About Us
It’s time to turn a little screen time into “green time”!
Together, let’s unplug and reconnect with Nature – and Human Nature!
Operating in the NH Seacoast region in some form since 2002, today the Wildlife Encounters Ecology & Wellness Center is a private nature-based educational entity that has grown and developed to manage a 77 acre nature preserve in Barrington, NH and a USDA licensed dependent-wildlife sanctuary in Rochester.
We aim to improve globally-oriented environmental literacy, awareness & engagement to effect positive change for the environment, biodiversity and the health our community and visitors to the region.
Between our two locations, which we hope to eventually consolidate, we offer private guided tour experiences, facilities that can be booked for small gatherings (such as birthdays), and regular events that we host.
As we progress we look to add forest therapy, or guided “forest bathing” experiences, nature-based yoga, on-site retreats, glamping accommodations and more!
Wildlife Encounters offers a Membership Program with an amazing range of benefits, and of course we continue the 20 year long practice of offering and delivering top-quality, professional and humane live-animal educational outreach programs across several New England states.
Learn more below about our Animals, Team, Facilities, and FAQs
Mission & Values
We believe that public education through improving environmental literacy, awareness and engagement can and will facilitate a positive change in human and societal behaviors and practices that are key to the objective of living environmentally and personally responsible lives that will help conserve and protect global biodiversity while maximizing human health and quality of life.
Our philosophy, morality, conduct and messages focus on communicating the interdependent relationship between our three core mission components: Animals, People and Earth.
We are excited to introduce you to our dependent, non-releasable Ambassador Animals that represent a spectrum of native New England wildlife, wildlife native to other habitats across the globe, small animals commonly seen as pets, and domestic farm animal breeds.
Our dedicated staff and animals have been working together since 2002 to connect students and the public with science, conservation, nature & human nature.
Our animals live with us because they were either:
Injured in the wild and are not able to survive independently, and subsequently placed in our care through a rehabilitation facility.
Exploited by the illegal trade in wildlife and placed with us by law enforcement authorities.
Captive-bred in a US-based protected environment to participate in public education and species/biodiversity conservation efforts.
KEY to Understanding Our Animals!
- BLACK = NO CONTACT.
- GREEN = interactive, contact may be allowed at our discretion.
- Asterisk (*) = only eligible for school presentations and GLOBALtour Encounters
- Down Arrow (↓) = little animals under 3 pounds (i.e. for the Tiny Creatures Program)
Legal restrictions prohibit public contact with many of our animals.
Some animals are retired or not offered for outreach programs
Some animals only travel with senior staff, and are only available for outreach in certain situations.
About Our Animals
Featured Sanctuary Tour or Ecology Center Species!
- NOTE: These animals do NOT participate in outreach programs or services.
- Adult African Crested Porcupine – “Domino”
- African Serval Cat – “Isis”
- Bennett’s Wallaby – “Savannah”
- Large American Alligator (6’+) – “Cajun”
- Large Burmese Python (100+ lbs) – “Nimue”
- Turkey Vulture – “Ivan”
- Giant Sulcata Tortoise (100+ lbs) – “Tudor”
- Red-eyed Tree Frog
- Axolotls
- Pony – “Oscar”
- Sicilian Mini-donkey – “Bambi”
- Katahdin Hair Sheep
- Mini-pigs
- Dwarf Pygmy Goats
MANY MORE ANIMALS may be seen during your visit, but there is always the chance they may be away at a school, library or birthday party…
Farm animals are only able to be visited at the Barrington location.
Ambassador Animals available for Traveling Outreach Programs - as well as many on-site visitor experiences!
