Peace River Wildlife Center

While Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton may not have hit Charlotte County directly, we certainly felt the significant effects of their outer bands, especially the “dirty side.” This highlights the urgent need for the Peace River Wildlife Center’s education center to relocate from Ponce de Leon Park. Although the location is beautiful, it poses serious risks to our residents and staff during storms. Many of our non-releasable residents are older and more vulnerable, which increases these risks. Tragically, four of our beloved permanent residents—Moogret the cattle egret, Ethel the turkey vulture, Twister the barred owl, and Ursula the crested caracara—did not survive the stress of evacuation during Helene. They were cherished members of the PRWC family, and we will miss their unique personalities.

Many structures at the education center are older and have already suffered damage from Hurricanes Irma, Ian, Idalia, and Debby. In preparation for Helene, most of our residents were moved to our hospital or secured inside the buildings until the storm passed. Unfortunately, no amount of preparation could have prepared us for the unprecedented flooding that both facilities experienced. As a result, both our hospital and education center sustained extensive damage and are currently closed for cleanup and repair. In preparation for Hurricane Milton, all residents and patients were evacuated and are currently being housed at other wildlife facilities or placed in the care of our staff until it is safe for their return.

It’s difficult to know where to start. Our wildlife hospital, education center, and gift shop were already undergoing mitigation from Hurricane Helene when Milton struck, causing severe damage. Habitats were displaced, and our gift shop, hospital, and admin/resident care buildings were compromised. The timeline for returning to Ponce de Leon Park and our wildlife hospital on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. remains uncertain, further emphasizing the urgency of constructing our new facility on Henry Street.

Our team is developing a recovery plan over the next few weeks. Our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and educate remains our guiding force, even if it may take us some time to recover. Many in our community, including some of our staff, are also coping with the aftermath of these storms. However, we are determined to overcome this setback. The strength of PRWC’s spirit is greater than the challenges we face. Our wildlife residents are safe, and their continued care is our top priority. We will rise higher.

How Can You Help?

Many of you have asked how you can assist us during this difficult time. Currently, the best way to support our recovery is through financial donations. Please visit prwildlife.org/support-prwc/ if you would like to contribute.

Share our website and our posts on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube with friends, family, and businesses. While financial donations are most critical, we could also use gift cards from Publix, Walmart, and Amazon. These can be mailed to 3400 Ponce de Leon Parkway, Punta Gorda, FL 33950, and we are still receiving mail.

You can also purchase tickets to the rescheduled “What a Hoot” comedy show on Friday, December 13, at 5 PM. We will hold a comedy show instead of a Sunset Celebration this December. Tickets are available on our website at prwildlife.org.

Culver’s in Punta Gorda will host a “Share Night” on Thursday, November 14, from 4-8 PM, with 10% of the proceeds benefiting PRWC. More details will be shared soon, so please help spread the word.

At this time, we cannot accept in-kind donations or aluminum cans. Please hold onto these items until we have the capacity to store them, as we will need various supplies once we are operational again.

Due to hazardous conditions at both sites, we cannot take on new volunteers at this moment. We will provide updates when we can. Please do not visit either location, as both are closed to the public. We appreciate your understanding and patience.

Our commitment to wildlife care is unwavering. We will rise above these challenges. We are incredibly grateful for our community and the organizations that have supported us.

We will rise higher!