Tucked neatly into the mangroves overlooking Charlotte Harbor at Ponce de Leon Park, the Peace River Wildlife Center (PRWC) is a non-profit organization

Started in 1978, dedicated to the rescue, care, protection and preservation of native small wildlife. Originally confined to the lanai of one of its founders, the center quickly gained credibility and a new location as citizens learned of its successes in wildlife rehabilitation. Since its beginnings the wildlife center has treated over one hundred thousand birds and small animals, offering a high level of skilled care by trained and permitted wildlife rehabilitation specialists with years of experience in treating native fauna disease and trauma. The Peace River Wildlife Center is a member of both the International and Florida Wildlife Rehabilitation Councils, the FWRA, NWRA and the IWRC. We are Licensed and Overseen by the US Department of Agriculture and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comission.

Currently, the center admits about 2,000 clients anually, a number that has increased every year since the center's founding. If a bird or small animal cannot be returned to its native habitat after treatment and recovery but is otherwise healthy, it becomes a permanent resident of the center or another federally and state approved facility. Right now, the center has almost 200 permanent residents. All of the permanent residents are available for viewing by the public in attractive, spacious aviaries and habitats, suggestive of their native environments. Among the birds available for viewing are Eagles, Hawks, Owls, Ospreys, Sandhill Cranes, Pelicans, Herons, Gulls, Terns, Cormorants, Songbirds, Crows and Vultures. The costs involved to display them for public viewing is nearly $75,000 per year just to feed the almost 200 permanent residents.

All of the Peace River Wildlife Center's expenses are met through grants, donations, recycling efforts and gift shop sales. The center's mission is carried out primarily by volunteers. The center is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. everyday to receive injured, orphaned or ill wildlife. Visitors are welcome at the center and its gift shop from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily.

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In 1982, Dr Jerry Gingerich was President of the local chapter of the Audubon Society.

Because of his work with the Audobon Society and his interest in wildlife, injured and orphaned wildlife ended up at his veterinary office.

With instructions from Dr. Gingerich, Larry and Virginia Montaque started a Wildlife Center on the lanai of their home in 1982. They installed a telephone and an answering machine with Audobon listing in their home and began caring for injured and orphaned birds, mammals and reptiles.

They recruited volunteers to help with the care of wildlife and in eighteen months documented over 800 calls. With the increased need for more space and habitats for animals that could not be released, the operation was moved to an acre of land on Marion Avenue next door to Dr. Gingerich's Veterinary office in 1984.

In 1985, it became an incorporated, not-for-profit organization named the Peace River Wildlife Center, Inc. In 1987 Dr. Gingerich relocated the facility to Ponce de Leon Park where it remains today.

Volunteers have always played a major role in the operation of the center.

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The Peace River Wildlife Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the care, preservation and protection of Charlotte County's native wildlife.


Executive Director:

President: Bob Prier [ bobprier@comcast.net ]
Vice President: Lorraine Anderson [ LorraineFTD@gmail.com ]
Treasurer:

Fundraising Chair:
Jacanne Duffy, B.S.MEd. [ jacanne@gmail.com ]

Members at Large:
Matt Ristau
Sally Ristau
Maryann Sakamoto [ mdsakamoto@hotmail.com ]
Thomas Snodgrass
Carole Thorn, R.N., B.S. [ catcomputes@gmail.com ]

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We are a Rehabilitation & Intensive Care Facility. Much of what is done at the PRWC takes place
"behind the scenes" in our intensive care area.


Operations Manager:
Callie Stahl [ profile ]

Rehabilitation Specialists:
Cara Brown [ profile ]
Kelly Grutto [ profile ]
Amy Rhoads [ profile ]

Administration:
Sheryyl O'Crotty

Gift Shop:
Rick Andrews

Habitat Enrichment and Maintenance:
Gunner Locke

The center's mission is carried out primarily by volunteers


Veterinarians:
Robin Jenkins D.V.M. [ profile ]
Clark Campbell D.V.M.

Medical Director:
Cynthia Fiore D.V.M.

Wildlife Rescuer:
Sam Kuster [ profile ]

Pelican Feeder & Educational Outreach:
Mac McElwee

Tour Guide Coordinator:
Jan Cummings

Tour Guides:

Hospital Assistants:

Maintanance:

Landscape:

Webmaster:
Rick Andrews

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You can make a difference for as little as $10 per month or $120 annually in helping the Peace River Wildlife Center feed the Permanently Disabled Wildlife Residents.

Food expenses alone are over $75,000 per year to feed our many Permanently Disabled Wildlife Residents and you can help feed them by Adopting one for the Month or Sponsor one for the Year. Many different varieties of food are needed daily to provide for the many different species on display at the Peace River Wildlife Center. Frozen Fish, Seafood, Rodents, Meat, Worms, Crickets, Eggs, Dog and Cat food, Fruits and Vegetables are just some of the daily nutitional needs. Your Monthly Adoption or Annual Sponsorship will play an important role in providing the daily food our animals need to be properly cared for on a daily basis. Simply click on an image below to learn more about our residents and you can choose to adopt or sponsor one from their pages.