WOLF GARDENS WILDLIFE CENTER is a program of the First Nations Outreach Project (FNOP),
a Native American 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization.
Wolf Gardens provides the opportunity to fulfill several of the FNOP’s Mission Goals.
Wolf Gardens fills several of our goals.
Wildlife Conservation
Environmental Conservation
Habitat Conservation and Restoration
Wildlife and Nature Education
Conservation education
Community Awareness
Community Economic Development
Community Involvement and motivation
Currently we are home to 29 captive bred wolves and Wolf-dogs rescued from private individuals.
We have been rescuing now for 17 years and have worked diligently over the years not only to save as many animals as possible, but also to educate the public in the process.
The development of Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center will allow us to open to the public, expand to full wildlife, rehab, rescue, and education, and develop wildlife and nature based tourism in our rural community.
Our efforts will be focused on indigenous wildlife in our region as well as habitat restoration and conservation.
We are situated in an area which is surrounded by thousands of acres of forest land. Almost half of our county is in the Talladega National Forest. The closest wildlife rehab center is over a hundred miles away. Many of the endangered species in our county are left to fend for themselves if injured simply due to the lack of local resources.
The timber land in our area is also the product of Pine Tree Farming for over 90 years now. The once magnificent Hardwood Canopy forest that once thrived has all but been destroyed.
If we can show others in our community that, it is possible through wildlife and nature based tourism to develop business with at least an equal economic impact as logging and clear cutting then we will be able to help restore at least a goodly amount of the hardwood canopy.
Through providing a program which provides the general public and especially the local community with interactive educational programs and providing information on programs available to private land owners to help preserve habitat and wildlife, we can extend the protections not only to the wildlife in our care, but through out our community as well.
The first step in being able to open Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center is to build a perimeter fence and new enclosures for all animals currently residing with us. Once this is completed and the animals are moved into their new homes we will build an on site Vet Center that will be staffed by a full time Zoo Vet.
Our Zoo Vet along with our Wildlife Biologist, Head Keeper, Handler, and other staff members will present our education program.
Through Wildlife and Nature Based Tourism, Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center will be able to generate funds through Public Donations, which will subsidize expansions to the Wildlife Center as well as allow us to develop other portions of our Community Development Programs.
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It will also help us to acquire more habitat to expand our protection areas as well as develop habitat management and development programs that will be open to the general public.
Through these inclusive educational programs, we will be able to expand protected habitat areas even to private landowners in our community through a networking coalition of habitat protection zones through out our county as well as other connecting counties in our state.
Through the abilities of rescuing and rehabilitating local wildlife, we will be able to bring community members into our program first hand and help to increase their concern and love for nature and our wildlife.
Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center has the potential to rescue not only the animals that we will be able to save, but local habitat and our very poor rural economy as well. By teaching others how to develop private business that will attract Green and environmentally aware tourists, we can protect our rural beauty and wildlife from industrialization, while helping to improve our local economy at the same time.
Thank you for visiting Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center.
Wolf Gardens is working on becoming a very unique Wildlife Center, complete with rehab, rescue and an excellent education center.
We believe that the protection of wildlife can only be complete if we also protect the habitat that is required to maintain a natural environment for each species. Diversity in habitat and species are essential to the complete health of our ecosystem.
In rescuing wildlife we find that there are many situations which require rescue. Some of these are;
1. Wild animals which have found their way into neighborhoods and are in danger of being harmed because of their presence.
2. Animals which have been injured or are sick and need medical attention.
3. Animals which have been caught and are being held in captivity, becoming a threat to those who may have them in their possession.
4. Captive bred wildlife.
Wild Life Rehabilitation
Our plans include an onsite Veterinary clinic which will make sure that the animals we rescue and release back into the wild are in excellent health.
When we release animals we will release them into the wilderness area of the more than 400 thousand acres of forest land that surrounds us here in our location.
The Wildlife Center
The Wildlife Center will ultimately include rescues of all native wildlife to North America.
Animals which can be released back into the wild will not be part of our visitation program by the public, however we will provide extensive slide shows of these animals in the Education Center.
We will have many nature and interpretive trails, picnic tables, several pavilions and Wildlife watching activities for our visitors.
Our facilities will include several camp grounds both improved and primitive.
It is our goal to provide programs and facilities which will not only be of interest to our visitors for a few hours, but will make you want to spend your entire vacation with us each year.
Our Current Efforts
Currently we are home to 36 captive bred wolves. We have had to turn down over 200 animals this year alone and this is about average on a yearly basis.
We hope to teach people why captive breeding of wildlife for profit has such a negative impact on the efforts of those who work so hard to return our ecosystem to balance.
Some of the negative effects of captive breeding for profit are:
1. The need to rescue captive bred animals means that we have to expend large amounts of funds in areas that take away from the areas they are most needed, such as;
A. Wildlife Rehab.
B. Habitat restoration and protection.
C. Habitat acquisition
D. Bio-diversity development.
E. Restoration of endangered and protected wildlife.
2. Because of the great demand for rescue of captive bred wildlife bred for profit, many animals will not find homes and will be put to sleep because they have become:
A. A danger to the owners.
B. A threat to the neighborhood where they are being held.
C. Sick or injured due to the lack of space .
Wild animals need space. Their nature requires that they have space to develop. It is also important for us to understand that no matter how small an animal was when it was taken as a pet, that it will always be a wild animal.
