We are thrilled to share that Tamarack Wildlife Center (TWC) has taken a major step forward in furthering our mission to inspire care for nature through excellence in wildlife rehabilitation and education: We have secured an 80-acre property to develop a future home for our rehabilitation and education programs!
Securing and developing a new site is a key priority of our strategic plan since, in just five years, the number of patients treated annually has doubled, and education programming has increased by 20 percent. Just last year, we treated 1,720 patients, exceeding previous case loads by more than 500 patients. It is clear we have outgrown our current facility. This acquisition marks a critical milestone in meeting the growing demand for wildlife patient care and educational programs.
About the Property
- Located just 4 minutes from the I-79 Saegertown exit, the site is conveniently located on a paved road and will provide easy access for those transporting wildlife patients from across western Pennsylvania as well as for visitors who come for education programs and events.
- The property spans 80 acres along Cussewago Creek, a region zoned for conservation. The site is identified as a conservation priority in Crawford County planning documents and designated as having “exceptional significance” within the Cussewago Creek-Coons Valley Biological Diversity Area. It is home to diverse plants and wildlife, and an important site for migrating birds, earning the additional designation of “Important Bird Area” by the Pennsylvania Biological Survey.
What This Means for the Future of Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education
- Enhanced Wildlife Rehabilitation
We will develop a purpose-built rehabilitation facility on a previously developed portion of this site that 1) better supports wildlife patient care, 2) increases staff efficiency, and 3) allows us to expand services in response to growing demand and community support. The site is ideal for the rehabilitation and release of many wildlife patients due to having privacy and a diversity of habitats including meadow, forest, wetlands, river, and pond.
- Expanded Education Opportunities
The new facility will be welcoming to visitors of all ages, and will support onsite classes, programs and events by including a multipurpose space and a public interpretive trail. These new features will connect the public to wildlife and nature through both indoor and outdoor education.
- Habitat Conservation
Most of the land will be preserved in a natural state, providing space for patient releases, educational outreach, and protecting critical habitat. Facilities will be thoughtfully sited on previously developed land, ensuring the majority of the property is conserved for wildlife and education.
This transformative acquisition has been made possible through the generosity of our donors, including bequests, and a Conservation Loan from Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Colcom Loan Fund.
Located between Erie and Pittsburgh, TWC serves western Pennsylvania, regularly admitting patients from Erie County to Allegheny County in the south and Warren and Forest Counties in the east. Our staff are leaders in the field. TWC staff were contributing authors to the 2021 Standards of Wildlife Rehabilitation text that was co-published by the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, and they present regularly at regional and national professional symposiums.
With this acquisition, we are entering a new chapter in our bold endeavor to further support wildlife and our community. While we are excited to have this new site, much needs to be done to prepare it for our work. Rehabilitation efforts will continue at our existing site until our new facility is ready. We will share updates as this project unfolds and ways you can make a difference in wildlife rehabilitation and education as our plans take shape.
