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Animal Ambassadors

Animal Ambassadors

Tenafly Nature Center cares for 30+ animals that, due to a variety of reasons, cannot be released into the wild. Instead these animals act as ambassadors for their species and help our staff educate thousands of adults and children about the adaptations and needs of local wildlife and the importance of protecting their habitats.

What better way to share your love of animals than to help ours receive the best care possible!

Please consider making a donation to
support one of these animals

Come visit them anytime the Visitors’ Center is open!

The Cost to Care For
TNC’s Animal Ambassadors

SpeciesTotal Annual Cost
Per Animal
Frogs and Salamanders$533
Invertebrate Tank$613
Chinchillas and Rats$709
Lizards$745
Turtles$760
Hawk and Owls$1123
Snakes$1128

Support Care for Our
Non-Releasable Wildlife
Help us provide ongoing care for our important collection of wildlife that cannot be released back into the wild.

Mammals
Inca
Chinchilla

Inca was formerly someone’s pet. The family that surrendered her was no longer interested in caring for her, and she was given to Rabbit Haven by the Sea, a NJ rescue organization located in ... 

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Rachel, Hazel, and Autumn
Fancy Norway Rats

Our trio of Fancy Norway Rats came to TNC in 2024 from Small N’ Furry Rescue. This organization places small animals in need of caring homes, a mission we are proud to support! Rachel (Carson) and Hazel ... 

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Birds
Ruby
Red-tailed Hawk

In the fall of 2006, Ruby was found tangled up in a tree on Long Island close to power lines. They found a string twisted around her left wing, an injured left eye, and red nail polish on her beak, legs, and feet. ...

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Mene
Barred Owl

Mene was found with an injured wing along a road in Pennsylvania. Most likely Mene was scavenging road kill when the force of the wind from a passing vehicle caused this light bird (owls' bones are hollow) to be lifted up ...

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Kokokhas
Barred Owl

Kokokhas, a beautiful Barred Owl, has found a forever home here at the Tenafly Nature Center after an incredible journey. On February 29, 2024, Kokokhas was rescued by John Abarth of Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation after ...

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Flint
Screech Owl

Flint’s journey is a heartwarming example of the dedication and expertise at the Illinois Raptor Center (IRC). Since 1991, this organization has been a beacon of conservation and education, and Flint’s story adds a fascinating ...

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Amphibians
Fred and Ethel
American Bullfrog

Fred and Ethel were obtained through a reputable source for education purposes. Fred can easily be identified as a male by the circles behind his eyes which are called "tympanic membrane" The males will have a larger ...

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Eastern Tiger Salamanders
Cane Toad
Grey Tree Frog
Reptiles
Wild & Star
Eastern Box Turtles

Wild was brought to TNC to be released, illegally and without permission from TNC, in 2001. A family had picked her up while on a road trip in Pennsylvania and kept her in their home in poor conditions. After ...

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Maple
Wood Turtle

Maple is a wood turtle which are threatened in New Jersey mainly due to habitat loss.

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Hudson, Delaware & Chesapeake Diamondback Terrapins

Confiscated from someone who was running a black market reptile trade these hatching Diamondback Terrapins came to live at TNC in 2020.

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Ellie & Olamani
Corn Snake

Ellie is a wild born corn snake, also known as a red rat snake. Ellie was found with an injured tail, and was illegally taken in for treatment by someone who ...

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Empress
California Kingsnake

Empress was purchased at a reptile expo by an individual owner, and is an example of an amelanistic morph. The owner was unable to provide quality ...

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Rufus
Yellow-red Rat Snake

Originally purchased at an exotic animal expo, Rufus was surrendered to the Hudson Valley Reptile Rescue in the spring of 2021 when he stopped eating ...

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Sësàpe
Speckled Kingsnake

Sësàpe, a speckled kingsnake, joined us from the private collection of Frank Indiviglio, J.D., M.S., a long-time friend of TNC, retired Wildlife Conservation Society employee, and dedicated volunteer at the American Museum of ...

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Reptar
Bearded Dragon

Reptar came to us in 2019. He was found by someone walking in a local park and was hanging on a fence. We have to assume his former owner released him ...

