Peace River Wildlife Center - PRWC

06/02/2026

Don’t miss the opportunity to have your personalized brick installed in time for the grand opening of PRWC’s new Education Center this fall.

Brick sales end June 15th!

Whether honoring a loved one, celebrating your family, remembering a special pet, or recognizing your business, your brick will become a permanent part of the new center and the community that helped build it.

To purchase your brick visit:

Join Peace River Wildlife Center brick fundraiser! Buy an engraved brick for our new walkway, supporting our programs and leaving a lasting legacy.

06/01/2026

Some people think 13 is an unlucky number, but this little gopher tortoise isn’t letting that stop the journey.

Patient 26-1330 arrived in our care on 5/13/26 and has been making slow, steady progress ever since. Every step forward is a reminder that healing takes time, patience, and determination.

05/30/2026

Another exciting milestone at PRWC’s future Education Center!

The new Maintenance & Care Building steel structure is officially up, bringing the vision for our new home one step closer to reality. Watching this project continue to rise after years of hard work, fundraising, and community support is truly incredible.

Thank you for helping us build the future of wildlife education and conservation in Charlotte County.

https://youtu.be/F-wiPW7PS58

The new Maintenance & Care Building steel structure is officially up and assembled. Once windows arrive and are installed, work will begin on finishing the i...

05/29/2026

Those eyes know things.

One of the resident Eastern Screech Owls at PRWC showing off the incredible camouflage and piercing stare that make these tiny owls so unforgettable. While they’re common throughout Florida, most people never realize they’re nearby until they hear their nighttime calls.
Small owl. Big personality.Those eyes know things.

Our education center is open daily from 11am-4pm. 3400 Ponce de Leon Parkway, Punta Gorda Florida

05/27/2026

Sound on...Lets play a guessing game!

Can you guess what we are before the camera focuses?

05/26/2026

More than 200 opossums have already been admitted to Peace River Wildlife Center so far this year… and baby season is still going strong.

From tiny orphaned joeys to injured adults, our Wildlife Rehab Hospital sees opossums arrive for many different reasons:
• Hit by cars
• Attacked by pets
• Orphaned after a mother is injured or killed
• Injured, dehydrated, or displaced

Opossums are one of Florida’s most misunderstood native mammals, but they play an important role in our ecosystem. They help control pests, clean up carrion, and rarely carry rabies due to their low body temperature.

Right now, our rehab team is caring for opossums of all ages, many requiring around-the-clock feedings and specialized care before they can one day return to the wild.

Baby season may be exhausting… but these faces make it worth it.

05/25/2026

Today, the trails are quiet.
The birds are singing.
The turtles are sunning.
And we’re reminded to slow down and reflect.

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

From everyone at Peace River Wildlife Center, thank you for the sacrifices that allow us to enjoy the beauty and freedom around us every day.

05/24/2026

With all the baby birds currently filling our nursery, it’s easy for species to get mixed up, especially when you’re not part of our rehabilitation team every day. So, we decided to turn last week’s bird identification mix-up into a fun learning experience.

The image below highlights some of the differences between a Blue Jay and a Purple Martin at different stages of development. While they can look surprisingly similar when young, there are a few key features that help tell them apart.

Baby bird season keeps us learning too 🐦

05/23/2026

Happy World Turtle Day from the slowest patients at the Wildlife Rehab Hospital.

We asked some of our recent turtle patients what their recovery plans were…

Softshell Turtle:
“Just taking it one slow step at a time.”

Peninsula Cooter:
“I’m really trying to come out of my shell.”

Box Turtle:
“I’m booked solid for the rest of the day.”

Meanwhile, our rehab team is out here trying to keep up.

Today we’re celebrating all the turtles that have waddled, splashed, and slowly crawled their way through Peace River Wildlife Center. From softshells to cooters and everything in between, these reptiles always remind us that sometimes life is better when you slow down a little.

Happy World Turtle Day.

05/22/2026

Saturday Plans?

Celebrate World Turtle Day with us this Saturday at Peace River Wildlife Center

From 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, our education team will be out on the boardwalk with two of our permanent resident turtle ambassadors, Boxanne and North Star.

Stop by to:
• Meet these amazing turtles up close
• Learn about native Florida turtles and the challenges they face in the wild
• Ask questions and chat with our team
• Enjoy a special World Turtle Day experience during your visit

Whether you’re a lifelong turtle fan or just looking for something fun to do this weekend, we’d love to see you at Peace River Wildlife Center.

Saturday
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
On the boardwalk at the Education Center