How Much Does It Cost to Open a Wildlife Sanctuary?

The cost of opening a wildlife sanctuary can vary widely, depending on the types of animals you intend to rescue and the infrastructure you need to build. Acquiring a sanctuary is more than just providing a home for animals; it involves a range of financial, legal, and logistical considerations. In this article, we will explore the different factors that can influence the cost and provide a detailed breakdown.

The Cost Breakdown

Rescuing Small Animals:

For the rescue of tiny animals such as squirrels, small lizards, and weasels, the initial cost can be relatively low. You might need to convert a room in your home and create individual enclosures, which could cost a few thousand dollars. Additional expenses include permits, incorporation, and paperwork, which could also add a few thousand dollars. Food costs are generally modest, as these animals have small dietary requirements.

Rescuing Birds:

When it comes to birds, the costs can increase due to the additional licensing and paperwork required. You will need a migratory bird permit, which may add to the overall financial burden. The equipment needed for these birds, such as perches, nesting boxes, and aviaries, can be substantial. However, the environmental controls and space requirements are generally less than those for larger animals.

Rescuing Larger Animals:

For larger animals like bears, the costs are significantly higher. Rescuing grizzly bears, for example, would require at least a million dollars to build safe enclosures and handle the animals. Food and handling equipment are crucial, and there are also the expenses of purchasing several acres of land. Permits may be difficult to obtain, and local neighbors might protest the presence of such large animals in close proximity. Food costs are particularly high for bears, especially during the hyperphagic phase in autumn, where they consume a large amount of food.

Meeting Special Needs:

Other animals may have unique requirements, such as beavers needing water, ospreys eating fish, cheetahs needing spacious areas, porcupines requiring climbing opportunities, badgers needing digging spaces, picas requiring cool temperatures, and bats needing flight and insect control.

Additional Costs and Volunteers

Food Storage and Handling: If you have large animals or many of them, you will need to store food. Large carnivores, such as grizzly bears, must have a walk-in freezer to store meat. Grazing animals, such as cows, will require either a lot of grazing land or a barn full of hay.

Staff and Training: A sanctuary with more than a spare bedroom’s worth of bunnies and chipmunks will need help. Start with volunteers and then train keepers as the sanctuary grows or as the animals become more exotic. Experienced staff with relevant college degrees are necessary for well-managed operations.

Veterinary Services: Maintaining the health of wild animals requires skilled veterinarians who specialize in wildlife medicine. Ensure you have a working relationship with these professionals and a way to pay for their services.

Conclusion

The cost of setting up a wildlife sanctuary is highly dependent on the specific needs and types of animals you plan to rescue. While starting with small animals might be affordable, larger and more unique species can be extremely costly. Additionally, the legal and logistical hurdles associated with larger animal sanctuaries should not be underestimated. Therefore, the answer to how much it costs to open a wildlife sanctuary is that it depends on a variety of factors including the type and number of animals, required facilities, permits, and ongoing maintenance costs.