Jacaranda in Ponce de Leon Park, Punta Gorda, Fla.
Last week I had the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of Peace River Wildlife Center in Punta Gorda, Fla. The nonprofit organization is supported 100 percent by donations and do an amazing job nurturing Florida’s native wildlife back to health and caring for those orphaned for whatever reason.
Wildlife receives tender care with the intention of being returned to their natural habitat but if for whatever reason they can’t return to the wild, the animals will have a permanent home at the Center. During my visit, I saw injured and orphaned wildlife being cared for and also saw wild and native birds hanging out.
Enjoy these snapshots.
Jacaranda in the Rain, Ponce de Leon Park, Punta Gorda, Fla.Dr. Robin Jenkins Holds an Orphaned Brown Dove, Peace River Wildlife Center, Punta Gorda, Fla.Visiting Yellow-Crowned Night Heron Dries its Wings, Peace River Wildlife Center, Punta Gorda, Fla.Bald Eagles at Peace River Wildlife Center, Punta Gorda, Fla.A Possum Climbs on Dr. Robin Jenkins, Peace River Wildlife Center, Punta Gorda, Fla.Yellow-Crowned Night Heron Hangs Out at Peace River Wildlife Center, Punta Gorda, Fla.
Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely.
The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo.
Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.
Step into another world to learn about Florida’s sea life during a nighttime seagrass wading trip into Lemon Bay with the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center in Englewood, Fla.
Some people choose to run with the bulls. I chose to swim with the bull sharks! My experience with Florida Shark Diving out of Jupiter, Fla., was JAWESOME! I needed a little adrenaline rush in my life and this trip on April 1, 2023, yes, April Fool’s Day, was perfect.
