Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. (MWR) is thrilled to formally announce our plans to open the Valery E. Smith Nature Center in 2025, made possible through a generous grant from Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund. This exciting new community resource will be located at our current wildlife hospital on Arkabutla Lake in Coldwater, MS.
This project does not replace our long-term vision of building a brand-new facility at our ARK trails location. This was Valery’s dream, and her passion that sustained the organization she founded in 1995, lives on in our mission to save wildlife. While that larger goal remains a priority, the Valery E. Smith Nature Center serves as a crucial stepping stone on our path forward. This initiative reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship of resources and demonstrates our readiness to operate and manage a larger, more ambitious facility in the future. By taking this strategic step, we continue to build momentum toward our ultimate vision of expanding our capacity to save and protect wildlife.
The Valery E. Smith Nature Center will provide visitors with an immersive experience where they can connect with native wildlife and learn more about conservation efforts. Key features of the Nature Center will include:
- Raptor Garden: Observe our ambassador raptors up close in their newly designed enclosures.
- Native Plant Garden: Take a peaceful stroll through our garden, featuring a variety of Mississippi’s native plants which attract and support local birds and pollinators.
- Box Turtle Habitat: Witness the natural behaviors of box turtles in a dedicated habitat that mimics their natural environment.
- Interpretive Center: Enjoy live animal exhibits and interactive educational displays that offer insight into our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release native wildlife.
- Valery E Smith Memorial: Learn about the history of MWR as we honor our founder.
The Nature Center will be a free resource for the community, offering hands-on learning opportunities for children, families, and nature enthusiasts alike. It will be a place where MWR’s mission to protect native wildlife comes to life, allowing visitors to see the impact of our work firsthand.
“Entergy is excited to support Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation’s new effort to educate and connect visitors with conservation resources and native wildlife. For more than two decades, we have used our Environmental Initiatives Fund to invest in similar projects that promote environmental stewardship, and make lasting impacts on the communities we serve,” Haley Fisackerly, President and CEO of Entergy Mississippi.
We sincerely thank the US Army Corps of Engineers for their steadfast support, which has been instrumental in making this project a reality.
And a special thank you to Memphis Stone & Gravel for their ongoing support and providing resources to break ground on this project in January.
We look forward to welcoming the community to the Valery E. Smith Nature Center in 2025 and sharing our passion for Mississippi’s native wildlife. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to make progress on this exciting project.