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
editThe 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
editThe 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.