Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Conservation Projects at Drumlin Farm
Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary is actively involved with a variety of projects that relate to wildlife care and monitoring.
Wildlife Care
Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary is unique in its position as an environmental education center, working farm, and wildlife sanctuary, which includes a collection of native wildlife in our care.
Most of our animals are used in educational programming both on and offsite, and the rest are species ambassadors that reside in public exhibits around the farm. A team of teacher naturalists work with our educational animals to teach people of all ages about wildlife and the importance of conserving the natural world. Drumlin Farm currently cares for more than 70 individuals that belong to more than 30 species of wildlife native to Massachusetts.
A Note on Injured Wildlife
While some of our wildlife residents do require special care as a result of their injuries, we aren't a rehabilitation center and cannot accept injured wildlife. If you encounter an injured animal, please contact your local wildlife rehabilitator. Find a list on MassWildlife's website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Drumlin Farm connects people to nature through unique opportunities to observe native New England wildlife up close. The animals in our care are all non-releasable, meaning that their injuries or history with humans make them unable to survive in the wild on their own. At Drumlin Farm, they serve as wildlife ambassadors to help educate people about the native animals of Massachusetts, the unique adaptations of their species, and how to protect them.
The wildlife care team at Drumlin Farm all have professional training in working with wild mammals, birds, and other species. Each animal has a detailed plan of care that reflects its unique needs and temperament, including diet and medical care. Our care team forms strong emotional ties with all of our animals. Each of them receives daily human interaction while the staff is engaged with feeding, cleaning, enrichment, behavioral training and routine health care. At the same time, we do recognize that these animals in our care are not pets. We treat them with the respect and caution that we give to all wildlife.
Our wildlife enclosures are sized for the species of animal and provide enough room for their comfortable and safe movement. Public wildlife exhibits include both outdoor natural areas as well as indoor spaces for those that need it during nighttime, feeding, and when the animals need a quieter environment. Our facilities are inspected on a regular basis to ensure that our enclosures and care protocols meet all required standards.
There are two main areas of the sanctuary where Drumlin Farm’s wildlife ambassadors can be viewed by the public. The aviaries on Bird Hill are home to a variety of raptors, including owls, hawks, and vultures. New England Wildlife Explorations, located near the base of Bird Hill, includes a large outdoor fox enclosure as well as several smaller spaces for small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Animals may rotate in these enclosures depending on their particular needs and availability.
Drumlin Farm also has a variety of wildlife ambassadors that travel for educational programs. These animals are housed in our separate Wildlife Care Center facility and are not on public display at the sanctuary.