Meet our Wildlife Ambassadors

Beaux, our Barred Owl, has been a favorite ambassador with visitors since he came to Ruffner Mountain in 1999.  Beaux fell from his nest as a baby, which caused a severe eye infection and glaucoma, eventually requiring complete surgical removal of his left eye.  While he can fly, he has issues with depth perception and cannot hunt, which means he cannot be released. Beaux has had a successful career as an educator for many years, but due to his advanced age and arthritis, he has retired from educating. However, he loves to perform the traditional Barred Owl “who cooks for you” call and is on permanent public display at Ruffner Mountain.  Barred Owls are the most common owl in Alabama, and the one that most people hear in their backyards. Come by and pay him a visit!

Visitors and audiences alike have been amazed at Grady’s size when they meet him for the first time! Gray Ratsnakes are the largest snakes in Central Alabama, reaching lengths of up to 6 feet. Grady is 5’5” and very sweet and gentle. He came to us in 2005 after being kept as a pet, but then getting too large to manage. Grady reminds us to always research a pet before committing to them, and he also teaches us that even though Alabama snakes can get large, they deserve to be respected, not feared. Swing by the Nature Center at Ruffner Mountain and see if you are as tall as Grady is long!

Monte the Northern Pinesnake is named after the Montane Longleaf Pine Ecosystem, which is one of the last remaining places where this species still exists in Alabama. Monte has a very important message: her species is threatened and very rare in Alabama due to habitat destruction and loss of the endangered Coastal and Montane Longleaf Pine Ecosystems. Once the most biodiverse and expansive ecosystem in the southern United States, only 5% of this beautiful ecosystem remains. Jefferson County Greenways is one of the few places where you can meet a Northern Pinesnake up-close in Alabama, so we would love for you to meet Monte and be inspired to protect what is left of her home.

Shade the Spotted Salamander is named after Shades Creek in Homewood, a very important Spotted Salamander habitat. Shade educates about the necessity of protecting vernal pools and streams, which are important breeding grounds for salamanders.  Unfortunately, humans often see these habitats as “ditches” or culvurts, which they often destory for developments.  Shade attends the Salamander Festival in Homewood every year to raise awareness about protecting salamanders and their habitat, especially during winter salamander migration.

Terra’s scientific name, Terrapene carolina, means “eastern earth-foot”, and Terra’s name means “earth” - because Box Turtles are the only terrestrial turtle in Central Alabama. Terra came to us in 2004 after being taken out of the wild by someone who didn’t understand the importance of not disturbing wildlife regardless of where you find it.  Because we are unsure of exactly where she came from, we cannot safely return her to the wild.  She now lives with us and educates people about the importance of leaving wildlife where you find it.  Terra is young and could live to be over 100 years old, so we hope that she will inspire many more generations of people to love the natural world around them. 

‍

Ziggy is an Eastern Screech Owl, the smallest owl in Alabama.  Due to her small size, she is often confused for a baby owl even though she is a fully-grown adult.  Ziggy cannot be released because she is blind in one eye and cannot fly due to a car strike.  Sadly, car strikes are the primary cause of raptor injury due to roadside litter - roadside litter attracts rodents, and rodents attract birds of prey. Due to her age, Ziggy only does on-site programs.  If you come by the Nature Center at Ruffner Mountain you may catch a glimpse of her!