Three juvenile Screech Owls that came in as babies earlier this summer have nest boxes of their own at our facility in Saint Augustine Beach. They have ample room to practice their hunting and flying skills while adjusting to the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. For now we leave them mice every evening, and they practice hunting live insects as well.
We are the only wildlife rehabilitation center licensed to care for birds in Northeast Florida. Please help us help orphaned, injured, ill and displaced wildlife by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
#owl #wildliferehabilitation #floridawildlife #raptor
Last week we received three gopher tortoise hatchlings that had been swarmed by ants. Thankfully, the finder took quick action, shook off the ants and brought the hatchlings to our vet. They were so young they still had the yolk sack attached to their lower shell (the plastron). The yolk sack provides nutrition for the first days of a tortoise’s life and is then absorbed. Today we released the first hatchling to lose its yolk sack! He was literally climbing the walls and was ready to go.Please help us help the orphaned, injured, and ill wildlife of Northeast Florida by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate#gophertortoise #wildliferehabilitation #reptile #floridawildlife
Exciting times at the Ark as we shifted four young Black-crowned Night Herons into a larger enclosure! So far, they are behaving themselves and enjoying more flight time. Variety is the spice of life!
We released two more Anhinga back to the wild yesterday! Both were found in Jacksonville Beach on the ground. One was especially thin and stayed with us longer to gain weight and strength. It’s always a happy day when rehab is successful. We are the only wildlife rehabilitation group licensed to take care of birds in Northeast Florida. We receive no public funding and rely on private donations to keep us afloat. Please donate to help injured, ill, and displaced wildlife at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
This Clapper Rail came to us after being found weak and unable to fly in Jacksonville Beach. He put on some weight while in our care, and we attempted to release him in Salt Run in Anastasia State Park. But he had other plans! After nosing around the reeds for a while, he headed right back into the kennel! Maybe he never had it so good. We will give him a little more time and then try to release him again in a few days. We are the only wildlife rehabilitation organization licensed to take care of birds in Northeast Florida. The demand for our services is overwhelming. Please help us help orphaned, injured, and ill wildlife by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
We released five Mockingbirds this past week that we raised from tiny, featherless babies. This time of year we turn out songbirds almost daily after a wilding process to get them accustomed to the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. We try to make releases a natural, seemingly effortless process after they have practiced flying for several days. When it’s time, we leave the door to our songbird wilding habitat open, and they can choose to leave without stress. Good luck out there, little ones. Please help us help the orphaned, injured, ill and displaced wildlife of Northeast Florida by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate #songbird #mockingbird #wildliferehabilitation #floridawildlife
We released five Mockingbirds this past week that we raised from tiny, featherless babies. This time of year we turn out songbirds almost daily after a wilding process to get them accustomed to the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. We try to make releases a natural, seemingly effortless process after they have practiced flying for several days. When it’s time, we leave the door to our songbird wilding habitat open, and they can choose to leave without stress. Good luck out there, little ones.
Please help us help the orphaned, injured, ill and displaced wildlife of Northeast Florida by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate 
#songbird #mockingbird #wildliferehabilitation #floridawildlife
Juvenile Anhingas grunt along to the raucous soundtrack at our property in Saint Augustine Beach where there is rarely a dull moment.
Tropical Storm Debbie brought us about 35 baby and fledgling woodpeckers whose nests were destroyed. Yesterday, we received a baby Brown Pelican who was separated during the storm from its mother at Huguenot State Park in Duval County. Sadly, he did not make it. As always, we simply do the best we can for as many animals as possible.
We are an all volunteer organization funded entirely by private donations. You can help us help the orphaned, injured, ill and displaced wildlife of Northeast Florida by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
#anhinga #hurricaneseason #wildliferehabilitation #redbelliedwoodpecker
#brownpelican
**STORM ALERT**
In the wake of stormy weather, please be on the lookout for displaced squirrels’ nests on the ground this coming week.Every time we have a tropical storm and hurricane this time of year, we see lots of displaced squirrel babies afterwards. If you come across wildlife babies on the ground after the storm, please place them securely in a box and keep them warm until it’s safe to bring them in for care. Stay safe out there!
Baby squirrel season is well underway as more babies arrive daily. We try to renest as many as we can, but it’s not always possible. So many animal homes are destroyed when trees are cut down and lots are leveled for new subdivisions.
We urge everyone to wait until the fall and winter months to trim trees to give babies like these a chance.
Please help us buy squirrel formula and fresh pecans and peanuts to feed these babies as they grow by donating at
www.thearkrescue.org/donate 
#babysquirrel #wildliferehabilitation #mammals
Good morning from “Pop Tart!”
She is a juvenile Gopher Tortoise who came to us for care from Amelia Island. She suffered a significant shell injury after being hit by a car. St. John’s Veterinary Hospital wired her shell back together, and it is healing slowly but surely.
Tortoise shells are living tissue, the equivalent of bone on the outside of their bodies, and fractures can sometimes heal from the inside out.
Although we see far too many catastrophic, ultimately fatal tortoise injuries, we are determined to treat and release as many Gopher Tortoises as possible. They are a threatened species in Florida and elsewhere, and our state’s breakneck speed of development has made it difficult for them to survive. A keystone species, their impressive burrows can host as many as 350 species of insects and animals!
