Open 361 Days a Year: Admissions 10:00am – 3:30pm; park closes at 4:30pm
The WNC Nature Center is open! Visitors will need to alter their typical route to accommodate for the loss of the Gashes Creek Bridge. Learn more at www.wildwnc.org/plan-your-visit.
Each month during our centennial year, we’ll be interviewing people who have had an impact on the Nature Center. This month we’re talking with Laura Pearson, who has been employed at the WNC Nature Center as an animal keeper since 2005!
What is your role at the Nature Center? I’m proud to be on the Animal Care team at the Nature Center. I rotate locations in the park weekly and work with a wide variety of species which definitely keeps it interesting! No two days at the Nature Center are the same.
How did your journey with the WNC Nature Center begin, and what keeps you coming back?
After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science, I visited Asheville and the WNC Nature Center. I knew on that visit that I wanted to work here and began volunteering soon after moving. After a year of volunteering, I was hired as a wildlife rehabilitation intern. I helped place injured and orphaned wildlife that arrived at the Center with licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Then, after approximately two years of volunteering and interning, I was hired as an Animal Naturalist. I was so excited to be given the opportunity to work here and still am to this day! I truly love working with wildlife and with such a wonderful group of people.
Can you share a favorite memory or experience at the Nature Center that stands out to you?
One of my favorite experiences at the Nature Center is from several years ago. I was the primary caretaker for a long-tailed weasel named Watson. He was one of our ambassador species that was used for educational programs around the park. Weasels are a very fun and interesting animal to work with and are still one of my favorites!
What is the greatest reward of your involvement with the Nature Center?
My greatest reward is being part of this community. I feel like as an adult I have “grown up here” and have met so many amazing people along the way. Several of my closest friends are people that I currently or previously have worked with. The staff and volunteers at the Nature Center are so kind and truly want to help each other out. I especially love seeing visitors that come to the Nature Center week after week. It is rewarding to see their friendly faces out in the park and get to know them over time. I am thankful to be a part of a wonderful community of like-minded people.
In your view, how does the WNC Nature Center go beyond being just a zoo?
Strolling along the Nature Center’s pathways is like taking a walk through the forest. The animals living at the Center are animals that are currently or previously native to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Their habitats are naturalistic, representing how their wild counterparts might live. The Nature Center is smaller than most zoos and provides a more intimate experience for its guests. There are several opportunities within the park for guests to relax in nature or to explore one of the many natural play areas.
How has the Nature Center contributed to conservation efforts in Western North Carolina?
The Nature Center has contributed to several local conservation efforts over the years. One of these is partnering with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission with BearWise. The Nature Center educates its visitors on how to safely coexist with native wild black bears. BearWise officials have an educational table and presentation at our summer event series, Brews & Bears. Also, in the past, Nature Center staff have our two resident black bears test trash cans for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in order to help design bear proof trash cans.
The Nature Center has also assisted in local reptile and amphibian conservation efforts. Currently, we participate in a head start program for juvenile box turtles and juvenile snapping turtles. These species reside at the Nature Center for a few years prior to being released back into the wild. This allows these turtles to get a “head start” that hopefully allows them to have better survivorship in the wild. Additionally, the Nature Center has also participated in Frog Watch training. This citizen science training teaches its volunteers how to identify frog and toad calls during breeding season and report their findings to assist with population counts.
The Nature Center assists butterfly populations by planting milkweed gardens for monarch butterflies. A new permanent Pollinator Garden exhibit will be opening soon that will help educate the public on the importance of helping pollinators.
What do you think the Nature Center’s 100-year legacy means to the community?
The Nature Center’s 100-year legacy shows that the Nature Center is highly valued by the community! People need a place to safely get outside with their family and connect with nature. The 100-year legacy shows that the Nature Center is a vital resource and here to stay.
What hopes do you have for the next 100 years of the WNC Nature Center?
I truly hope the Nature Center continues to showcase native flora and fauna. This location is so unique, and I wish for its preservation for the future! I would love to see the development of more education and citizen science conservation programs that support the local natural environment. I would also love to see the addition of more native species such as elk, bald eagle, and bats.
How can the community support the Nature Center’s mission moving forward?
The community can show support for the Nature Center by visiting regularly or becoming a member, if you haven’t already. Volunteering in areas like the farmyard, preparing animal diets, or serving as a docent are excellent ways to contribute! Providing feedback to our staff is helpful for us to not only enhance the visitor experience, but also guide us as we further the Nature Center’s mission of education and conservation. Even something as simple as spreading the word about the Nature Center is a valuable form of support!
What role do you see education playing in the future of wildlife conservation? What does this mean locally?
I wholeheartedly believe that it’s essential to teach future generations to value the nature found in their own backyards and local surroundings. Without an appreciation for our environment, we lose the motivation to protect it. Places like the Nature Center play a crucial role in educating people about the importance of preserving local forests and native species. Locally, this could involve teaching how to coexist with black bears, maintaining clean waterways to safeguard amphibians and fish, and learning methods to assist local pollinators like bats and insects.
If you could be any animal at the WNC Nature Center for a day, which one would you choose and why?
The bobcats! They are always so interactive with each other and their environment. I wish I had their agility and energy! They are definitely a favorite amongst our guests.
What’s one surprising fact about the Nature Center that most people don’t know?
Many people may not realize the diverse talents within the animal care department beyond animal caretaking. For instance, one of our animal keepers is a songwriter and musician, while a few others are talented artists. Another caretaker excels at writing and is working on a novel while another specializes in jewelry making and knitting. One member of our Animal Care team is an experienced carpenter while another has impressive skills creating intricate spreadsheets. Each of them has contributed their unique abilities to the Nature Center. Their contributions include serenading the animals, painting murals, crafting holiday decorations for animal enrichment, writing articles and manuals, designing habitats, and developing our enrichment and training program.
How would you describe the Nature Center in three words?
Are you interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer at the WNC Nature Center? Visit wildwnc.org/volunteers. To find out about future apprenticeships and employment opportunities, visit wildwnc.org/employment.
More Than A Zoo: Highlighting the personal connections and the broader impact of the WNC Nature Center in its 100th year Each
The Friends of the WNC Nature Center hosted their inaugural Heart of the Wild luncheon on March 9, honoring the Nature Center’s
More Than A Zoo: Highlighting the personal connections and the broader impact of the WNC Nature Center in its 100th year Each
Become a Nature Center member today and enjoy savings and benefits!
WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28805
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828-259-8080
[email protected]
Friends of the
WNC Nature Center
PO Box 19151
Asheville, NC 28815
828-259-8092
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