial behavior. Our rehab team is gearing up for a busy season.
Our current education center and gift shop at Ponce Park are still undergoing hurricane recovery and repairs. We’re just a few steps away from reopening a “slightly modified” version of the center. The Ponce Park boat dock, playground, and pavilion remain closed until the City of Punta Gorda completes necessary safety repairs.
Many of you have inquired about the need for restoration at this site with the new education center being built on Henry Street. We expect that project to take at least another year to complete. To accommodate the over 70 permanent residents under our care and permits, these repairs were necessary to bring them home. Currently, our permanent residents are being housed off-site at other licensed wildlife facilities across Florida.
City of Punta Gorda Parks and Recreation staff are working closely with us to ensure the wildlife center can open before the park repairs are finished. Stay tuned for updates in the days ahead!
WHERE WE ARE GOING
If you haven’t driven by the new education center site, you’re missing the action! Construction of our new education center on Henry Street is progressing well. The elevation has been raised to nine feet, and the City of Punta Gorda parking lot, which will be shared with the Hounds on Henry dog park, is nearly complete.
Our new facility will provide a safe haven for our non-releasable wildlife and a fantastic place for you to bring your family and friends. You’ll be able to attend educational programs and special events on the beautiful grounds while supporting the care and conservation of native Florida wildlife. It is sure to become one of your top destination day trips!
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 patrons to meet this mission.
Peace River Wildlife Center provides the essential service of medical care and wildlife preservation across Charlotte County and Southwest Florida.
