provided to Santiva Chronicle
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is pleased to announce its seasonal hours and programming beginning in January including the 2020 Speaker Series presented by Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC), additional Wildlife Walk guided hospital tours and presentations, and the Lunch & Learn program.
“Wildlife” is the focus of the 2020 Speaker Series programs and is presented through an environmental funding award from LCEC. The series, from January 6 to April 16, features species specific programs presented by experts in their field about burrowing owls, wintering shorebirds, American alligators, mollusks, and more. The ever-popular program ‘The Story of Ospreys’ will be offered four times throughout the series.
The series kicks off on Monday, Jan. 6, with a talk titled ‘Mollusks of Southwest Florida’ presented by Leigh Gay, education coordinator for the Bailey Mathews National Shell Museum. Attendees will learn about the feeding strategies, reproduction, growth, and ecological importance of Southwest Florida’s mollusk species and is one of six talks that will feature a live animal encounter.
A few programs will focus on the conservation of species, including ‘Global Shark Conservation’ presented by Ryan Orgera, CEO for the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation on March 10. Orgera’s talk will explore the importance of sharks in our local ecosystems and dive into the threats sharks face including overfishing and illegal markets for their fins.
All Speaker Series programs begin at 4:15 p.m. in the CROW Visitor Education Center and are approximately one hour in length. Some programs will feature live animal encounters. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for teens (Age 13-17) and free for children age 12 and under. Space is limited, so advanced registration is highly recommended.
For a full schedule of CROW’s Speaker Series presented by LCEC, more information or to register in advance, please visit www.CROWClinic.org/articles/2020-speaker-series-presented-by-lcec.
Beginning Jan. 2, CROW’s Visitor Education Center will switch to its seasonal programming schedule. The Center will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with daily presentations offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission to the Center is $12 for adults, $7 for ages 4-12 and free for children three and under.
‘Wildlife Walk’ guided hospital tours provide visitors an in-depth look into the inner workings of CROW’s wildlife hospital and the treatment process. For the 2020 season, additional tours have been added and will now be offered Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Additionally, tours will be available on Saturdays at 11 a.m. thanks to a grant provided by the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club. ‘Wildlife Walk’ guided hospital tours are $25 per person and require advanced registration due to limited space. The tour includes admission to the Visitor Education Center and the scheduled daily presentation.
Visitors will also have the opportunity engage with a CROW veterinarian while enjoying lunch. The Lunch & Learn program is scheduled for Jan. 15, Feb. 19, March 11 and April 15 and is $35 per person with advanced registration required. Included is a boxed lunch from the Sanibel Deli during a 45 minute Q&A style conversation with CROW’s Medical & Research Director, Dr. Heather Barron, followed by a guided tour of the wildlife hospital.
For a complete schedule of programs at CROW, please visit www.CROWClinic.org/events. To register for ‘Wildlife Walk’ guided hospital tours or Lunch & Learn programs, please contact CROW’s Visitor Education Center at (239) 472-3644 ext. #229 or reservations@crowclinic.org.
About Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW)
Established in 1968, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is a teaching hospital saving the sick, injured and orphaned native and migratory wildlife of Southwest Florida and beyond. Through state-of-the-art veterinary care, public education programs and an engaging visitor center, CROW works to improve the health of the environment, humans and our animals through wildlife medicine. For more information, or to plan your visit, go to www.crowclinic.org. If you find an animal that is in need of help, call (239) 472-3644 ext. #222.
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