News Archives | Page 2 of 11 | Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

The Catastrophic Toll of the Exotic Pet Trade on Ecosystems

The exotic pet trade is a devastating global industry that drives biodiversity loss, fuels animal suffering, and disrupts ecosystems. At the heart of this crisis are wild cats—like African servals, tigers, and caracals—who are trafficked for profit and novelty, with little regard for their welfare or the environmental consequences. In their native habitats, demand for […]

August 7, 2025 View Article

The First 48: What Happens Right After Rescue

Every rescue is different, but the first 48 hours follow a focused, compassionate process guided by each animal’s needs. When the transport trailer arrives back at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR), the time of day determines our immediate steps. Thanks to our Curator’s thoughtful habitat design—including eight feet of space between enclosures and carefully positioned […]

August 6, 2025 View Article

The Hidden Crisis Behind “Cute Cubs”

It starts with a photo. A cub cradled in someone’s lap, eyes full of curiosity, paws oversized, framed in smiles. But what’s missing from the picture is what happens next. That same cub—pulled from its mother far too soon—may never walk properly. This wild cat may live with pain for the rest of its life, […]

July 30, 2025 View Article

Finding Home: What Happens After Confiscation

For animals who have lived their life in confinement, freedom doesn’t always feel safe at first. After years of concrete, lack of space to roam, neglect, and stress, the openness of a habitat can feel like a threat. A patch of grass may go untouched for days, or a den that offers shelter might be […]

July 16, 2025 View Article

When Trauma Goes Beyond Skin Deep

When an animal is rescued, most people think of confinement, cramped spaces, or visible signs of neglect, such as physical wounds. Despite these images being very real, the truth is that some of the deepest wounds aren’t seen at all. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has learned that trauma doesn’t end when a facility is shut […]

July 9, 2025 View Article

The CAt’s Out of the Bag

Not every rescue begins with headlines. Some rescues start in silence – because silence is often the safest place to begin the first steps of healing. In late Spring, eight animals arrived at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) under the quiet protection of our Witness Protection Program. Our rescue team was called to California […]

July 1, 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