Wildlife refuge - home to creatures great and small

Above, Amber, a red-fox patiently waits to return to her enclosure which is currently being used by a cougar. As soon as the cougar pen is built she will get her home back. -Staff photo by Briskin

October 18, 2001 -- Since February 2001 Central Texas has been home to some unique residents. Rescued from breeding facilities and turned over by disillusioned owners the lions, tigers and foxes of the International Wildlife Center have Nicole Ammon and James Garretson to thank for their new home.

Located on 12 acres east of Hillsboro in Frost, the non-profit center provides a refuge for animals that otherwise would have been put to sleep or forced to suffer in substandard living conditions.

According to Ammon she always knew she wanted to work with tigers. She attended Evergreen State College in Washington state and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mamology and Marine Biology.

In addition to her education she has worked and volunteered at numerous animal refuge centers and zoos. After Ammon left Washington she found a job in Arkansas at River Glen Tigers. It was at this facility that she teamed up with Garretson.

"River Glen Tigers was a big refuge with over 100 cats, but the lady who ran the place bred half her cats," said Ammon. "She wouldn't quit breeding which was against what James and I were trying to do."

When Ammon and Garretson left River Glen Tigers they decided to open their own refuge. Originally from Texas, Garretson was eager to return home so the two packed up their animals and relocated to Frost.

The center holds a Class C license under the United States Department of Agriculture. "This license allows us to have any type of wild, dangerous animal including lions, tigers, bears and even elephants," said Ammon. "Eventually we would like to be set up to have people come out and see the animals."

When the center was first established there was some concern in the surrounding community about the animals being allowed to run free. According to Ammon all the animals are contained in government regulated enclosures. "There are so many rules you have to follow," she stated. "The lions have to be behind double ten-foot fences and the pens must be double gated. The animals that can climb have to be in enclosures that are topped off."

Currently Ammon and Garretson have six lions, three 6-month-old Bengal tigers, three 1-month-old Bengal tigers, a cougar, two emus, a llama, two calves, a pot bellied pig, a fox, a great horned owl and more. Each of the animals came to the center from different sources.

"The Bengal tigers came from a backyard breeder," stated Ammon. "She was breeding for white tigers to sell for profit, but dumping the orange ones at facilities like ours." According to her some of the breeders will sell the cubs as young as 72-hours old.

The great horned owl was brought to the center after being hit by a car. According to Ammon the owl is blind in one eye and cannot hold its neck straight but has a fierce appetite.

The center has three bears and three camels being housed at other facilities until Ammon and Garretson can get additional enclosures built. To complete this the center needs building supplies, chain-link fencing, welding equipment and funds.

"The events of September 11 have hurt us really bad," said Ammon. "Before the attacks we were receiving donations through the mail, but we haven't gotten anything in the last few weeks."

A typical day at the center begins early in the morning said Ammon. They have to feed the babies first then they head out and feed the older animals. "The female lions eat about 10 pounds of raw meat a day and the males eat about 20 pounds," said Ammon. "The monkey goes through fruit like you would not believe."

According to Ammon they are trying to get a walk-in freezer and a refrigerator. "If you buy meat 1,000 pounds at a time it is cheaper," she said. "But right now we don't have any place to keep that much frozen meat."

In addition to food and building supplies the center is also in need of shade trees. Ammon and Garretson have made arrangements with an organization that will supply shade trees and plant them on the property for $300 each.

For more information about the center visit their web site at www.internationalwildlifecenter.org.