South Florida Wildlife Center Faces Relocation Challenge

Florida – The South Florida Wildlife Center, known for its significant role in rehabilitating wild animals, is facing a potential relocation as its lease expires in September 2025. Currently, the center is situated at 3200 SW Fourth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, where it has operated for over 50 years. The center rehabilitates approximately 12,000 wild animals each year, spanning 350 different species, including birds, turtles, squirrels, rabbits, pelicans, raccoons, coyotes, opossums, snakes, and bats.

The county has been leasing the property to the wildlife center for a nominal fee of $200 annually. However, with the lease ending soon, the county has indicated that it needs the land for an airport maintenance facility. This impending deadline has prompted the wildlife center to seek a new location to ensure its continued operation.

In its search for a new site, the wildlife center is currently negotiating with the Broward School District to lease eight acres of swampland located in Southwest Ranches, land that the district purchased in 2004. This proposed site, while potentially suitable for its needs, would require extensive preparations, including de-mucking and constructing a new facility, to make it viable for the center’s operations.

As negotiations with the school district unfold, uncertainty looms over their outcome, emphasizing the urgency of the wildlife center’s situation. Board chairman Jeff Arciniaco has expressed significant concern regarding the necessity of finding a new location promptly, noting that being closed, even for a single day, could have detrimental effects on the center’s mission.

In addition to exploring options with the school district, the wildlife center is also considering potential relocation sites in Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, and Dania Beach. Campus officials are actively working to avoid any disruption to their services, which in turn rely heavily on public support and funding.

The wildlife center has been committed to its mission since its founding in 1969, relying on donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants to operate effectively. Its capacity to rehabilitate thousands of animals every year highlights its importance within the region, not just for wildlife but also for the local community that depends on its services.

City officials are aware of the situation and are providing assistance wherever possible. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis has been approached for help in identifying a new site for the center. Additionally, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Ben Sorensen has expressed a willingness to support the wildlife center in exploring available options in the local area.

If the wildlife center is unable to secure an adequate replacement location within Broward County, there is a possibility that it may consider relocating to Palm Beach County to continue its vital work. The outcome of the ongoing negotiations and efforts from local officials remains to be seen in the coming months.

The impending lease expiration stands as a critical juncture for the South Florida Wildlife Center, highlighting the essential need for collaboration among local entities to find a solution that safeguards the center’s operations and continues its long-standing commitment to wildlife rehabilitation in South Florida.