Did you know that during our 2022-23 fiscal year, PWC conservation educators taught 5,232 kids, teens, and adults about wildlife? As demand for our wildlife programs grows, our Conservation Team is growing, too. Join us in welcoming Camryn Jefferson, our newest Conservation Assistant!
Cam grew up in Wilmington, NC, and attended NC State University, where she earned a B.S. in Zoology. While in college, she conducted research at the North Carolina Zoo, where she studied zoo-housed giraffe behavior and welfare. After graduating, she worked for Alabama Audubon, researching human disturbances to nesting shorebirds.
Cam brings a wealth of wildlife research and animal husbandry experience to her role here at PWC. She works closely with Kaitlin Saxton, Research & Husbandry Coordinator, to make sure our Ambassador Animals receive the best possible diet, enrichment, and housing. They recently finished building a new, larger enclosure for Pepper the opossum, and have started constructing an outdoor box turtle enclosure as well.
"At PWC, you never know what each day will entail," says Kaitlin. "Cam has welcomed every challenge and has an eagerness to learn and improve that makes her a perfect fit for Conservation Team!"
When not studying animals, Cam loves hiking, gardening, and scuba diving. Her favorite Ambassador Animal at PWC? Jade the eastern rat snake!
Thank you, Cam, for everything you've brought to PWC so far. We love having you around the cabin, and we're so excited to see how our Conservation department grows with you as a valued team member.
Welcome Juniper and Wink!
Piedmont Wildlife Center recently welcomed two new raptors to our Ambassador Animal family! Both birds came to us from Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter in Brunswick County, NC, where they were treated for their injuries and deemed unreleasable. Give a big PWC welcome to Juniper the great-horned owl and Wink the red-tailed hawk!
Juniper the Great-Horned Owl
Juniper was found with a wing injury when she was still a nestling. The person who found her tried to care for her, but didn't have the proper training or permits to prepare her for life in the wild. She was eventually given to Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter in Oak Island, NC, where she was deemed unreleasable because of her lack of fear around people. Juniper came to PWC this fall and will spend the rest of her life educating people about great-horned owls.
Because Juniper was cared for improperly as a young bird, she became semi-imprinted on humans. She doesn't fully understand that she's an owl - she thinks she's a human! Because of this, you may hear her "talk" to you if you visit her enclosure at Leigh Farm Park. These chirping sounds are similar to the noises a baby owl would use to call to their mother.
Wink the Red-Tailed Hawk
Wink was found as a juvenile with his right eye missing - hence his name! This kind of injury is a big deal for a hawk. Hawks rely on their keen sight to hunt prey, so losing an eye can be deadly. Unfortunately, this kind of injury is common in young, inexperienced hawks who don't yet know how to avoid injuries while hunting.
A hawk who loses an eye can easily die from starvation. Luckily, Wink was found by kind-hearted individuals and brought to Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter on Oak Island, NC, where he was deemed non-releasable. He came to PWC this fall, and will be a great Ambassador for his species.
If you find an injured or orphaned animal, please don't attempt to raise or care for them yourself. Owls and hawks are cute, but they're not pets! Not only is it illegal to keep wildlife without a permit, but this can make it impossible for them to return to the wild - and can even lead to worse injuries or death.
Instead, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who can give them the best chance at a wild life. Piedmont Wildlife Center is NOT involved in rehab and is not equipped to accept, treat, transport, or raise injured/orphaned wildlife. If you’ve found an animal in need of help, we highly recommend Our Wild Neighbors and Turtle Rescue Team in the Triangle area.
Let's all do our part to keep wildlife wild!
You helped raise $5,173 for nature connection!
Our hearts are full this season. With help from nature lovers like you, our Autumn Adventures online auction raised $5,173 for our environmental education and conservation programs. That's 103% of our $5,000 goal!
Whether you contributed an auction item, placed a bid, bought something, donated, or just spread the word, thank you for sharing your love for wildlife with us last month. We're so grateful for your support - and excited to put your generosity to work connecting people with nature!
Winners will receive an e-mail from our staff this week with details about receiving or redeeming your item/experience. Thank you, again, for your support. From our team to you, we hope your autumn is full of adventure!
With gratitude,
Your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center
Join us in "howling" one final THANK YOU to our 2023 auction sponsors: Haw Honey, Deep Roots Natives, Rachel's Native Plants, NewSoil Vermiculture, Carrboro Coffee Roasters, Eno Animal Hospital, Domestic Doodles, Wellsport Bodyworks, Sarah Haggerty Consulting, The Lift Fly Fishing, Sweet Serendipity, Arachne Weavings, and Leaf & Wing. Go support these incredible local businesses this season!
Our Autumn Adventures auction is open through Sept. 30th!
Leaves are changing, the weather's getting cooler... and adventure is calling!
Autumn Adventures, Piedmont Wildlife Center's annual virtual auction, is back for 2023 - and better than ever! From a weeklong stay at a private beach house in North Myrtle Beach, to handcrafted treasures from local artists, to native plant bundles that will transform your yard into a wildlife wonderland, we've curated a truly "wild" selection of items that will ignite your curiosity, creativity, and wanderlust all year long.
Bidding will take place entirely online and run from September 21st through September 30th. Winners will be notified October 1st. Help us meet our goal of $5,000 - enough to build a brand-new raptor enclosure!
All proceeds directly benefit Piedmont Wildlife Center, an IRS-designated 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Durham, NC, and support our camp, conservation, and wildlife research programs.
Community Spotlight: Arisa Fourie
School is back in session - and so is Homeschool in the Wild, Piedmont Wildlife Center's unique outdoor program for homeschoolers ages 5-17! Help us celebrate the person who's been working extra hard to make this season the best one yet. Meet Arisa Fourie, our new Homeschool & CIT Coordinator!
Arisa grew up in New York and moved to North Carolina three years ago to attend North Carolina State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. An avid hiker, skier, and swimmer, she loves being outside and helping others experience the natural world. Her favorite animal? The ostrich!
Arisa is no stranger to Homeschool in the Wild. In fact, she joined PWC in 2022 as a counselor for that very program! She loves giving our homeschool campers opportunities to explore nature at their own pace, especially at Pawpaw Creek and other cool spots around Leigh Farm Park.
"I'm excited to continue to connect kids with nature as the new Homeschool and CIT Coordinator," Arisa says. "I was a counselor for the last few seasons and am ready to continue to help the program thrive and grow."
We're excited, too, Arisa! We can't wait to see how much our Homeschool in the Wild campers, counselors, and CITs (Counselors-In-Training) will grow and learn under your leadership.
