- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Back To Nature Wildlife Refuge
Categories: Pets Animal Shelters Pets Pet Stores Animal Shelters, Pet Stores [Edit]
18515 E Colonial DrOrlando, FL 32820
(407) 568-5138
2 reviews for Back To Nature Wildlife Refuge
2 reviews in English
-
Review from Sue Ellen E.
Santa Clara, CA
12/20/2011
Back to Nature is to date the only organization we have ever donated money to who called us to say thanks! A personal phone call -- wow. Awesome.
A trip to central Florida wouldn't be complete without a visit to Back to Nature. We visited in the mid-2000s, twice. It's been a few years, but you never forget a place like this. Debbie is THE expert on central Florida wildlife and runs the show here. She took over from Carmen, the now retired founder, who is also awesome. We have had the privilege of meeting them both. It's unbelievable how people so giving, knowledgeable, tireless, and devoted are also so humble. Especially given what horrors they see involving injured, orphaned, abused, dying, and dead animals. The animals you see here are the ones that made it -- many don't.
Back to Nature is an organization that rescues, nurses, releases, shelters, and educates. They do not breed here. All animals that cannot be returned to the wild are loved and cared for for the duration of their lives. They get endless love, food, medical attention, and provide training opportunities for people planning careers caring for animals. All the animals are loved, loved, loved. The air is thick with it here. The times we've been, we saw a mountain lion, bobcat, owls, emus, various reptiles, baby squirrels, deer, a wolf hybrid, goats, and other small mammals and large birds.
You have to be really tough to hear the stories of how these creatures got here, and it's hard to imagine the selflessness of the volunteers and staff. There is no charge -- it's free, unlike the theme parks that garner the fame in this part of the country. This is the anti-Disney. This is where animals are the attraction just by being themselves, and what they are is love. That's what they receive; that's what they give; that's what they are. If every attendee to Disney were to stop by here as well, the changes in the world overall would be extraordinary. You can't possibly stay the same after seeing wild animals in captivity who CANNOT "go home" because of the encroachment on their habitat, or their physical selves, has rendered them incapable of surviving in the wild. It's a blessing that we have Back to Nature, but a shame that it's needed so badly.
They always need money and supplies here so PLEASE stop by and bring something on their list. The times we've visited, numerous families showed up each time dropping off bags of donations. They require about $125,000 per year to operate and that comes only from donations. (They used to get grocery donations from Publix, but Publix changed their policy and stopped donating so I'm not sure what they're doing for food now.) Check the website or call ahead to make sure of their location, because last time we were there, they had obtained a new site but hadn't yet moved. Not sure where they are in the process of moving. If you can chat for a few minutes with awesome Debbie, lucky you! Everyone there is very nice. If I lived in the area, I'd be here all the time, and if I had human kids I'd bring them with me and want them to learn all they could. Even if you can't donate or volunteer, please stop by anyway to thank Debbie and the other workers and most of all, the animals for being there. Without them, we'd all be worse off. -
Review from ZANNE K.
11/13/2011
A few months ago we had a nest of baby squirrels fall from a tree. No mom to be found. I immediately put out a call on Facebook where I could take the babies. Immediately several friends pointed me to Back to Nature. My husband and I took the babies to Back to Nature. They took them and were going to hand feed them with a dropper. Back to Nature nurses wildlife back to health and releases them back to the wild. We left a donation as that is how they make their money (but they do not request it). Central Florida is lucky to have such a great organization.
Listed in: Central FL. Pets
