Volunteers at Peace River Wildlife Center at Ponce de Leon Park near downtown Punta Gorda were still cleaning up after Hurricane Helene’s flooding when Hurricane Milton arrived two weeks later, decimating the refuge and its hospital.
“Between the two locations, estimated damages are $250,000 to $300,000,” PRWC Executive Director Tricia LaPointe said. “We do not have flood insurance. The previous board did not feel it was needed.”
A source of income for the PRWC was its gift shop located adjacent to the pelican enclosure. The shop and its accessible ramp were destroyed.
PRWC is a popular tourist destination and is one of American Cruise Line’s excursions when its ships anchor in Charlotte Harbor in season.
Numerous volunteers are working to clean up the nonprofit’s education center at Ponce Park and clear out muck from flood waters that destroyed just about everything at the hospital.
Meanwhile, LaPointe is seeking grants and other aid, but grant amounts are relatively small – mostly in the $2,500 to $5,000 range. And the wildlife rescue needs a lot more to continue its work of contributing to the survival of native Florida wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation and education
Its resident population consists primarily of birds, including water birds, eagles and owls, and injured mammals being cared for. For some creatures, their injuries prevent them from being released into the wild. For others, after treatment, which may include surgery by resident veterinarian Dr. Robin Jenkins, and rehabilitation, they are released into the wild.
Since the recent storms crippled the facilities, those seeking to bring in injured or orphaned wildlife are directed to Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida in Venice or Blue Pearl Pet Hospital in Fort Myers.
Board member Dr. Joe Parr, a veterinarian from Michigan, has been obtaining supplies to restock the hospital, LaPointe said. Parr contacted his vendors and fellow veterinarians who pitched in to donate and resupply the hospital.
Members of the community donated appliance essentials, including washers and dryers.
PRWC was the brainchild of Punta Gorda veterinarian Dr. Jerry Gingerich who was president of the local chapter of the Audubon Society. Volunteers were recruited to help care for the injured and orphaned birds, mammals and reptiles they took in, and within 18 months they documented more than 800 calls.
Operations were moved from the lanai of a private home to an acre of land on Marion Avenue, next door to Gingerich’s practice, in 1984.
The organization became an incorporated nonprofit in 1985 and currently is located on leased property from the city of Punta Gorda at Ponce Park. But the owner of some of the land at the park where the center stands is beginning a private project. The center found a new site off Henry Street where construction will take place for the new combined PRWC education center and hospital.
“The community has been amazing,” LaPointe said, refering to recent donations for the new education center and hospital facility.
“We still need $2 million.”
Four birds were lost due to trauma suffered during Helene. Center ambassadors, such as Luna the Owl, remain at the original center, but other residents were placed elsewhere temporarily.
