FAQ

Any time of year can be fun. Animals are typically most active in spring and fall. During peak summer or coldest winter, many animals may stay out of sight.

The tram tour takes 45–60 minutes. Additional time should be allowed to explore the Discovery Area.

Admission covers entry for the day, including your guided tour (approximately 1 hour), leisure time in the Discovery Area, and any additional educational activities.

Admission helps care for the approximately 100 animals at TCWR — covering feeding, housing, and medical care.

No. Feeding is no longer done all at once, and it can be stressful for the animals.

About half of our animals live in the guided tour area. Guided tours also help educate visitors about animal histories and the plight of big cats in captivity. GFAS accreditation also requires guided tours to protect animal mental health.

Most animals are viewable on the Discovery Area path or guided tour. Some older animals or those sensitive to crowds live at Rescue Ridge, accessible only via behind-the-scenes exclusive tours.

The last tour leaves at 4pm in summer and 3pm in winter. No admittance after the final tour departs.

A small snack selection is available in the gift shop, and a seasonal concession stand serves chips, hot dogs, nachos, and ice cream. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.

Much of the property includes dirt/gravel roads. The Gift Shop, Discovery Area, and tram tour path are paved for wheelchair and stroller access. The Bear Tunnel and lodging areas are not paved. ADA service animals are allowed; emotional support animals and pets are not.

Yes. Lodging is available at the Refuge. Visit the Lodging website for room options, pricing, and availability. Please visit lodging.turpentinecreek.org.

Yes. TCWR closes during lightning storms, severe weather warnings, tornadoes, blizzards, freezing rain, and other dangerous conditions. Check social media, the top of our website for a banner, or call (479) 253-5841 for updates.

No pets are allowed on tours or around animals. ADA service animals are permitted. Do not leave pets in your car — authorities will be contacted. Two lodging rooms allow pets overnight with a pet fee, but pets cannot be taken on tours or into the Discovery Area.

Yes, as long as they remain under control and accompanied by their handler at all times. Comfort, therapy, emotional support, and companion animals are not permitted under ADA regulations.

Smoking is only permitted in designated areas. It is prohibited throughout the Discovery Area, along the tour route, and within 5 feet of any animal habitat. Guests may smoke in the parking lot or, if staying overnight, in designated areas within the lodging property.

No. TCWR is a hands-off facility.  As a globally accredited sanctuary with GFAS, TCWR is a hands-off facility. Neither guests nor staff may have contact with animals unless during a sedated medical procedure. Cub petting is harmful to the animals and perpetuates the exotic pet trade.

You may photograph animals, but there will always be at least one fence between you and them. No handling of any animal is permitted.

No. As an accredited sanctuary, our mission is to help animals in need, not contribute to the overpopulation of captive big cats.

Our focus is on carnivores such as tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cougars, bobcats, African servals, hybrids, caracals, black bears, brown bears, and hyenas.

Big cats born in captivity cannot survive in the wild due to inbreeding, hand-rearing, and health issues. Native species like bobcats and bears often lack survival skills, and wild-born rescues cannot be released due to state laws and public safety concerns.

Cats are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, especially in hot weather. Bears are active throughout the day in warmer months. Animals are never forced to be active and our habitats are not designed for the animals to be exhibited, but to be a refuge for rescued animals.

No. It is illegal to sell any part of a big cat, even naturally shed parts.

No. TCWR is a non-breeding facility. Occasionally younger animals are rescued, but it is uncommon.

No. Declawing and defanging is cruel and harmful. Some animals arrived already declawed or defanged by previous owners and are monitored closely.

All animals have warm dens and bedding. Animals native to warmer climates, bears, and elderly animals have heated dens or indoor housing.

All of our animals have access to shade and fresh drinking water, and water-loving species enjoy pools during the warmer months. They are free to choose the coolest, most comfortable areas of their habitats, even if that sometimes means they’re harder for guests to see during hot temperatures, on hot days.