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Megabloks
Leopard Gecko

Megabloks came to TNC in 2019 as an unwanted pet. Upon arrival Megabloks was very shy and scared. Usually attempting to flee and hide when being around people. Now Megabloks is happy as can be and love being held ...

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Invertebrates
Stick Insect

Walking sticks are a nocturnal insect which mimic tree branches. To help avoid detection they sway back and forth to mimic a branch blowing in the wind.

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Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches

Inca was formerly someone’s pet. The family that surrendered her was no longer interested in caring for her, and she was given to Rabbit Haven by the Sea, a NJ rescue organization located in Atlantic County. TNC staff were looking to provide a home for a chinchilla, and arranged to take care of Inca at TNC, where she joined us in 2021.

Our trio of Fancy Norway Rats came to TNC in 2024 from Small N’ Furry Rescue. This organization places small animals in need of caring homes, a mission we are proud to support! Rachel (Carson) and Hazel (Johnson) are sisters, and Autumn (Peltier) is the daughter of Rachel. These social mammals are a perfect species to showcase the adaptations of local relative rodents like squirrels, chipmunks, and mice.

Ruby was taken to a wildlife rehabilitator who guessed she had been stolen from the wild as a nestling. The rehabilitator was able to remove the string and most of the red nail polish but her eye injury was permanent. Ruby’s eye injury prevents her from seeing well enough to fly or hunt. Since she would not survive life in the wild, TNC volunteered to provide her with a new home and care for the rest of her life. Nine months later, her red tail feathers began to grow as she turned two years old. Ruby is now a healthy adult hawk. In 2016 Ruby celebrated her 10 year anniversary with TNC! She has been happy and healthy and continues to be used to educate adults and children.

Mene was found with an injured wing along a road in Pennsylvania. Most likely Mene was scavenging road kill when the force of the wind from a passing vehicle caused this light bird (owls’ bones are hollow) to be lifted up and dropped too quickly to react in a safe way. A wildlife rehabilitator treated its injured wing, which did not heal well enough to allow the owl to hunt and survive in the wild. Mene blinks his right eye more often than his left which suggests additional head trauma. Mene came to TNC in April of 2013. For birds like Mene found as adults, we cannot estimate age or sex. In 2021 Mene attracted the attention of a wild Barred owl who can now be seen and sometimes heard around TNC’s outdoor aviary.

Flint’s journey is a heartwarming example of the dedication and expertise at the Illinois Raptor Center (IRC). Since 1991, this organization has been a beacon of conservation and education, and Flint’s story adds a fascinating chapter to their legacy.

His parents, Scarlet and Wink, have been residents at IRC since 2013. For years, everyone believed they were both female—until 2018, when they surprised everyone by successfully breeding! Their unexpected pairing brought new life to the center and a unique opportunity to learn more about screech owls in captivity.

In the wild, screech owl parents provide constant care to their chicks, but in captivity, it’s a different story. IRC stepped in to hand-raise the chicks, following strict guidance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This meticulous process not only ensured the chicks thrived but also provided critical data to improve future rehabilitation efforts.

Today, Flint is more than just a success story; he’s an Animal Ambassador, helping connect people with nature. Through his role, he supports TNC’s mission, inspiring others to care for the environment and protect wildlife for generations to come.

Fred and Ethel were obtained through a reputable source for education purposes. Fred can easily be identified as a male by the circles behind his eyes which are called “tympanic membrane” The males will have a larger tympanic membrane than the eye and the females are about the same size or smaller than the eye. American bullfrogs produce a toxin in their skin making them an extremely unpleasant taste.

Our previous bullfrog ambassador was found at the TNC cul-de-sac when someone dumped their unwanted captive pet frog in a container in the middle of winter. A captive frog should never be released into the wild. The frog may be a non-native species that could establish a population in your neighborhood, where it may eat native species or compete with them limited food resources.

Alternatively, the frog may spread infectious diseases to a new frog population. The best thing to do if you have a pet frog you can no longer care for is to return the pet to the store from which you bought it; donate it to a local school (informing them why you do not want to set it free); or call up a local herpetological society to see if they would like to adopt your frog.

