Sweetbriar Nature Center – Doing Sweet Work for the Wildlife Community

Sweetbriar Nature Center is a not-for-profit organization located off Eckernkamp Drive, in Smithtown. Its 55-acre property is home to a wide variety of natural habitat, but also includes domiciled wildlife, a visitor’s center, a picnic area and a butterfly tent.

The center functions as an educational resource and venue, while also providing quality veterinary care and rehabilitation for injured, sick and orphaned wildlife.

Isabel Fernandes, the wildlife care coordinator at Sweetbriar, says that the center is currently housing about 110 animals. These include a bald eagle, a red-tailed hawk, several species of owls, rabbits, vultures and even an opossum or two. However, the lynx (bobcat) that was recently captured and brought to Sweetbriar, has been transferred to a new location, which Fernandes was not at liberty to disclose. The DEC (Department of Environment Conversation) was involved with the placement.

Many of the animals permanently residing at the nature center were injured and  required rehabilitated at Sweetbriar. They are typically either rescued or abandoned. They are now permanent residents because it would be unwise to release them back into the wild. Sweetbriar must file all the necessary permits with the State to house such wildlife.

When questioned as to how the animals get injured, Fernandes noted that, “it’s usually car strikes, and even wild felines (cats) can injure animals, including squirrels, birds or rabbits.” Eye and wing injuries are the most common.

Sweetbriar has a strong educational component, which also serves to bring in revenue. They host many events and educational programs for kids and adults. They also visit nursing homes and libraries to host discussions on wildlife and environmental conservation. Most of the events have a modest fee, such as the butterfly tent, but “visitors are free to walk the grounds and traverse the many walking trails,” says Fernandes. Once such nature trail leads to the Nissequogue River, about a half mile stroll.

While Sweetbriar has some full-time paid staff, they rely heavily on the 5-10 volunteers to keep the center running smoothly. Not only are the wildlife housed here, they must be fed and cared for. There is also the daily upkeep and maintenance for the center. Sweetbriar has arrangements with several area vets to handle the necessary veterinary care. Many of the volunteers and interns are on a career path toward wildlife conservation or veterinarian school.

When discussing the Covid-19 pandemic, Fernandes, who has a degree in wildlife management, explained “it was a genuine hardship, since they lost the summer school programs, which provide critical revenue for the center.” Although things are mostly back to normal now, “finances are always a concern,” says Fernandes.

Sweetbriar has a website, https://www.sweetbriarnc.org/, where visitors to the site can find information on the center’s mission, upcoming events, a photo gallery and information on how to donate or volunteer.