30°26′40″N 86°52′59″W / 30.4444835°N 86.8829648°W
| Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 30°26′40″N 86°52′59″W / 30.4444835°N 86.8829648°W | |
| Date opened | December 7, 2019 |
| Location | 3051 Cloptons Circle, Navarre, Florida 32566 |
| No. of animals | ~130 at any given time |
| Director | Crystie Baker |
| Website | https://emeraldcoastwildliferefuge.org/ |
The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation center in Navarre, Florida.[1][2][3]
History edit
The refuge was originally located in Okaloosa County, Florida, in 1994. At first, while there, the program operated out of private homes, before eventually opening makeshift facilities in 2000.[4] The program, with the help of the local community managed to find more permanent facilities in 2005, before eventually moving to new purpose-built facilities in Navarre.[4]
The refuge opened in the location in Navarre in 2019. The new facility cost approximately $1 million, and was greatly assisted by local volunteer and charity organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America, the local Navarre Garden Club, and the Girl Scouts of the USA.[1]
Facilities and programs edit
The refuge includes a raptor rehabilitation center, public environmental outreach to the regional area, and professional animal-care staff.[5][6] The refuge has also assisted law enforcement and wildlife authorities in the investigations of deaths of endangered animals.[1][7]
The ECWR responds to certain crises involving local animals that animal control services cannot easily manage, such as issues involving birds of prey or beached marine mammals.[5][8] The facility cares for approximately 130 animals at any one given time for rehabilitation purposes, but often takes in more after natural disasters.[9]
References edit
- ^ a b c McKeon, Jennie. "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Back To Nature In Its New Location". National Public Radio (WUWF). Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ Ravine, Devon. "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge makes adjustments while caring for wildlife during COVID-19". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ Blanks, Annie. "Squirrels, opossums and skunks, oh my! Baby season gets underway at Coast Wildlife Refuge". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ a b "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge | About ECWR". Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ a b Arnold, Madison. "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge opens new raptor rehab complex for bald eagles, ospreys". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge". Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ Chestang, Kearyon (2020-11-29). "Biologists complete necropsy of sperm whale stranded in Mobile Bay". WPMI. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge cares for hurricane Sally's furry, feathered victims". The Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ Ravine, Devon. "Hurricane Sally brings flood of animals to refuge in record numbers". The Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 2020-12-04.