Our Mission & History
Our Mission
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is a 40+ year nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of Florida’s native wildlife and natural habitats. Through excellence in wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education, we inspire current and future generations to become stewards of conservation.
Our Vision
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is a nationally recognized leader in wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education, and conservation initiatives. Through advanced veterinary care, cutting edge educational programs, and a deep commitment to native wildlife, the Sanctuary inspires environmental stewardship and serves as a cornerstone for conservation impact across the Southeast and beyond.
Rescue
We rescue sick, injured, and orphaned native Florida wildlife. We rely on the public to bring wildlife in need to our clinic. Over the years, we have rescued deer, foxes, screech owls, hawks, bald eagles, squirrels, birds, and many others.
Rehab
The Sanctuary’s wildlife rehabilitation efforts provide a much-needed community service in helping sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals. Our staff cares for more than 5,000 animal patients every year. Clinic technicians and veterinarians asses every animal and develop their individual treatment plan which, depending on the patient, can range from simply fluids and feeding all the way to CT scans and blood transfusions. All patients are examined upon the end of treatment and are assessed whether 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 and follow us on social media to get updates on recent releases.
Educate
The Environmental Education program at the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary gives children and adults 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 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.
Our History
1983
The Wildlife Rehabilitation and Environmental Education Center was founded to care for injured and orphaned wildlife while promoting conservation and environmental education.
1994
A partnership with The Peter W. Busch Family Foundation helped transform the organization into what is now known as Busch Wildlife Sanctuary
1998
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary established its 11-acre campus through a land lease partnership with the Loxahatchee River District
2020
As the need for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation grew, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary purchased 19.4 acres to create an expanded campus with modern rehabilitation and education facilities.
2023
With generous community support, including gifts from Earl Abramson & Sheila Schlaggar, the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, and the Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary opened its new forever home in Jupiter Farms.
Today
Each year, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary rescues thousands of wild animals and provides environmental education programs that inspire more than 150,000 visitors and students annually.
Our Partners
