Unsponsored Animal of the Week
Payson
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History of TCWR @ 9:45am
03/13/2021Join our Wildlife Interpreter @ 9:45am as they discuss how Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge started 27 years ago. The amazing stories and transformation of TCWR into a true sanctuary is full of trials, tribulations, and hard work, all to save the lives of abused and neglected big cats.
The Largest Big Cat @ 10:30am
03/13/2021Who is the largest big cat in the animal kingdom? Is it the lion or tiger? Join our Wildlife Interpreter at the tour entrance to discover the largest big cat and how we can save them both in the wild and from the pet trade/entertainment industry.
Wild Child Scavenger Hunt @ 1:30pm
03/13/2021Learn how to forage like a wild animal with Turpentine Creek's Wild Child Scavenger Hunt! An interactive game for the whole family to enjoy, you will discover and meet the animals at TCWR and find all the clues to the activity. Meet our Wildlife Interpreter today to get started with your fun adventure.
What is a True Sanctuary? @ 2:30pm
03/13/2021The most important aspect of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is being a true sanctuary, providing forever homes for abused and neglected big cats. Join our Wildlife Interpreter Jessica @ 2:30 to learn about the difference between a true and fake sanctuary. We can work together to save more animals!
Endangered Species Day
05/16/2021Staff and interns of TCWR are taking part in Endangered Species Day! Come join us as we learn about the importance of national and international conservation efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats all around the world.
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Fun Fact #1
Tigers have a night vision that is 6 times better than humans!
Fun Fact #2
Black panthers are also known as leopards and jaguars! When there is just enough lighting outside, you can even see their spots shining through.
Fun Fact #3
It can cost around $30 a day to feed a big cat required to eat a special diet!
Fun Fact #4
American black bears are not always black! They can range from white, cinnamon, and brown as well!
Fun Fact #5
A lion's mane is associated with their testosterone. The darker their mane is, the more testosterone they have! So, while out in the wild, the lion with the dark mane would be more likely to be king of the jungle!
Fun Fact #6
Brown bears try to imitate human behavior by standing on 2 legs, walking on the soles of their feet, picking up things with their "fingers," and eating a lot of what we eat!
Fun Fact #7
Servals are the best hunters out there! They catch up to 50% of their prey while other big cats, like lions and tigers, catch roughly only 20% of their prey!
Fun Fact #8
You can find bobcats in zoos and sanctuaries, but did you know you can also find them roaming around in our backyards? They are native to the United States and the southern parts of Canada!
Fun Fact #9
This coatimundi, or coati, looks pretty weird with its long nose and tail, almost like an anteater. But, it is actually cousins to the raccoon! You can find coatimundis in Central and South America.
Fun Fact #10
What would you call these wonderful animals? Whatever you call them, it is probably right! These guys have several different names: mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, ghost cat, and catamount!
Fun Fact #11
Hybrids vary in size! Ligers, an offspring of a male lion and a female tiger, can grow to be the largest cat out there, while tigons, their opposite, are quite smaller. The largest known liger is over 900 pounds!
Fun Fact #12
Leopards will eat protein in any form; that ranges anywhere from beetles to antelopes!
Fun Fact #13
Feeding a bear here at Turpentine can cost around $14.25 per day, depending on the season!
Fun Fact #14
Grizzly bears look quite different than black bears! Grizzly bears have a face with a dished in profile with short rounded ears, while black bears have a face with a straighter profile and longer pointer ears. Grizzly bears also have a large hump on their upper back.
Fun Fact #15
Tigers are the largest member of the cat family! They are solitary animals that love to go for a quick swim now and then.
Fun Fact #16
Lions are super social and live in a pride that contains 3 to 30 lions! The males guard the pride and protect their territory from others. Females hunt for the pride and raise the young cubs!
Fun Fact #17
White tigers are not found naturally in the wild! They are bred specifically for their color. To get a white tiger, man has to breed many generations with each other.
Fun Fact #18
Servals have excellent hearing! If we wanted to hear as well as they do, then we would need ears the size of dinner plates!
Our Mission
To provide lifetime refuge for abused and neglected “Big Cats” with emphasis on tigers, lions, leopards, and cougars. Through public education we work to end the Exotic Animal Trade, making sanctuaries like Turpentine Creek no longer necessary; together, we can preserve and protect these magnificent predators in the wild for our children’s future.
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