The Hardee County Animal Refuge

Not far from the SKP resort in Wachula is the Hardee County Animal Refuge in Pioneer Park in Zolfo Springs, Florida. Not a zoo, all the animals are “non-releasable” for some reason or another. The animals are in “natural habitats” and the people walk over and around them on an elevated walkway. It is a very nice little facility and we spent a very enjoyable afternoon there today.

You can clearly see the walkway in this aerial photo from
Google Maps

Jill and this ostrich seemed to both enjoy their time together. An ostrich is a very large bird!

Isn’t there an expression about letting “sleeping lions lie?” This is one is a  cougar, also known as a puma or a mountain lion.

 

The swallows may return to Capistrano, but large black vultures return to Zolfa Springs each winter. A lot of them. They are rather a nuisance, but the staff puts up with them and the animals seem to ignore them. 

 

Of all the animals, the raccoons seemed the most interested in the people. This guy was putting on quite a show: the walkway was 20 feet above the ground at this point, but he didn’t seem to mind in the least.

A solid-white peacock.

Abandoned and feral cats hang out at the refuge. The staff feeds them, gets them spayed or neutered and tries to get as many adopted as they can. This guy seemed especially friendly.