Ponce Inlet's Marine Science Center is holding its 2025 Wildlife Festival on Saturday, November 1st, the institution announced. The event will run from late morning into the early afternoon, with free admission.
According to the Volusia County government, the festival will have a focus on one of Florida's most well-known and commonly seen reptile species: the gopher tortoise. Those who attend will have the opportunity to learn about the role the tortoises play in the ecosystem.
Gopher tortoises are known to occur in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama as well as small portions of South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana. They're listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one step above being endangered.
Threats to gopher tortoise populations include habitat loss, climate change, and vehicle strikes. The tortoises' burrows are considered a critical resource for over 350 species which also use them, according to the Marine Science Center.
There will be a live animal presentation at the festival, with educational material about the ecological role and biology of the gopher tortoise. The festival won't merely feature tortoises, however.
Attendees will have the chance to get up close with raptor birds and reptile species currently residing in the Marine Science Center's animal rehabilitation hospitals. Kids will have interactive activities with displays, crafts, and games designed for all ages.
Local environmental groups will be on-hand to connect with the public and create pathways for residents to get involved in preserving their environment. New exhibits at the Marine Science Center will be available to view, and there will be eco-friendly vendors present.
Admission to the 2025 Wildlife Festival is free. Parking will be limited, organizers say, and so if spots fill up at the Marine Science Center there will be additional parking behind the 7-Eleven convenience store at Winter Haven Park. A free shuttle service will be provided. Attendees are asked not to park directly in front of the 7-Eleven store, however, at the risk of being towed.
The facility is located at 100 Lighthouse Drive in Ponce Inlet. More information on the Marine Science Center and the 2025 Wildlife Festival is available at the institution's website or by calling (386) 304-5545.
