Education Ambassador Animals
The Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA) defines an Ambassador Animal as “an animal whose role includes handling and/or training by staff or volunteers for interaction with the public and in support of institutional education and conservation goals”.
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Gemma
Northern Goshawk
Gemma
Northern Goshawk
GEMMA was admitted to Northwoods Wildlife Center in September 2015 from Manitowish Waters. She was found blind in one eye and had a broken wing. It was also possible that she had contracted West Nile Virus as some point in the past.
It was soon determined Gemma’s injuries would never heal enough to be returned to the wild. She was put on NWC’s educational tour in the early summer of 2016, and has been doing wonderfully ever since!
Hortense
Turkey Vulture
Hortense
Turkey Vulture
HORTENSE came to the Northwoods Wildlife Center on October 26, 1988. She came from Milwaukee’s Wildlife Animal Rehabilitation Center, where she was used as an education bird before the center closed. Hortense is a permanent resident because she has an amputated left wing. She flew into the side of a car in Helenville, WI, which caused irreparable damage to the bones of her wing.
Although Turkey Vultures have a hooked beak, they are not birds of prey. They are more closely related to storks!
Hannah
Bald Eagle
Hannah
Bald Eagle
HANNAH was transferred to the Northwoods Wildlife Center in winter 2018 from another wildlife rehabilitation facility located in Helena, Montana. After being hit by a train and undergoing a partial wing amputation, Hanna spent many years as an ambassador animal at that facility.
Since her arrival at NWC, Hannah has become a favorite for visitors, being the 1st ambassador along the tour, and hopes to educate many about the amazing world of eagles!
Race & Tommi
Red-Tailed Hawks
Race & Tommi
Red-Tailed Hawks
Race & Tommi
Red-Tailed Hawks
RACE was transferred to Northwoods Wildlife Center on May 6, 2012 from another rehabilitation center in Illinois. He has a dislocation of the left elbow, however the original cause of his injury is unknown.
TOMMI was admitted to Northwoods Wildlife Center in August 2016 after being hit by a car. The severity of her wing injury led to a partial wing amputation, leaving Tommi non-flighted. She now attends educational programs throughout the Northwoods, educating the public on the world of Red-tailed Hawks!
Loki
Great Horned Owl
Loki
Great Horned Owl
LOKI was admitted to Northwoods Wildlife Center during the summer of 2018 as a nestling. He had suffered a fracture to the tip of his left wing. Unfortunately, the broken wing was irreparable, so a partial wing amputation was performed to make Loki more comfortable during his life in captivity.
Loki is currently in training to eventually become one of Northwoods Wildlife Center’s outreach ambassador birds of prey, where he will travel the Wisconsin Northwoods with our staff, educating the public on the fascinating world of Great Horned Owls!
Woody
Wood Turtle
Woody
Wood Turtle
Woody
Wood Turtle
WOODY the Wood Turtle was given to the Center in 1990 by his former owner. Since then, Woody has become one of NWC’s most well-known residents. He can often be found crawling on the floor of the NWC lobby, engaged in his favorite pastime – sneaking up on staff members in order to bite their shoes!
Woody is also a popular visitor at area schools. His likable (and feisty) personality helps to teach children about Wood Turtles, a threatened species in Wisconsin.
Hubertus
Florida Soft-Shelled Turtle
Hubertus
Florida Soft-Shelled Turtle
HUBERTUS came to the Northwoods Wildlife Center in 1990 after becoming too large for her owner’s tank. Since then she has grown a little bit more, but now believed to have reached her full size.
Soft-shell turtles their time at the bottom of a lake covered in sand or mud. They remain there so their prey, such as crayfish, small fish, and snails, won’t notice them.
Hook & BB
Painted Turtles
Hook & BB
Painted Turtles
HOOK came in to Northwoods Wildlife Center with a fishing hook in her left eye and was missing her left front foot. Her two handicaps deemed her non-releasable, and it was decided to keep her permanently in July 1999.
BB arrived at Northwoods Wildlife Center during winter 2013 – she was dropped off by the front door in the middle of the night. Since we knew nothing of BB’s history, we were unable to release her back into the wild, and she soon became a permanent education turtle.
Mini & Aqua
Snapping Turtles
Mini & Aqua
Snapping Turtles
MINI and AQUA arrived at Northwoods Wildlife Center during the summer of 2013. They, along with over twenty other turtles, were being raised in captivity to one day be eaten! Since this is illegal in Wisconsin, Mini, Aqua, and the rest of the turtles were taken by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and found new homes at education centers throughout the state!
Speedy, Pandora & Bull
Three-Toed Box Turtles
Speedy, Pandora & Bull
Three-Toed Box Turtles
Speedy, Pandora & Bull
Three-Toed Box Turtles
Our box turtles are all former pets that were donated to be used in our education programs. Bull is also our local star as he has been used in Foster & Smith catalogs.
A main source of protection for box turtles comes from a band of skin going across the first ¼ of their bottom shell. This band of skin acts like a hinge, which allows them to close up in their shells completely.
Candy
Corn Snake
CANDY first arrived at the Northwoods Wildlife Center during the summer of 2003. She was found on a plant nursery delivery truck that had traveled north from the southern United States. Since Corn Snakes are not native to Northern Wisconsin, Candy would not be used to our frigid winters so we were unable to release her back into the wild. It was then decided to keep Candy as an education ambassador snake.
Corn snakes are probably named such because of their belly markings – these markings often look very similar to the checkered pattern of maize or Indian Corn.
Sancho
Grey Rat Snake
Sancho
Grey Rat Snake
SANCHO came to the Northwoods Wildlife Center during the summer of 2014. He had been a pet whose owner no longer had time to care for him. Rat snakes are native to southwestern Wisconsin, however can regularly be found in the pet trade. We agreed to take Sancho in to use for educational programs throughout the Northwoods. Sancho can regularly be seen climbing his vines throughout his enclosure.