MAMMALS
* Gray Fox
* Arctic Fox
* Bennett’s Wallaby
↓ Fennec Fox
North American Opossum
↓ Striped Skunk
Brazilian “Monkey-tailed” Porcupine
South American Coatimundi
* ↓ Brush-tailed Bettong (rat-kangaroo)
↓ 3-Banded Armadillo
Patagonian Cavy / Mara
↓ Chinchilla
↓ African Pygmy Hedgehog
↓ Australian Lesser Flying Phalangers (sugar gliders)
↓ Guinea Pig
REPTILES
↓ Smooth-fronted Caiman
↓ American Alligator
Black-throated Monitor Lizard
Red Tegu Lizard
↓ Argentine Black & White Tegu
↓ Solomon Island Giant “Monkey-tail” Skink
↓ Blue-tongued Skink
↓ Australian Bearded Dragon
↓ Crested Gecko
↓ Leopard Gecko
↓ Veiled Chameleon
*↓ Burmese Python
*↓ Granite Burmese Python
↓ Australian Carpet Python
↓ Australian Woma Python
↓ African Royal Python (Ball Python)
Red-tailed Boa Constrictor
↓ California Banded Kingsnake
↓ Corn Snake
↓ Hognose Snake
Sulcata Tortoise
Leopard Tortoise
Red-footed Tortoise
↓ Russian Tortoise
↓ Hermann’s Tortoise
↓ Box Turtles (3-Toed & Ornate)
Northern Snapping Turtles
Alligator Snapping Turtles
↓ Red-eared Slider Turtle
↓ Yellow-bellied Slider
↓ Painted Turtle
BIRDS
Green wing Macaw
Blue & Yellow Macaw
Moluccan Cockatoo
↓ White (Umbrella) Cockato
AMPHIBIANS & INVERTEBRATES
↓ all species in this category are under 3 lbs
Giant Marine Toad (cane toad)
Smooth-Sided Toad
African Giant Bullfrog
Malayan Leaf Frog
Australian White’s Tree Frog
Tiger Salamanders
Madagascan Tomato Frog
Red-eyed Tree Frog
Gray Tree Frog
African Emperor Scorpion
Blue Feigning Death Beetles!
African Giant Millipede
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches
Dubia Roaches
Vinegaroon
Curley-haired Tarantula
Rose-haired Tarantula
- NOTE – despite a lack of legal restrictions, we do not allow physical contact with extremely sensitive, or venomous species
FARM ANIMALS
Flemish Giant Rabbit
↓ Himalayan Lion-Maned Rabbits
Our Facilities
Our USDA-licensed legacy facility of the last 18 years, features indoor and outdoor habitats for many of our dependent Ambassador Animals, due to the seasonality of our New England climate and the biodiversity of species in our care.
Effective September 2020, we offer small group guided Sanctuary Tours. Animal on exhibit at any particular visit will vary based on a variety of factors, including the fact that this facility also supports our Community Outreach services.
Check the On-Site Programs page for details and to come visit us!!
Our second USDA-licensed location is 8.6 miles south on Beauty Hill in Barrington. In the summer of 2017, we secured a deal to preserve the historic 77-acre Swain family farmstead, developing it into a nature preserve, endangered native species protected habitat, and our developing “Ecology & Wellness Center.”
We envision this space offering a unique science and nature-based community education experience here in the NH Seacoast region! Featuring an old historic farmhouse, a recently re-located barn, and education field at the roadside and a forest full of small ponds, vernal pools, seasonal wetlands, an upland ridge and steep hillsides with small cliffs – the old farm roads and new trails offer opportunities for endless guided immersive learning and experiences!
Neither location features a zoo, nature park or public trails. We are fully insured, as well as licensed/permitted and inspected by the USDA, US Fisheries & Wildlife, NH Fish & Game, and other local, state and federal agencies, authorities and organizations with concern for animal and environmental welfare. Learn more below in our FAQs.
Meet Our Team
The Staff and Education Team at Wildlife Encounters is a small and extremely dedicated group of teachers, naturalists, and animal care professionals that are passionate about education, helping others engage in a healthy lifestyle and understanding the natural world, while of course – helping animals in need.
Founder, Director, & Environmental Educator
Derek has been delivering live-animal educational programming in New England since 2002. He is known as an excellent teacher, environmental steward, and professional presenter. He is a member of the Zoological Association of America, the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, and a consultant to Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, among other notable positions.
