Blog | Page 6 of 53 | Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

What GFAS Accreditation Means—and Why It Matters

In 2016, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge earned full accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS)—the only organization offering a rigorous, international accreditation program exclusively for animal sanctuaries. Since then, we’ve proudly maintained our status as a GFAS-accredited sanctuary. We undergo a comprehensive and demanding renewal process every three years to ensure we meet […]

June 17, 2025 View Article

Witness Protection – A Sanctuary’s Most Dangerous Mission

At Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR), we’ve seen it all—from heartbreaking neglect to the triumphant transformation of animals who finally know peace. Rescue is the pinnacle of our mission, but it’s also the most dangerous part of our work. Nothing compares to the complexity, planning, and trust required when participating in a witness protection case […]

May 28, 2025 View Article

National Cougar Day 2025

June 12 is National Cougar Day—a time to celebrate one of North America’s most captivating wild cats and raise awareness about their conservation. Cougars (Puma concolor) are known to be the cat of many names due to how vast their range stretches and the communities and cultures they are known by. Some of the most […]

May 27, 2025 View Article

Celebrating National Black Bear Day

Every year, on the first Saturday in June, we celebrate National Black Bear Day here in the United States! This special day was established in 2018 by the North Carolina Black Bear Festival to highlight these incredible animals and help dispel common myths surrounding them. Black bears were once on the brink of extinction in […]

May 23, 2025 View Article

Kitten Season: Cute Faces, Critical Consequences

As the warmer months approach, so does kitten season—a time of year marked by an explosion in the domestic and feral cat population. While the thought of tiny, playful kittens may warm the heart, the reality brings complex challenges that impact not only shelters and communities but also native wildlife and ecosystems. Understanding the broader […]

May 12, 2025 View Article

International Endangered Species Day 2025

This Friday marks the nineteenth annual Endangered Species Day. Established in 2006, it is a day for people to learn about, celebrate, and protect threatened and endangered plants and animals. Many places hold events to teach people about conservation, ecosystems, and why protecting endangered species is so important. The Endangered Species Act was passed in […]

May 12, 2025 View Article

We’re in the New York Times!

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) is honored to have been featured in a recent New York Times article highlighting the vital work our team is doing in partnership with government and law enforcement agencies to enforce the Big Cat Public Safety Act and state and local violations regarding public safety and animal welfare. This recognition […]

May 6, 2025 View Article

Black Bear of Brown Bear? Key Differences You Need to Know

Bears inhabit four of the world’s seven continents and are represented by eight unique species: Asiatic black bears, brown bears, giant pandas, North American black bears, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears, and sun bears. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is home to two of these species: brown bears and North American black bears. While brown bears […]

April 30, 2025 View Article

The Serval: A Master Hunter Perfectly Adapted for the Wild

With their large ears and long legs (and we can’t forget their impeccable agility), the African Serval stands out as one of the most efficient hunters in the wild. They are strictly built for one thing: capturing prey. Whether it is leaping nine feet in the air to catch birds in flight or stealthily creeping […]

April 23, 2025 View Article

Cheers to 33 Years of Turpentine Creek

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) commemorates its 33rd anniversary by hosting Sanctuary Soiree at the Park. Held at the historic Basin Park Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, this milestone event is the perfect backdrop for President and Founder Tanya Smith to introduce our newly expanded mission statement and refreshed logo, representing our evolving role in […]

April 12, 2025 View Article