Visit Chattanooga Nature Center's newly-updated Red Wolf Exhibit

Visit Chattanooga Nature Center's newly-updated Red Wolf Exhibit

A newly created natural habitat for the Nature Center's three endangered Red Wolves opens to the public on September 19 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Native trees, shrubs, groundcover and wildflowers, including the endangered Tennessee Coneflower, have been added to the wolves' exhibit area. There's also a waterfall, a pond and an Endangered Species Education Pavilion to enhance visitors' enjoyment and understanding of the national Red Wolf Recovery Program.

"The wolves are curious about the new additions in their exhibit," says James Thompson, Endangered Species Coordinator at the Chattanooga Nature Center and staff lead on the exhibit enhancement project. "We see their footprints all around the stream and pond. And other wildlife is already taking advantage of the additions. Tadpoles and dragonflies are in the water elements, while the bees and butterflies are enjoying the new flowers and shrubs."

The Nature Center staff began the project in July with the support and involvement of several local businesses. Now they will monitor the wolves and their behavior in the new exhibit area and submit the results to the national Red Wolf Recovery Program, with recommendations for national exhibit enhancement efforts.

The Nature Center will host an Open Den Day on Saturday, September 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the public to view the Red Wolves' new exhibit. The public is invited to view and learn about the Red Wolves every day at 3 p.m.

The Chattanooga Nature Center, an environmental education center and wildlife rehabilitation clinic, is located on the west side of Lookout Mountain along Lookout Creek, just minutes from downtown Chattanooga.

For more information about the Center and the Red Wolves exhibit, call 615/821-1160 or write Chattanooga Nature Center, 400 Garden Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37419.