Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The baby boom happening this spring at the North Florida Wildlife Center is making the upcoming Mother's Day an occasion for special celebration, not only for the animal moms but also the staff at the center who often serve as surrogate moms when animals come into their care at a young age. Here's an update on various new residents.
Sia is a six-week-old white-tailed sea eagle who arrived in Jefferson County on April 17. She is being closely cared for by “mom” Ryan Reines, the center's executive director, who even took Sia home with him each evening for the eagle's first two weeks here. Reines proudly notes how well acclimated she has become to life at the Wildlife Center. Like new moms everywhere, he's pleased that she's gaining weight every day. With a diet of quail, mice and fresh fish, she's now up to eight pounds. That's a lot for a baby bird! Sia's mom, who still lives back at the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative in Oklahoma, has an eight-foot wingspan and weighs 15 pounds. The Wildlife Center is one of only four facilities in the U.S. to house the white-tailed sea eagles, an internationally endangered species. Sia is already showing promise as a future ambassador for white-tailed sea eagles, the fourth largest eagle species in the world. Her training will go to the next level in August, when a professional bird trainer joins the center's staff.
Over where the critically endangered cotton-topped tamarin monkeys are housed, baby Echo, born to mom Elsa in late winter, is now several months old. Elsa's doing a good job as a first-time mom and continuing to nurture her healthy baby, who is gaining more independence every day.
Around the corner at the gray fox den, mom Willow has brought three kits into the world. They are growing up fast and just recently opened their eyes and began exploring.
The goat nannies, Brie and Feta, keep a close eye on three kids: Monterey Jack, Habañero Jack and Pepper Jack. Already they are charming visitors with their one-of-a-kind caprine cuteness.
Two baby emus also recently made the Wildlife Center their home. They came from different moms but had the same dad at Zoo World in Panama City Beach. In the wild, it is the responsibility of the male emu to sit on the nest and incubate the eggs for about seven to eight weeks. Once the chicks hatch, the male continues to care for them. At the Wildlife Center, the entire staff are overseeing their care.
Even an Emperor scorpion successfully bred at the Wildlife Center this spring! Scorpion moms do not need to feed their young, who are born live and carry their own nutritious yolk sac to feed on initially. The mom scorpion carries her vulnerable babies on her back until they are able to fend for themselves.
Zava, the ring-tailed lemur born several months ago to mom Felana, is growing quickly and learning to climb vines. This lemur family recently began sharing their habitat with two critically endangered Madagascar radiated tortoises, named Big Star and Little Star. This kind of cross-taxon habitat is a new thing for the center.
The now-open exhibit for a straw-colored bat colony also is home for several stunning birds, including blue bellied rollers, a red-billed hornbill and a purple glossy starling. Construction is underway at the center for 20 new aviaries that will provide cross-taxon habitats for some bird species and for others more space to encourage breeding pairs to nest.
It seems that around nearly every corner of the Wildlife Center, there are growing families, babies becoming ambassadors, breeding pairs and all types of moms creating hope for the future of endangered species.
To see all the action in person, plan a visit to the North Florida Wildlife Center, located at 1386 Cook Rd., in Lamont. Details on hours, ticket prices and special opportunities can be found at northfloridawildlife.org.