Meet our animal ambassadors.
The animals in our care require feeding, enrichment, and medical care year-round. Your financial contributions allow us to provide the highest level of care available in captivity and to continue to use these animals to reconnect people with nature.
Why are these animals in captivity?
Whether they are endangered or threatened or a species in need of management, the animals we care for have generally been affected by humans in such a way that they can’t survive on their own in the wild.
They may have suffered an injury.
They may have been kept illegally as a pet.
They may be part of a species survival plan: Reflection Riding is one of 40+ facilities in the world that house one of the most endangered mammals in the world—the red wolf. Learn more about the red wolves right here in Chattanooga!
Want to learn more about our wildlife conservation programs? Check out our events page for public programs or book a behind-the-scenes wildlife tour.
Go behind the scenes with our animal ambassadors.
What species do we have in our care at the nature center?
Our collection changes as animals pass away, and not all animals are on display, but generally, we have the following species in our collection plan.
Mammals (Class Mammalia)
Birds (Class Aves)
American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Black vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus)
Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)
Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
*The International Crane Foundation still uses Grus Canadensis, while iNaturalist and IUCN use an updated taxonomy.