More than twenty–one wildlife animals call the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park their “home.” It is crucial to accurately recreate their natural habitats and provide enrichment for the animals to encourage natural behaviors.
According to Charles “Charlie” Hall-Walker, Facility Coordinator, an abundance of research is done before taking on a new animal. “We work really hard to gather all the data we can to take a look at our animal’s natural environment and how they live in each season, so we know what will make them most feel at home.”
Currently, we have everything from turtles, salamanders, and snakes to hawks and owls. One of the most popular rescues was an opossum named Hawk, which was raised by the staff and captured the hearts of many. “We love being able to teach something new to people; meeting them halfway through educating them is a win in our book,” said Charlie.
It is also important to note that all the animals in the Wilderness Station care are non-releasable. They have their own story of why they are no longer able to live in the wild. For example, an injury to a wing may prevent flight in a bird of prey or the relocation of a box turtle could have left it wandering the streets of a city, rather than a forest. Whatever the situation, these animals no longer have a choice of surviving in the wild and it is now the responsibility of the Wilderness Station to make their homes as comfortable and safe as possible.
Charlie, who has been with Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation for the last three years, explained that they also rely on research from the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency and Food and Drug Administration to make the best and most viable decisions. For instance, box turtles need to dig, so it is important to create a substrate for their natural instinct to forage for their food. For the staff at the Wilderness Station, the first 90 minutes of the day is dedicated to making their space safe and feeling like home.
For more information on the Wilderness Station and its programs, please visit www.MurfreesboroParks.com.
One of the most popular rescues was an opossum named Hawk, which was raised by the staff and captured the hearts of many. “We love being able to teach something new to people; meeting them halfway through educating them is a win in our book.”