So take a moment of the Zen to watch Pop Tart munch away in our native plant garden!
We receive no funding from government agencies, and we rely on private donations. So please help us help the orphaned, injured, and ill wildlife of Northeast Florida by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
#gophertortoise #wildliferehabilitation #reptiles
#keystonespecies #conservation
This Red-bellied Woodpecker seemed overjoyed to go back in the wild when released recently in Saint Augustine Beach! Such a good feeling for everyone involved. Please help us help the orphaned, injured, and ill wildlife of Northeast Florida by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
This juvenile Osprey is one of five that arrived underweight and weak recently. This time of year, it’s not unusual for us to receive extremely thin juvenile Osprey that have had difficulty mastering their fishing skills. After a few days of hand-feeding, this bird was eating fish on his own. With steady rest and good nutrition, he flew like a champ when released back into the wild.Happy hunting out there! We are the only wildlife rehabilitation group licensed to care for birds across nine counties in Northeast Florida. Please help us help orphaned, injured, and ill wildlife by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate#osprey #wildliferehabilitation #migratorybirds #floridawildlife
These featherless hatchling Chimney Swifts require a delicate touch. Our founder, Karen, has developed a specialized formula for these difficult feeding cases. She has been raising baby birds for 25 years and successfully released hundreds of baby Chimney Swifts back into the wild.
These fascinating birds migrate to our area north to the Canadian border to nest during the summer, mostly in chimneys. They eat flying insects and often forage and roost at dusk in spectacular displays.
We usually see babies arrive in care continuously through August. We typically release them together at the Saint Augustine lighthouse where many gather before migration to the tropics for the winter.
Please follow our page and help us help the orphaned, ill and injured animals of Northeast Florida by donating at
www.thearkrescue.org/donate 
#chimneyswift #babybird
#wildliferehabilitation #floridawildlife
You know what they say about the squeaky wheel…. GONZO was the most “outgoing” of the many baby Black-crowned Night Herons that came in this past spring, and he is the only one that continues to beg as a juvenile. The loudest babies in the nest probably get fed first to save mom‘s sanity, and GONZO loved his food from the get-go! Help us help orphaned, injured, and ill wildlife by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate #wildliferehabilitation #babybird #wadingbirds
You know what they say about the squeaky wheel….
GONZO was the most “outgoing” of the many baby Black-crowned Night Herons that came in this past spring, and he is the only one that continues to beg as a juvenile. The loudest babies in the nest probably get fed first to save mom‘s sanity, and GONZO loved his food from the get-go! He promises to be a successful adult as well.
The past several years, we received more baby night herons than any other baby wading birds. We typically release them from the yard at our property and there seems to be a very healthy community in the marshes nearby. Our youngsters will likely be ready to start life in the wild in late summer or early fall.
For more stories of animal survival in Northeast Florida, please follow our page. You can help us help orphaned, injured, and ill wildlife by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
#blackcrownednightheron #wildliferehabilitation #babybird #wadingbirds #migratorybirds
When feeding time grows near, the hungry baby birds let us know! These Downey Woodpeckers are no exception. The two in the front of this group cue the younger one in back to eat up. The featherless baby is making up for lost time and filling out nicely. They will soon transition to a perching cage, and then they will head out to our property to work on flying. It will be just a matter of weeks before they are released into the wild.
This time of year, we continue to receive baby birds, and bad weather promises to bring us more injured birds. We are the only wildlife rehabilitation group licensed to care for migratory birds in Northeast Florida. To help us help animals in need, please donate at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
#Woodpeckers #wildliferehabilitation #floridawildlife 
Our young Great-crested Flycatchers grow so fast that every day they look like a new batch of birds! It can take up to 20 days from hatching for baby birds to become competent flyers. Notice the long pointy beak: It snaps audibly when catching insects. That’s why they’re called flycatchers! We continue to receive lots of baby birds, and we help concerned callers re-nest as many as possible. Please help us help the orphaned, injured, and displaced wildlife of Northeast Florida by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
This young Gopher Tortoise was found struggling in a strong current in Saint Augustine Inlet, just off the jetty at the tip of Anastasia State Park. Luckily, he had not been in the water for long and after a week in care, he was good to go. Saint John’s Veterinary Hospital vets removed ticks which likely drove him into salt water in an attempt to remove them naturally. Gopher tortoises have their very own species of ticks that are specific to them!A big THANK YOU all the Rangers at Anastasia State Park who helped find the perfect place to release him!Happy trails, little one! Please follow our page and help us help the orphaned, injured, ill and displaced wildlife of Northeast Florida by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
This young Gopher Tortoise was found struggling in a strong current in Saint Augustine Inlet, just off the jetty at the tip of Anastasia State Park. Luckily, he had not been in the water for long and after a week in care, he was good to go. Saint John’s Veterinary Hospital vets removed ticks which likely drove him into salt water in an attempt to remove them naturally. Gopher tortoises have their very own species of ticks that are specific to them!
A big THANK YOU all the Rangers at Anastasia State Park who helped find the perfect place to release him!
Happy trails, little one!
Please follow our page and help us help the orphaned, injured, ill and displaced wildlife of Northeast Florida by donating at www.thearkrescue.org/donate
#gophertortoise #floridawildlife #wildliferehabilitation #reptiles