Wild was brought to TNC to be released, illegally and without permission from TNC, in 2001. A family had picked her up while on a road trip in Pennsylvania and kept her in their home in poor conditions. After realizing they did not know how to care for her properly they decided to put her back but couldn’t remember where in Pennsylvania she came from so they brought her to TNC. Since her original home territory was unknown, she could not be returned. Also, Wild was dangerously malnourished. Well cared for by TNC’s staff, she quickly regained her health.

Star is on permanent loan from local turtle specialists Joyce and the late Don Zeiller. In addition to helping to found TNC, they educated countless people about NJ turtles. Don would often point out the canine marks on her shell to illustrate the dangers of predation to turtles. Star’s injuries were caused by a domestic dog. You can sex box turtles by the color of their eyes. Red eyes are male, while orange-brown eyes are female. Both of our box turtles are female.

Maple is a wood turtle which are threatened in New Jersey mainly due to habitat loss.
 
She came to TNC from a breeder here in New Jersey so that she could help to educate others about the importance of keeping wood turtle habitat protected in NJ. Wood turtles are considered one of the smartest among all turtle species. They stomp the ground to create vibrations causing their prey such as worms to crawl up to the surface.
Confiscated from someone who was running a black market reptile trade these hatching Diamondback Terrapins came to live at TNC in 2020.

Their adult parent Diamondback Terrapins had been abducted from the wild and Hudson, Delaware & Chesapeake were born in captivity and therefore, cannot be released into the wild. They were less than 2 months old when TNC was contacted by a wildlife refuge outside of New Brunswick, NJ to privide them with a suitible home for the remainder of their lives (25-40 year).

Ellie is a wild born corn snake, also known as a red rat snake. Ellie was found with an injured tail, and was illegally taken in for treatment by someone who hoped  to use her for breeding purposes. Due to her time in captivity, she cannot be returned to the wild. Her importance as an endangered species in our state led to her placement at TNC by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection in 2013.

Olamani came to TNC in 2024  and was bred in captivity and was a pet that someone decided they no longer wanted or had the time to care for.

Both Corn Snakes are ready to teach others about their species. For example: Did you know that the corn snake is distinguished from other rat snakes by the stripe extending near the back of the eye past the corner of the jaw. Additionally, they have a beautiful bold checkerboard pattern of black and white on the underbelly.

Empress was purchased at a reptile expo by an individual owner, and is an example of an amelanistic morph. The owner was unable to provide quality care for her, and eventually surrendered her to Hudson Valley Reptile Rescue. She came to TNC with Rufus, our Yellow-red Rat Snake.

Originally purchased at an exotic animal expo, Rufus was surrendered to the Hudson Valley Reptile Rescue in the spring of 2021 when he stopped eating. Rufus flourished under their care, and after stabilizing came to the Tenafly Nature Center in January 2022.

Sësàpe, a speckled kingsnake, joined us from the private collection of Frank Indiviglio, J.D., M.S., a long-time friend of TNC, retired Wildlife Conservation Society employee, and dedicated volunteer at the American Museum of Natural History. Sësàpe brings a wealth of opportunity to engage visitors with the wonders of snake species and their role in our ecosystems.

Reptar came to us in 2019. He was found by someone walking in a local park and was hanging on a fence. We have to assume his former owner released him outside (even though this species is originally from Australia).

He is well-loved and cared for and does an excellent job educating others about his species.

Bearded dragons are called “bearded” because of the spikes and scales around their throat that resemble a pointy beard. They also expand their throat and can turn it black when threatened.

Megabloks came to TNC in 2019 as an unwanted pet. Upon arrival Megabloks was very shy and scared. Usually attempting to flee and hide when being around people. Now Megabloks is happy as can be and love being held and visited!

Leopard Geckos gets their name from the yellow coloring and brown spots on their body (which resembles a leopard). If they feel threatened, they can break off their tail to escape and grow it back later. Leopard gecko’s are different from other geckos as they lack adhesive lamellae preventing them from walking up vertical surfaces.

If they lose a limb, they can grow them back over time. Walking sticks feed on a variety of plants such as ivy and bramble.