One of the most popular attractions in the Palm Beaches, McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary in The Acreage is celebrating its 35th anniversary this summer.
From humble beginnings on a 1.25-acre lot, the wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit has grown into the top-rated attraction in Palm Beach County for the past 13 years on Trip Advisor. Along the way, the sanctuary has rescued more than 10,000 native animals and hundreds of exotic creatures ranging from big cats to venomous snakes.
Founder Mark McCarthy likes to tell the story of how, at only 16 years old, he volunteered with the Detroit Zoo and went on a successful snake-collecting adventure in Arizona. He kept a few rattlesnakes for his own collection, which his mother refused entry to the house.
Undeterred, McCarthy bagged his rattlesnakes and hitchhiked for three days from Michigan to South Florida, where he sought a job in the Miami Serpentarium, then one of the largest snake exhibitions in the world. He was turned down on his request for a job, until director Bill Haast saw the writhing burlap bag of rattlesnakes, learned McCarthy’s snake-loving story, and hired him on the spot.
McCarthy has been in the wildlife business ever since, starting McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary on July 1, 1990. Reservations are required to visit the eight lush acres of endangered wildlife surrounded by a botanical garden situated in the palmetto and pine forest of the western communities.
Visitors from all over the world are attracted by the more than 150 animals, including white tigers, African lions, black leopards, ligers, lynx and Amur leopards, all seen from just four feet away. Visitors can also enjoy hands-on experiences with alligators, snakes, tarantulas and a cuddly kinkajou.
Visitors Jackie Toponce and her mom, Keri, loved their visit. Jackie, who wants to be a wildlife veterinarian, came to Florida all the way from Salt Lake City specifically to visit the sanctuary.
“The two places in Florida I wanted to see were Disney World and McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary,” she said. “Neither disappointed, and I love how up close and personal we can get with big cats here. I also loved handling the snake and the tarantula.”
Her mother added, “Jackie loves animals, so we plan trips to major wildlife sanctuaries. McCarthy’s is one of our favorites, and Trip Advisor says it’s in the top 10 percent of attractions globally.”
Kelly Reaves and granddaughter Reagan agree, having traveled from Washington D.C. Five-year-old Reagan especially enjoyed handling the kinkajou but passed up opportunities to handle live snakes. But Allie Rafkin and Parker Zaffarese, visiting from New Jersey, took every opportunity to handle creatures, such a 60-pound albino Burmese python.
Reservations are required, and adult visitors pay $50 while children pay $40 for a comprehensive tour that takes about two hours. McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit wildlife rescue facility that takes in injured native wildlife, orphaned babies and unwanted exotic pets. Donations and admission fees help with the tremendous expense of caring for the animals.
When asked for the most important thing he has learned doing wildlife rescue for 35 years, McCarthy’s replied, “You can dream all you want, but to make it happen, you have to put in the blood, sweat and tears.”
So, McCarthy put in the hard work and long hours, including one time when the phone rang in the middle of the night.
“I got a call at 2 a.m. from Lt. Rick Brown of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission,” McCarthy recalled. “He is the officer in charge of the Orlando district. He told me that he had just seized a tiger and a cougar from a Motel 6 in Orlando, and he had no place to house them. He asked if I would come and pick them up. I immediately drove up there, and sure enough there was a tiger and a cougar. The owner was not licensed and was illegally exhibiting before he was arrested. So, I named the tiger Slammer and the cougar Repo, because the owner got thrown in the slammer and his cats got repossessed.”
He also recalled the times when his father used to worry about whether McCarthy could make his living as a snake handler and wildlife rescuer. “My proudest moment in this 35-year journey was when my dad asked to be buried in a McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary shirt,” he said.
McCarthy invites interested animal lovers to make a reservation for a visit. Don’t want to get up close with the animals? You can still make a donation.
“Donations are how we get by, and it takes thousands of dollars to keep the facility running and giving the utmost, top care for our animals,” McCarthy said. “We have received a $100,000 challenge grant. Every dollar you donate is matched up to a $100,000, and that challenge ends Sept. 30.”
McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 12943 61st Street North. For additional information, call (561) 790-2116 or visit www.mccarthyswildlife.com.
