This is my favorite time of year in Florida because the winter months bring many days when the weather is simply perfect. Seventy-three degrees with the sun shining are my favorite days. Time to head to the great outdoors. The beach would have been nice, but this Florida boy won’t go in the water before the Fourth of July. Spring Training for baseball hasn’t started yet, so we struck out there. So, we decided to pay a visit to the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, Florida.
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is dedicated to the protection and conservation of Florida’s wildlife. Their mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, release, and educate! The sanctuary is both a nature center and a wildlife hospital. Most of the animal residents are native to Florida.
In general, the sanctuary offered us a rare opportunity to learn about Florida’s wildlife and natural environments. It should be noted that Busch Wildlife is not a zoo, but a refuge that combines a nature center with a wildlife hospital.
The Wildlife Sanctuary has a number of nature trails. so we took a stroll through the pine Flatwoods, oak hammocks, and cypress wetlands. As you follow along the trails, you will also pass by wildlife habitats with animals like Florida panthers and bears.
We also came across boardwalks that extend over ponds that we discovered are home to hundreds of turtles and water birds.
Following the boardwalk, we saw at several more wildlife exhibits. A variety of native animals including bald eagles, hawks, bobcats, deer, alligators, and crocodiles all were in current residence. We enjoyed watching the playful river otters that despite the fact that they are in rehabilitation, frolicked in the water. They are fun to watch as they darted around.
Meet some current residents:
Rescue
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary rescues sick, injured, or orphaned Florida wildlife. They also rely on the public to bring the injured critters to the wildlife hospital.
Volunteer rescue teams are sent out to rescue animals that the public can’t, such as falcons, great blue herons, bobcats, foxes, etc. Free comprehensive medical and rehabilitative care is provided to over 5,000 wild animal patients yearly with the ultimate goal of returning recovered animals to their natural habitats.
Treatment
Many animals treated at the sanctuary’s wildlife hospital have suffered from injuries that include collisions with automobiles, fishing line entanglement, illegal gunshots, electrocutions, poisonings, dog or cat attacks, and more. As a result, they are not able to survive in the wild with rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation
During our visit to the wildlife sanctuary, we noticed how the staff and volunteers really care for and help rehabilitate the animals. We met volunteers that help clean cages, assist in presentations, and feed the animals.
Obviously, the hospital staff works hard to take care of many wildlife patients in the hospital. The critters are fed, examinations are performed, and medicine is administered.
Some Feathered Friends
Release
The goal after rehabilitation is to release healthy animals back into the wild! So, the animals that you see in the sanctuary are in the process of going through rehabilitation with hopes of one day being released back into their natural habitat.
Educate
Another main goal of the sanctuary is education. In the Environmental Education Program, children and adults are given the opportunity to learn about native plant and animal species. and participate in conservation efforts to protect Florida’s wildlife, natural resources, and endangered species.
From storytime for parents with toddlers to family night-walks, the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary has something for everyone. Education activities reach into the community by offering programs such as “Junior Naturalist”, community service, guided tours, and wildlife presentations.
We entered the Discovery Center and as a result, learned ways to enhance our experience of our wildlife neighbors through interpretive exhibits, interactive displays, and multimedia productions.
We were right on time to attend the next demonstration, where we not only could see but get up close and personal with the animal residents. The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to bring the whole family for a real wild experience!
We did not bring food, but they have picnic facilities that offer you a place to enjoy your lunch, and a gift shop so you to take some memories home with you. There is a variety of educational and fun merchandise for animal lovers of any age.
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed on Sundays. Admission is free, but donations are always welcome. Busch Wildlife is an animal sanctuary that runs on donations. The more donations they receive the more animals they are able to help.
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is excited about plans to move all the animals to a new home just west of their current location by the Spring of 2022.
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 2500 Jupiter Drive Jupiter, Florida 33458
What to do when you have found an injured animal:
- Call Busch Wildlife Sanctuary for assistance at 561-575-3399
- Use common sense and think of your safety first
- Try to contain the animal
- Keep the animal warm & quiet
- Do not pet or handle the animal
- Do not try to feed or give water to the animal
When we finished seeing the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, we went to go visit another facility in the area that specializes in the rehabilitation of sick or injured sea turtles. Visit the Loggerhead Marine life Center in Juno Beach. The center is a sea turtle research, rehabilitation, education, and conservation center.
