** WHERE ALL LIVES MATTER **
Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary Where Wildlife Come For A 2nd Chance!
WHO IS BBWS?
An organization of amazing volunteers, who are young and old, from all walks of life, who care about wildlife and want to see it preserved.
BBWS began in 1988 in Blountstown, FL by a wildlife rehabilitation pioneer named Betsy Knight. She was an amazing wildlife advocate and a pioneer in rehabilitating Florida Black Bears and returning them to the wild. Ms Knight mentored Terry Morse (new BBWS Director) and provided a lot of knowledge and experience regarding the rehabilitation of Florida Black Bears and many other wildlife animals, with the hope that her work would continue to go forward.
BBWS was moved from Northwest Florida to South Alabama by John and Terry Morse in April 2012, after the passing of Ms Knight in February 2012. Ms. Knight had asked that the property be given to her son when she passed. Therefore it seemed to be the appropriate time to move it to Alabama where there is a great need for more wildlife rehabilitators.
* BBWS Property is not open to the Public! Opened by "Appointment Only" to receive injured animals!
Our Mission
BBWS feels that the rehabilitation of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife and their ultimate release is a humane and ecological approach to problems often caused by human-related activity. It is also a tool for education.
BBWS has a network of volunteers, trained and ready to care for rescued wildlife, and we insure that birds and animals needing help receive the best possible care.
* We feel the responsibility is everyone's to share.
ALL LIVES MATTER! BBWS RESPECTS ALL NATIVE WILDLIFE! Bears to Field Mice and Eagles to Hummingbirds. We raise them or treat them, or both, as often the case, then return them to the wild, just as soon as we possibly can. If their injuries are such that it would prevent them from surviving in the wild, the animal is evaluated individually by our trained volunteers and our amazing veterinarians. If it is determined the animal can be used as an educational animal, it is placed in our educational programs or a comparable program. If determined that the animal is too sensitive or easily stressed in an educational environment it may be best to humanely euthanize the animal. We always consider what is best for the animal and that suffering is minimized.
BBWS is an ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION! There are NO paid positions within the organization! NONE!
BBWS would not exist if not for our wonderful volunteers and donors. Our funds are provided entirely through donations by concerned citizens and fund raisers. We are a 501 (c) (3) organization and all donations are tax deductible. All donations are used to build pens/enclosures and to provide food and medical assistance to indigenous wildlife in need here at the Sanctuary, unless the donor specifies the donation be spent on a particular project or for further education for our volunteers. BBWS receives no funding from State or Federal programs and relies solely on donations.
FAQs
DO WE CHARGE FOR OUR SERVICES? NO
- WE DO NOT RECEIVE FUNDING FROM ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES! WE RELY TOTALLY ON DONATIONS!
IS BIG BEND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY KINDA LIKE A ZOO? NO
- THE ANIMALS ARE TREATED, CARED FOR, THEN RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD WHERE THEY BELONG!
CAN WE COME AND LOOK AROUND? NO
- WE HAVE TO MINIMIZE HUMAN CONTACT WITH THE ANIMALS TO INCREASE THIER SURVIVABILITY CHANCES UPON RETURN TO THE WILD!