Office Manager, Social Media Manager & Wellness Facilitator
Jackie is who you will likely connect with by phone or email! Contributing as our primary administrative & booking contact, she balances that with her fill time job as a paramedic.
She is a mom of 3 kids, is obsessed with frogs and lives in Barrington, NH. She & Derek married at the ecology center in September 2022 and shortly thereafter they launched the “Wildlife & Wellness Retreat” program which she is spearheading along with other wellness related services.
Environmental Educator
Colby joined our Education Team in the summer of 2021 and is a resident of Biddeford, Maine.
Animal Care Team
Riley helps us do it all. She has grown up with the staff and the animals at Wildlife Encounters as a part of her everyday life. You may see her supporting tours, assisting in outreach programs, and helping to groom and care for certain animals.
Environmental Educator
Meghan is a science teacher in the Salem, NH School District. A more complete profile is coming soon.
We are always looking for individuals who are skilled and want to share their passion! Feel free to connect with us anytime regarding opportunities to work with our team as a volunteer, intern or even employee!
Ambassador Animal Facility
Rochester, NH
OFFERING
Private Sanctuary Tours
Outreach & Educational Services
Call or contact us online took book!
Ecology & Wellness Center
OFFERING
Private Farm Tours & Nature Hikes
Environmental Seminars & Events
In The Cloud (Virtual)
Serving Anywhere & Everywhere!
OFFERING
Animal Presentations – Wildlife Encounters!
Perfect for classrooms, camps, community recreation programs and more, all managed through screen sharing services like Zoom!
FAQs
No. Though some of our legal permits and inspections are the same that Zoo’s are required to maintain and pass, neither our Ambassador Animal Sanctuary nor the Ecology Center & Farm School property in Barrington are zoos or public nature parks where the public can just visit unannounced and pay admission. All of our services at this time are offered by appointment / booking and are guided or instructor-led experiences. Worth noting however that the owners and some staff are however professional members of various zoological, wildlife and conservation entities and many have degrees in biology, ecology, sustainable agriculture, conservation and more.
We are licensed / permitted as necessary to import and exhibit our Ambassador Animals in the following New England states – NH, ME, MA, VT & CT. *Some animals do not do outreach, some farm animals do not leave NH, and some services are offered for a limited travel distance. Presentations offered ANYWERE online through Zoom, Google Meets, and more!
The most fundamental biological mandate of all living things is to reproduce and pass on it’s genetic traits. It is the root of all biological desires and behaviors, and the most natural “right” of all things to pursue in the attempt to ensure the survival of it’s species. The conservation of biodiversity and preservation / restoration of populations of many plants and animals, from the American Chestnut Tree to the California Condor depend strongly on well managed captive breeding programs, which we strongly support, but do not participate in directly.
We directly invested in and work daily to conserve the habitats and species that call home, our 77 acre nature preserve. Education of the public on conservation issues so they can make informed decisions with regard to land management, goods & food consumption and more is a pillar of our daily efforts. We also actively support, advocate for and network with our peers and friends with complimentary missions, from our local Conservation Commission, to our state agency, the the NWF & WWF.
Though we do not currently participate in any of the reproductive conservation efforts (AMP/SSP) for captive propagation of endangered species, we do support and advocate for them so long as they are conducted ethically and as naturally as possible. Furthermore, we fundamentally disagree with and strongly oppose the efforts by small ideologically-driven segments of society to deprive domestic and wild animals and plants of their reproductive rights – and further oppose their long term agenda of domestic animal extinction and exclusion of animals from human society.
Yes. We are fully licensed and permitted, regularly visited and/or inspected by and in compliance with: the City of Rochester, Town of Barrington, Rochester PD/Animal Control, NH Fish & Game, NH Department of Agriculture, USDA, and US Fisheries & Wildlife.
Yes.
Wildlife Encounters® Logo Banner with animals – for community outreach program advertising.
Wildlife Encounters Ecology & Wellness Center – official entity logo
