Earthplace Animal Hall opens to Public; All Donations Matched as Funding for Animal Care Becomes Urgently Needed

Earthplace’s 10 Woodside Lane sanctuary building. 

Earthplace released this week that the Animal Hall has opened for visitors for the first time since March 2020 - continuing a decades-long tradition of visitors exploring nature at the 10 Woodside Lane sanctuary, and beginning a plea for donation dollars to care for the animals saved by the sanctuary.

Earthplace, a local non-profit nature center and preschool, has served the community of Westport since 1958 - now holding the largest piece of sanctuary property in Westport reserved for nature walks and outdoor discovery, and an expansive outdoor Birds of Prey exhibit. Their building houses the preschool classrooms and the Animal Hall - a section of the complex dedicated to taking care of both domestic and wild animals that have been injured or orphaned. The Animal Hall includes animals such as snakes, turtles, rabbits, ferritts, lizards, birds, and other animals in need of care and a home. The care for the animals and the staff who provide it are all funded by donation dollars, which after the loss of a major food source company, are needed now more than ever.

Several donors for Earthplace have pledged to match up to $20,000 in donations through the end of July. Each dollar raised goes towards the care of the animals, with the hope that the fundraising effort can support the animal programs for the year.

Earthplace’s Animal Hall opened once again for visitors. 

Throughout the pandemic, Earthplace’s doors might have been closed to visitors - but things behind them never stopped, as animal care technicians continued to care for the animals on-site. When many residents flocked to the outdoors during COVID-19 lockdowns, Earthplace opened up their Birds of Prey exhibit free of charge to allow visitors to enjoy the birds and continue to support the community. Now, the community resource is asking for support of their own.

Earthplace’s Animal Hall is open Monday-Saturday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Sunday. Earthplace offers yearly memberships, in addition to preschool programs, family programs and canoe trips, educational series, and childrens’ summer camps. Donations and more information can be accessed on their website.