Sea Turtle Preservation, Conservation & Wildlife in Brevard County
The Sea Turtle Healing Center
Brevard County has so many great places to explore and things to do, but the Brevard Zoo tops the list of worthwhile ways to spend your days on the Space Coast. If you’re fortunate enough to own one of the homes in Brevard County, then you’re also fortunate enough to live near one of the highest ranked zoos in the country! In fact, outside of the Brevard Zoo, the county has several ways in which it cares for the animal residents of our neighborhoods. If you’re an animal lover, Brevard will not disappoint! This is just one of the reasons many people love living in Brevard.
Home to over 900 animals, the Brevard Zoo also boasts an impressive Sea Turtle Healing Center, known for its excellence throughout the United States. Due to the 72-mile stretch of Atlantic Coastline in Brevard, the beaches here are the largest nesting grounds for turtles in North America…and some of the most important for the turtle population. Due to the high volume of turtles (and other creatures) who arrive on the shores of Brevard, a notable amount of them show up with injury and illness.
In partnership with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, the Brevard Zoo opened a 2,400 sq. foot healing center in 2014 with tanks ranging from six to 20 feet in size – plenty of room to help turles of all sizes who arrive on our shores. Sea turtles come to the healing center for a variety of reasons. Some arrive with injuries from debris left behind by humans like fishing lines or nets, others come because they’ve been struck by a boat.
Fibropapilloma Virus is an unfortunate common occurrence among sea turtles, so many come to the center to be treated and healed of this. The virus is extremely contagious and spreads quickly among turtles; those who test positive must be kept separate from those who test negative. The Sea Turtle Healing Center is one of the only places with the capacity to properly treat and heal this virus.
Brevard Zoo Conservation Projects
In addition to rescuing sea turtles, the Brevard Zoo participates in a variety of conservation projects that protect, preserve and restore the beautiful natural habitats within the county that can be found on their website. One of the ways in which this is being accomplished is through the “Restore our Shores” project. The project involves restoring the population of native filter-feeding oysters to the Indian River Lagoon, assisting in growing mangroves, and also preserving and building new reefs. This all leads to what are known as “living shorelines.” Each of these efforts keeps Brevard’s natural habitats healthy, further providing great reasons to live here and invest in property!
Education Programs at Brevard Zoo
The Brevard Zoo is nationally recognized for its education programs for people of all ages. The variety of options provides great opportunities for young children to adults to engage, volunteer and be educated on topics spanning a variety of interests from animal welfare to habitat conservation. With options for day camps, family programs and adult partnership opportunities, residents are afforded some unique possibilities not found anywhere else in the United States!
There are so many benefits to living in one of the wonderful cities in Brevard County that reach beyond easy access to relaxing beaches or front row seats to rocket launches. In addition to the excellent school system, living in an area like this allows for families to participate in restoring the one-of-a-kind ecosystems and wildlife only found on the Space Coast.
If you’re looking for homes in Brevard County, you’ll also benefit from the vast amount of opportunities to be a part of the conservation and restoration of Florida’s wildlife. Contact one of Brevard’s best real estate agents and resident animal lovers, Misty Morrison, so you can be on your way to owning a piece of this amazing part of Florida. Call today at 321-209-1523.
