Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital

Sorry to be late in reporting on the BCAS field trip to the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital! We visited on Saturday, December 1 and had a tour led by founder and director Joan Kohl.

The Center's rehabilitation program provides medical and rehabilitative care for sick, injured and orphaned wild birds, mammals and reptiles. The ultimate goal is to return recovered patients to their natural habitats. Those that cannot be released become "Educational Ambassadors," supporting the Center's other mission of environmental education. Nature programs, wildlife presentations, guided nature tours, and children's day camp sessions are used by the Center as ways to reach out and educate the public.

The Sawgrass Nature Center has been a work in progress for a number of years, but is finally nearing completion. It sits on five acres in Sportsplex Park, and includes the wildlife hospital, offices, a gift shop, an outdoor classroom, outdoor habitats, butterfly garden, a wetland area, and aviaries. Behind the Center's property is a 17 acre wetland area owned by the city, which is unfortunately not accessible to the public - good for the wildlife, but not so great for birders!

The Center is a busy place. Just during our visit, three different people brought in injured animals: a raccoon that was found lying in a parking lot, a squirrel that had been hit by a car, and a duck with a fish hook in its bill. Some of the patients already in the hospital included red-bellied woodpeckers, a spot-breasted oriole, a hedgehog, a blonde raccoon with very pale fur, a box turtle, and gopher tortoises.

Joan Kohl is the only full time employee of the Center, which depends heavily on volunteers for help with hands-on tasks and with fundraising. For information on getting involved, call Joan at 954-752-7732 or email her at sncjoan01@aol.com. FYI, the Center will hold a fundraising event on Saturday, January 26, 2008, 10am-4pm, called "Go Wild in the Park." Activities include a fundraising "Walk for the Wild Side," from 8-10am, environmental music by Grant Livingston, animal shows by McCarthy's and Busch Wildlife Sanctuaries, vendors, plant sale, refreshments, etc.

It was fascinating to see the work that goes on behind the scenes of the wildlife hospital, and to learn more about this important resource right here in our midst. Thanks to Joan for letting us visit!