Arnold’s Wildlife in Okeechobee
Visiting with a lynx at Arnold's
For more than a decade, Sue Arnold has been rehabilitating and caring for native and exotic wildlife at Arnold’s Wildlife. With a group of dedicated volunteers, she handles more than 700 animals a year through the complex, and some have become permanent residents, including Florida panthers rescued from overpopulated zoos; hurricane victims like Dolly and Casper, a pair of cockatoos; lemurs without a home; and dozens of other raptors, marsupials, and felines. Guinea hens squawk as a panther paces a few feet away, and native deer roam through the garden. More than 720,000 children visit the center each year. But it’s more than a wildlife rehab center with the addition of Arnold’s Butterfly Haven, an integral part of the outdoor experience on this family ranch. Step through the arbor and into a world where hundreds of butterflies flit about, entirely free-roaming, attracted by the colorful and aromatic plantings along garden paths arranged in the shape of our state butterfly, the zebra longwing. More than 57 species have been documented living, breeding, and feeding in this skillfully created garden. Climb to the top of the observation deck for a birds-eye view. A 1.5-mile nature trail circles around the property.
Arnold’s Wildlife
14895 NW 30th Terrace off NW 144th Rd, Okeechobee
Approx 10 miles N along US 441, left turn at sign
Open 9-6 daylight savings time and 10-5 the rest of the year
$10 donation for tour
