As stated in our 2023 Financial Report, last year, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge fed out 184,110 points of meat (an average of 550 lbs. of meat per day!). Carnivores require a strict, meat-based diet, and at the Refuge, we add additional supplements to account for the nutrients wild cats would obtain from feeding on a whole carcass. In the US, the average price of chicken right now is approximately $2 a pound. At retail value, this would cost the Refuge over $360,000 annually.
Thinking for our future, Turpentine Creek also ensures that we have a backstock supply of meat in the event of a shortage across the country. For example, after the pandemic, there were poultry shortages due to supply chain issues and large cases of bird flu that wiped out entire flocks. By keeping more than the minimum required to feed the animals, TCWR continues to present confidence in the face of challenges such as these.
Over the decades, we have made important partnerships in our local community to help ensure our mission continues. The corporate headquarters of Tyson Foods is located just a little over an hour away in Springdale, Arkansas. The generous organization has continued to donate to our organization, keeping the animals fed and truly making a difference.
In these last few months of the year, grocery stores will fill with a surplus of turkeys as the nation prepares for Thanksgiving and the holiday season. For the animals at the Refuge, this also becomes a very exciting time of year because of all the donated turkeys! The big cats love being able to eat full turkeys, which provide extra nutrition in the bones, skin, and giblets. While it is not a true full carcass meal, it is as close as it comes.
During turkey season, the cats get extra excited before feeding time as they wait to grab their prey victoriously. In addition to the donations we receive from Tyson, we will also organize a social media fundraiser for more turkeys during the season. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to help us bring joy to rescued animals during this time of year.