Sanibel Island truly has something for everyone, making it the ideal Florida vacation destination. There’s plenty of sun and sand to go around, and you can indulge in the delicious food made with fresh local ingredients. Perhaps where Sanibel truly shines is in its breathtaking nature. To truly get up close and personal with the phenomenal animal life on the island, you have to visit the Clinic for Rehab of Wildlife, also known as CROW. Conveniently located near our Sanibel Island beachfront rentals, CROW is your destination to learn more about Florida’s native wildlife.
History
The history of CROW can be traced back to Shirley Walter, who, in 1968, found a Royal Tern that was suffering injuries after being struck by a car. Shirley could find no resources to care for the bird, so she brought it home to heal it. Thanks to a team of volunteers, the rescue was successful, and CROW was born. The group answered more than 500 distress calls in the first year alone. CROW’s name was Shirley’s idea; she knew she wanted an acronym with the letter W for wildlife, and she thought crows to be one of the smartest birds.
In 1972, CROW was established as a non-profit organization. Just four years later, new city ordinances forced CROW to shut down, but Adelaide Cherbonnier offered her home for a temporary setup. The organization finally got to build its own facility in 1981.
Plan Your Stay
From north Captiva Island rentals to the south side of Sanibel, we’ve got it all! For more information on CROW, other activities in Sanibel and Captiva, and our full selection of Sanibel and Captiva Island rentals contact us today!
Education
CROW is dedicated not only to helping animals but also to educating the public about these magnificent creatures. Their Visitor Education Center is full of great resources that let you know about the day-to-day happenings of the campus. There is also a live video feed into the hospital and several rehab areas where you can observe the animals in real-time. You can also take part in daily presentations like “Why Animals Come to CROW” or “Wild About Rehabilitation.” These talks take 45 minutes to an hour, are held every weekday at 11 a.m., and will feature an Animal Ambassador.
One of the best ways to get to know the facility is through a “Wildlife Walk,” where a staff member will take you on a tour of the hospital to give you the inside scoop. You’ll get a special look into the treatment process and will get to see areas of the facility that are typically reserved. This event does require advance registration, so be sure to visit their website to get your spot.
General Information
CROW is located at 3883 Sanibel Captiva Road on Sanibel Island. From January 1 until April 30, the facility is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For the rest of the year, hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Adult admission (13+) is $12, youth admission (4-12) is $7, and children 3 and under are free.
CROW is an incredible resource for local animals, and they do an incredible job to educate visitors on what we can do to help. This is just one of the great attractions near our featured rental complexes on Sanibel Island. Gopher Rentals is proud to serve both Sanibel and Captiva Island and help show visitors why we love where we live! Gopher Enterprises is the premier vacation rental coordination service in the area, and we are dedicated to assisting guests in planning getaways from start to finish. No request is too big or too small, so we can help you find the perfect rental or tell you where to go for dessert.