June 1 – Naturalists at Three Forks Nature Center say wild animals imprinted on humans cannot survive outside captivity, and they want to educate the public about the damage caused by attempts to domesticate wild animals.
The nature center is located in Sequoyah State Park in Hulbert and offers visitors the chance to learn about the park’s ecosystem and the animals that live there.
On Saturday at 9:30 a.m., naturalist Sierra Coon and other staff will talk to visitors about wildlife while feeding the animals during the Ambassador Feeding Program.
“It helps give people the opportunity to see the animals during feeding and ask questions about that animal or their species in real time,” Coon said.
The reason the animals live in the cages behind the center is so they cannot be released into the wild, Coon said.
“Our end goal is to educate the public about why it’s important to do that [if] they find a fox kit [for example] to not take it home and raise it,” Coon said. “It’s illegal and that’s what rehabbers are for: to get these animals back into the wild.”
When an animal is kept as a pet, it gets an impression of people and thinks they must be there for food, Coon said.
A female barred owl on the property is about to turn 25 years old and lives in a high cage.
“She and her sibling were blown out of their nest and both went to rehab and both left a big mark on people,” Coon said. “The sibling went to another park and he died of old age.”
In the wild, these owls live 5 to 8 years, but in captivity they can live much longer. The owl follows a human schedule, which is why she was outside during the day, Coon said.
Two foxes played together in a large enclosure that provided trees to climb and hiding places.
“One was an illegal pet and was kept in a home for her first year of life,” Coon said. “People didn’t want to keep her because she was digging holes and spraying their house, which smells like skunk spray.”
The other fox was a neighborhood pet that all the neighbors fed.
“Everyone played with her and petted her and she quickly bonded with people,” Coon said. “She was emaciated, nothing but skin and bones. She was able to regain her weight, but her bond with people never went away, so she lives with us.”
A river otter was an illegal pet for several months and people fed it only frozen fish fillets and it developed a metabolic disease, Coon said.
“Luckily we got him at a young age and started the long process of getting him to walk, run and swim,” Coon said. “He can now walk, run and swim, but he will be affected by this disease forever.”
On Sundays at 1 p.m., the snakes staying at the center are fed and lectures are given on why the species is so important. Reptile programs share the snakes housed at the center, as well as replicas of snakes found throughout the state.
“We’re talking turtles, lizards, snakes — anything in the reptile category,” Coon said. “How to Identify Different Animals – the Differences Between Venomous and Non-venomous Snakes.”
Coon recommends joining a social media group about snakes, or buying a book about the Oklahoma species, to learn the differences, because nature loves to mimic.
“There are some species of snakes that often ‘reflect’ a venomous snake, but are not,” Coon said. “Nine out of 10 snakes are terrified of people and want to get away unless cornered.”
The park is 2,200 acres and there is a lot to do, both on land and off, Coon said. The marina houses more than 400 moorings and boats and AquaTrikes are available for hire. RV parking is available – full hookup or the option to use a dump station and tent sites.
Horse stables offer visitors the opportunity to rent a horse and take a ride on the horse trails. Sequoyah Golf Course, a 9-hole course, is located within the park. Sequoyah Lodge has cabins and hotel rooms, and a recreation center.
“The recreation department is where every visitor can go, whether they are staying in the park or not,” Coon said.
Every day at 11am there is arts and crafts in the recreation department, and guided walks are given in the mornings.
“Thursday through Saturday we are making snow cones – people can buy them from 3 to 5 p.m.,” Coon said. “And we have Trivia, Bingo, karaoke and fishing on the dock.”
An activities list is posted on Sequoyah State Park’s Facebook page each week, Coon said.
