Our Mission & History
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit organization with over 40 years of dedication to the protection and conservation of Florida’s wildlife and natural resources. To accomplish this goal the Sanctuary has a two fold mission of wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education.
Rescue
We rescue sick, injured, or orphaned native Florida wildlife. The Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that serves Palm Beach County. We rely on the public to bring injured wildlife to our wildlife hospital. Over the years, we have rescued deer, foxes, screech owls, hawks, bald eagles, squirrels, birds, and many others. Our volunteer rescue team is sent out to rescue animals that the public can't, such as raccoons, great blue herons, bobcats, foxes, etc...
Rehab
The Sanctuary’s wildlife rehabilitation efforts provide a much-needed community service in helping sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals. Last year we had over 5,200 patients come into our hospital! Our hospital staff works hard to take care of the many wildlife patients in our hospital. They feed the orphaned wildlife, perform examinations, administer medication, and much more. At certain times, our staff are taking care of more than 75 animals. All patients are examined upon the end of treatment and are assessed whether or not they can be released back into the wild.
Release
Our goal after rehab is to release our healthy animals back into the wild! Subscribe to our monthly emails to get updates on recent releases and like us on Facebook for public release events.
Educate
The Environmental Education Program at the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is a curriculum-based projected geared towards children and families. Through this program children and adults are given the opportunity to learn about native plant and animal species, and participate in conservation efforts to protect and preserve Florida’s wildlife, natural resources, and endangered species.
90% of the almost 6,000 patients admitted each year to the Sanctuary’s wildlife rehabilitation center have suffered from some type of human-related injury. Collisions with automobiles, fishing line entanglement, illegal gunshots, poisonings, and electrocutions, are only a small example of the types of injuries that are regularly treated and why education of the public is so important.
1983
In 1983, the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Environmental Education Center was established, driven by the dual purpose of nurturing sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals while fostering wildlife and habitat conservation.
1994
A momentous collaboration between The Peter W. Busch Family Foundation, giving birth to the newly named Busch Wildlife Sanctuary.
1998
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary secured an 11-acre campus in 1998, thanks to a strategic land lease partnership with the Loxahatchee River District Environmental Control District in Jupiter, Florida.
2020
In 2020 do to the increasing need for rescue and rehabilitation services, the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary purchased 19.4 acres, marking the beginning of the development of an essential, expanded campus and cutting-edge facilities.
2023
Unwavering community support including generous contributions from Earl Abramson & Sheila Schlaggar, the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, and The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, enabled us to proudly unveil our new sanctuary in 2023.
Our Partners
