Both humans and wildlife can agree on one thing: Florida is an excellent state in which to live. However, animals can become a nuisance in new neighborhoods. Unfortunately, in these areas, animals can become injured when they are hit by cars. In these cases, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organizations serve an essential role.
Orlando Wildlife Rescue Groups
Rescue groups can help capture animals caught in bad situations, take care of their health issues, and, when possible, release them back into the wild in areas where they can live their lives safely.
Types of Wildlife In Florida
Florida is home to many wildlife because of our temperate climate and plenty of water and food resources. Below is just a handful of the many different animal species that we are fortunate to have in our area:
- Bald Eagles
- Florida Panthers
- Scrub Jays
- Manatees
- Key Deer
- Brown Pelicans
- Sea Turtles
- Roseate Spoonbills
- Peregrine Falcons
- Alligators
- Gopher Tortoises
- Dolphins
Because we have so many kinds of habitat within the state, Florida is home to wildlife with distinct needs. Rescue groups must have staff on hand who understand the requirements for all of the different birds and animals in our region and how to best help them recover from injury and illness.
Regarding wildlife rescue, Orlando is home to two nonprofit groups.
Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge
The Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge provides wildlife rehabilitation and public education. The organization works closely with Orange County officials and local animal services agencies to rescue up to 3,000 animals annually.
Back to Nature rehabilitates animals that can be given medical care and returned to the wild and provides education to the public on what to do when an animal is found. The organization also raises certain species of wild animals, such as possums, flying squirrels, and others whose mothers are dead or are otherwise unable to be found.
Back to Nature offers a permanent home to some injured animals that could not be safely returned to the wild. These animals include tortoises, lemurs, screech owls, red-tailed hawks, bobcats, and emu! To visit these animals and learn more about wildlife rescue, you can tour their Wildlife Walks facility throughout the year.
CARE Foundation
Another local group is the CARE Foundation, a nonprofit exotic animal rescue facility in Apopka, Florida. The organization provides a home to wildlife and other non-domestic animals that cannot be released into the wild. Currently, the facility houses over 200 animals, such as bears, monkeys, crocodiles, and smaller wildlife. Several tigers, leopards, panthers, and other large cats call CARE home.
CARE is also an educational facility that teaches school kids, civic groups, and youth clubs about wildlife in the area, how the organization rescues animals, and facts about the resident animals. You can sign up to take a private tour of the facility.
How You Can Support Local Wildlife
Contact a rescue group for further guidance if you find injured or baby wild animals. Some baby animals, including squirrels, birds, and turtles, can often be left alone. Others may need immediate, professional care. Do not try to rehabilitate wildlife in your home since these animals’ feeding and other maintenance usually go far beyond what is involved in taking care of a family pet.
Educating yourself and your family about local wildlife is also a great idea. For example, bats, while scary to some, are quite beneficial. They eat thousands of mosquitoes and do not suck human blood. Although fierce in appearance, possums can also be beneficial. These animals eat ticks and fleas and rarely attack humans or pets.
Orlando wildlife rescue groups also need volunteers and allow you to reserve animals from the traveling education team for events. Another thing that is always welcome is your financial support. Rescue groups almost always operate on tight budgets, so donations can go a long way to helping local wildlife.
ABC Cares About Local Wildlife
At ABC Home & Commercial Services, we try to make the most negligible impact on nature that we can. We use environmentally-safe methods to treat insect infestations and remove unwanted wildlife from your home whenever possible. We care about the animals that call Orlando home and work to provide pest solutions that have a minimal impact on the environment and the animals which call Central Florida home.