Description: Animal Ambassador of the Month - May 2026
Location: Pickwick Landing State Park
About our captive animal program:
Under the provisions of an educational permit, we house, care for, and educate with native bird of prey species and snake species. These birds are all permanently non-releasable (meaning they will never be returned to the wild) due to an injury or human interaction. We never charge for an educational program with these amazing animals. Here, you have the opportunity to support one of these animals to assist us with the ongoing costs of caring for animals like these. Simply click the "register for event" button to continue. Please note these are set up as one-time payments. If you wish to fund more than one month, increase the "quantity" or stop back at a later date to make another donation.*
Our birds:
Arrow - Barred Owl - human imprint, rejected from nest and rescued as a baby
Elle (pronounced like the letter "L") - Red-tailed Hawk - partially flighted due to collision with a vehicle
Foshi - American Kestrel - rescued human imprint
Lieutenant Dan - Red-tailed Hawk - non-flighted (single-wing amputee) due to entanglement in a barbed wire fence
Mabel - Turkey Vulture - non-flighted (single-wing amputee) due to being shot
Mischief - Black Vulture - human imprint, rescued from construction site as a baby
Ollie - Eastern Screech Owl - lost his left eye due to collision with a vehicle
Owlbert - Great Horned Owl - human imprint due to human interference as a baby
Our snakes:
Speedy - Eastern Milk Snake
Athena - Eastern Kingsnake
Horton - Corn Snake
Ghost - Leucitic Corn Snake
If you prefer to donate a physical item, there are several things we could always use! Please email or call Interpretive Ranger Rachel to ask for a list of items that are currently needed.
A special note for hunters and anglers - we accept legally-harvested game animals/meat! Birds naturally eat a variety of food sources. Even after you have harvested your preferred cuts of meat, our birds would love the stuff that is left over! Donated meat helps to extend our supply of feeder rodents and chicks. We will need to check on a few things about the meat source, so please email or call Park Ranger Brandon or Interpretive Ranger Rachel before donating game meat.
We thank you for your generosity and support!
Program Host: Rachel Boothe
Contact Email: rachel.boothe@tn.gov
Contact Phone: 731-689-3129