TCWR is always working to improve animal care based on the latest research and best practices. As better methods are identified, practices are updated to give animals the best lives possible.

A true sanctuary does not buy, sell, breed, or trade animals. It provides lifetime care for all rescued animals and does not allow direct contact with animals unless sedated for medical procedures. Typically, they are accredited by the  Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, just like Turpentine Creek.

A reward-based operant conditioning program that encourages certain behaviors to allow visual health inspections without unnecessary stress. Participation is always voluntary for the animals.

These night house areas protect animals during dangerous weather, allow for easy sanitation, and enable staff to safely enter habitats for cleaning. Animals spend the majority of their time in their larger habitats.

As of May 2021, TCWR is working to install in-ground pools across all habitats. Each pool costs $7,500. Sponsorships and partial donations are welcome.

Yes. Dr. Kellyn Sweeley works part-time at the Refuge

No. Hybrids have no conservation value and are bred solely for human entertainment. TCWR does rescue hybrids, as they deserve to live free from abuse.

Yes. TCWR has a volunteer program. Volunteers do not work directly with the big cats — all animal care is handled by trained staff with degrees in Zoology or Biology. Visit the Volunteer page to apply.

Yes. All donations to Turpentine Creek Foundation Inc, operating and doing business as Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, are tax deductible. Our tax ID is 71-0721742 and conveniently located at the footer of our website, on every webpage.

Turpentine Creek has 2 different donation portals/companies that we use. This includes Neon and Fundraise Up.

Neon
Log in to turpentinecreek.app.neoncrm.com/login. First-time users must create an account. Use the “Donations” menu on the left to edit recurring donations.

FundraiseUp
You can access your donor portal through Fundraise Up using the link tcwr.donorsupport.co

To find a past receipt, search your inbox for emails from tcwr@turpentinecreek.org.

General Memberships (Pride, India, Bam Bam, Kenny)
You can become a member by purchasing a membership directly. Alternatively, as your cumulative donations increase, you will automatically receive complimentary membership when your annual giving reaches the qualifying dollar amount for a membership tier.

For more information, visit: turpentinecreek.org/support/memberships/

Turpentine Creek has 2 subscription programs:

Roar Box Club
A monthly subscription managed through the Turpentine Creek online gift shop. To manage your subscription, visit shop.app and sign in to your account.

TCWR Subscription Clubs
Powered by WithFriends

Your digital membership card, compatible with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, will be emailed to you approximately one week after you become a member. It will be sent by FareHarbor from messages@fareharbor.com.

Chicken and beef only. Deer, pig, horse, and goat meat are not accepted.

No, TCWR does not feed roadkill to its animals. Due to the current outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease and Bobcat Fever, deer meat donations are not accepted at this time.

Yes! You can share TCWR’s mission on social media, donate enrichment items like old perfume or cardboard boxes, create online fundraisers, or ask friends and family to donate to TCWR in lieu of gifts. Visit the Support page for all the ways to help.

As stewards of wildlife and our planet, we encourage digital communication whenever possible. Help us reduce paper use by sharing your email address.

Fortunately, our property sustainably pulls water from our own ground well water system. When we are hosing down the habitats, the water runs off, back into the ground, to replenish the system.

Clean water is essential for the health and welfare of the animals in our care. We use it to provide fresh drinking water, clean habitats, prepare food, disinfect veterinary and feeding areas, and maintain pools and enrichment features that help many species regulate their body temperature and express natural behaviors.

We partner with companies like Tyson Foods, Walmart, and local food distributors to receive meat and other food products that are no longer suitable for retail sale but are still safe for animal consumption. Instead of going to waste, this food helps provide high-quality nutrition for the rescued animals in our care.

ery day, our animal care team removes feces and any uneaten food from each habitat. Leftover food is tracked to monitor each animal’s health and appetite.

Rather than sending this organic waste to a landfill, we manage it on-site through a natural decomposition process that returns nutrients to the soil and minimizes waste.