Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge

30.4444835°N 86.8829648°W / 30.4444835; -86.8829648

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge
30.4444835°N 86.8829648°W / 30.4444835; -86.8829648
Date openedDecember 7, 2019
Location3051 Cloptons Circle, Navarre, Florida 32566
No. of animals~130 at any given time
DirectorCrystie Baker
Websitehttps://emeraldcoastwildliferefuge.org/

The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation center in Navarre, Florida.[1][2][3]

History

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

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
  1. McKeon, Jennie. "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Back To Nature In Its New Location". National Public Radio (WUWF). Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  2. Ravine, Devon. "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge makes adjustments while caring for wildlife during COVID-19". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  3. Blanks, Annie. "Squirrels, opossums and skunks, oh my! Baby season gets underway at Coast Wildlife Refuge". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  4. "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge | About ECWR". Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  5. Arnold, Madison. "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge opens new raptor rehab complex for bald eagles, ospreys". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  6. "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge". Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  7. Chestang, Kearyon (2020-11-29). "Biologists complete necropsy of sperm whale stranded in Mobile Bay". WPMI. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  8. "Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge cares for hurricane Sally's furry, feathered victims". The Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  9. Ravine, Devon. "Hurricane Sally brings flood of animals to refuge in record numbers". The Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
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