Will You Be Their Valentine? ❤️

Love is in the air at Piedmont Wildlife Center, and our 24 Wildlife Ambassadors are looking for their Valentine.

While they might not care for red roses or fancy jewelry, there is one thing that will make all of their hearts sing: food!

It costs approximately $21,000 every year to keep our residents' well-fed and thriving, from our Great Horned Owls to Virginia Opossum.

Fortunately, we have a huge head start in 'keeping their bowls full' thanks to ongoing in-kind food donations. 🥣

Our Valentine's Day Ask:

Will you help us raise at least $3,000 today to keep our Ambassadors' bowls full? ❤️

Ways to Donate:

• One-Time Donation to Wildlife Ambassadors

• Recurring Donation to Wildlife Ambassadors

• Harris Teeter E-Gift Card

• Chewy E-Gift Card

For e-giftcards, we kindly ask that you address them to conservation@piedmontwildlifecenter.org.

Your Donations Matched This Giving Tuesday!

This year, your Giving Tuesday donations will go twice as far! A local couple, Gene and Marilyn, are generously matching all donations to Piedmont Wildlife Center up to $17,000.

All funds raised will directly support:

• Camp Scholarships for families facing significant financial hardship.

• Title 1 School Programs, making it possible for us to bring wildlife education programs to schools in low-income neighborhoods at no cost to them.

Gene shares the motivation behind his and Marilyn’s match:

Mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday, December 2nd. Don't miss this chance to double your donation, making nature programming and wildlife education more accessible to all families, regardless of financial barriers.

Our Weekend at Homeschooling Unleashed

Emily Behr, Director of Camp and Outdoor Learning

We had such a wonderful time at the Homeschooling Unleashed Conference meeting new families, reconnecting with past Homeschool families, and engaging with other homeschool educators.

Our Director of Camp and Outdoor Learning, Emily Behr, led a workshop during the event. She shared her expertise on combating Nature Deficit Disorder through intentional homeschool planning. Her session sparked thoughtful conversations with attendees sharing how connecting with nature has supported their children's emotional well-being. In addition to speaking on this topic at the event, Emily recently had an article published in WRAL on Nature Deficit Disorder, "Nature As Curriculum: A Simple Solution to a Big Problem."

Parsley is Hopping into Retirement!

Parsley has been part of the Piedmont Wildlife Center family since 2013.

For more than a decade, Parsley has been one of our most beloved Animal Ambassadors—charming kids and adults alike with her gentle nature and sweet personality. Now, our Wildlife Education team has made the thoughtful decision to retire Parsley from participating in animal programs.

Thank you, Parsley, for all of the joy and learning opportunities you’ve brought to the Triangle and beyond! We’re excited to give you a peaceful, pampered retirement.

Pictured: Parsley at her retirement party.