Mercer County Wildlife Center Education Programs
Education is the key to a peaceful coexistence among the varied inhabitants of the planet.
About Our Programs
While the primary purpose of the Mercer County Wildlife Center is to provide a community resource to handle wildlife questions and concerns, of equal importance are the education opportunities we provide. We believe that education is the key to a peaceful coexistence among the varied inhabitants of our area. At the Center, we shelter and care for a group of animals with permanent disabilities. Due to their injuries, these animals are not releasable. So, they travel with us to schools, scout meetings, senior centers, and community events throughout the year, acting as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. Throughout the year, we provide comprehensive education presentations that feature these education animals.
Topics
We tailor our education presentations to a specific age group or interest. Some of the topics we cover include:
* Nocturnal vs. diurnal animals
* Animals that are herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores
* Natural history of each species
* How a species is affected by human development* When and how to intervene with an animal that may need help
* Any general subjects that are currently of interest, including chemicals, pollution, diseases, habitat destruction, and conservation
Animals We Bring
The education animals introduced at our programs include hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, and various mammals. Our standard 60-minute native wildlife program includes four animals selected by the speaker based on the program request, age group, and animals available at that time. We also offer raptor programs, nocturnal animal programs, or themed programs (Halloween animals, owls, etc.). All of those also include four animals.
Our program speakers are educated and trained to work with our education animals so that the safety of the audience, the animal and the speaker are ensured throughout the presentation. We do not allow the audience to touch the animals, and the animals are under the speaker’s control at all times.
The standard fee for a 60-minute native wildlife program within Mercer County is $300. Programs outside of Mercer County are $325 and outside of NJ, $350. In lieu of the program fees, in-kind donations from MCWC’s Wish List may be substituted if they total the applicable program fee–for example, $300 worth of paper towels, bleach, Pedialyte, copy paper, etc. Check out our Wish List here. The fees and donations collected from the education programs go directly toward the care of the education animals and the patients at MCWC.
You may schedule a program with the Mercer County Wildlife Center by calling 609-303-0552 x103 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Evening and weekend programs are available. Please allow us at least three weeks advance notice of your program request.
Wild Ambassadors
At the Center, we shelter and care for a group of animals with permanent disabilities. These special animals give us a unique opportunity to provide comprehensive education presentations that excite and inform.
Wild, Safe, Fun
Our program speakers are educated and trained to work with our education animals so that the safety of the audience, the animal and the speaker are ensured throughout the presentation.
Fun for Children of ALL Ages
We tailor our education presentations to a specific age group or interest.