By keeping these beautiful creatures confined in apartments, fenced in yards, and cramped areas we place them and ourselves as well as others in danger.
In order to make Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center a reality, we need you. This is far to great an undertaking for any person or even a small group to bring into existence.
Due to the great demand for rescuing captive bred wildlife, funding for wildlife projects is often in short supply and great demand.
A lot of people working together and helping a little, will achieve just as much as a few people helping a great deal.
So we ask you to join with us in making the completion of Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center a reality.
1. Wildlife Conservation & Care
Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center is home to 43 captive-bred wolves and wolf/dogs rescued through private individuals, over the last 12 years. Our efforts will be focused on restoring and protecting various indigenous wildlife, native to our region, to occupy Wolf Gardens.
2. Environmental Conservation
Renewed efforts to preserve and replant important indigenous plants, such as native hardwoods and flora, is an integral part of our focus and efforts.
3. Habitat Conservation and Restoration
Our focus will be to provide a natural habitat to promote the health and well being of the wildlife who call Wolf Gardens home.
4. Wildlife and Nature Education
Misconceptions abound regarding Wildlife and Nature. It is our challenge to inform people with facts, not hearsay, rumors, misconceptions and misinformation. Only through education can common ground be attained. Sharing our experiences is integral to this effort.
5. Conservation Education
Our purpose, again, is to educate with facts regarding the basic fundamentals of conservation and preservation of our environment, both as relates to wildlife as well as nature. A political or philosophical agenda is not appropriate for our mission. Information will be.
6. Community Awareness
“If I had only known.” is an excuse, not a reason. We will make every effort to raise the awareness for our cause and mission to create a bond between us and our area residents, so we can all work together for a better community.
7. Community Economic Development
An integral part of our mission is to seek means to provide economic opportunities to our community.
8. Community Involvement and Motivation
Involvement through volunteerism builds character. Motivation, while internal, is manifest when purpose justifies the effort. It is our task to provide the opportunities which define the purposes for which motivation comes naturally. Through tourism, we can expand our horizons. Therefore, tourism is inherent in our mission as a focus, to provide the environment conducive to attracting tourists. We believe a unique experience, such as we offer, must be foremost in our efforts to fulfill expectations and give reason to visit our preserve.
The development of Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center will allow us to open our preserve to the public, expand to full wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and education and develop wildlife and nature based tourism in our rural community. Thus, WGWC becomes the vehicle to enable tourism, while providing a wildlife and nature preserve to enhance the area’s assets, instilling pride within the community.
CHALLENGES
The 27 acre Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center is located in Clay County, Alabama, a rural area with thousands of acres of forest land. Almost half the county is in the Talladega National Forest. The closest wildlife rehab center is over one hundred miles away. Many of the endangered or vulnerable species in our county are left to fend for themselves, especially if injured, simply due to the lack of local resources.
Moreover, most of the timber land in our area is also the product of Sustainable Pine Tree Farming for over 90 years. The once indigenous Hardwood Canopy Forest that dominated our lands and thrived for hundreds of years is all but destroyed in the process.
If we, in even a small part, demonstrate to those in our community that it is possible through wildlife and nature based tourism to develop businesses at least equal in economic impact to logging and clear cutting, perhaps we can help restore a goodly portion of the Hardwood Canopy and the wildlife such forestation supports.
Providing a curriculum for the General Public, particularly within the local community, of interactive educational programs and information on programs available to private land owners to help preserve habitat and wildlife, is a goal to which we strive, to extend protections not only to the wildlife in our care but throughout our community as well.
Our greatest challenge is to provide and sustain the facilities to support our efforts and establish the infrastructure to fulfill our programs. The First Step in this process is to construct a perimeter fence and enclosures for all animals currently residing with us. Once that phase is completed, all the animals will be moved into their new quarters, allowing us to move into Phase Two.
Phase Two proposes construction of the Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center facility, housing an on-site Vet Center, staffed by a full time Zoo Vet , and Visitor’s Center to support our instructional and tourism efforts. Our Zoo Vet, along with our Wildlife Biologist, Head Keeper, Handler and other staff members, guest instructors and volunteers will present our educational programs. Informational materials and a gift shop, along with rest rooms and refreshment area, will be an integral part of the Visitor’s Center within the facility.
The monetary considerations to fulfill these essential, integral goals and objectives is significant. Our current efforts, therefore, are concentrated on fund raising , including grant searches and applications, public funding and gift center sales. Once in place, we believe the Center can be sustained through tourism, our instructional programs and operations of the facilities. Various events will be initiated to supplement our programs, such as the Annual Pow-Wow already in its second year. More programs and support means will be developed as the facilities implementation progresses.
We invite you to visit our Events Page and Online Store and click on our Donate buttons wherever they appear throughout our website. Thank you for your interest by visiting our website. Together, we can accomplish great things for our Wildlife and Habitat, which we hold dear to our hearts.