UPDATE: Sapphire!

Have you been wondering how the Sanctuary's newest resident, a cougar named Sapphire, is doing since her arrival at IEAS two months ago? Well, in short, she's doing wonderfully!  

After spending the majority of her life indoors, Saphy had some major adjusting to do when she moved into her new outdoor home. Complete with toys, perches, grass, trees, a cave, a hammock, a house, and more, the habitat is a natural, enriching space for her, but a big change nonetheless. She took less time to explore than many new arrivals. Within the first few days, we spotted her in her cave (her favorite spot, for sure), on her perches, and even rolling around in the grass in the evening time. She even has a favorite toy, her hanging buoy, which we have spotted her batting around as she lays on her back beneath it. Over the past few months, her curiosity has stayed strong. She loves to keep and eye on what's going on around her, particularly in the evenings. 

Some of the most incredible progress she has made since her arrival has been in the behavioral changes we've seen. Her wild instincts have been popping up here and there, and we couldn't be happier to see that a natural environment brings out the cougar in her! Her favorite day of the week is definitely Thursday, the IEAS Bone Day, where she receives a few turkey necks in lieu of her normal diet. When she sees the gator coming with her treats, instinctual mode kicks in and Saphy is ready to pounce on those turkey necks the second they are inside her habitat!  

Another "cougar" habit that Saphy has is burying her feces. This is a normal behavior for this species of cat, but Saphy has taken it to a whole new level recently. When we pick up her habitat, we are certain to find one big mountain of dirt and grass that she has built up since the last pick up day. We sift through and sanitize, but as soon as we are done, she is back out shuffling her pile back together! Such a funny girl!

So, all in all, Sapphire is doing great. She's got a good appetite, stays cool in her cave and under her misters, and even enjoys visits from her trusted human caregivers. We are so happy to have her as part of the IEAS family. 

To find out more about Sapphire, click here. 

To donate to support her new life at IEAS, click here! 

New Ways to Tour IEAS!

With the school year on the horizon, it’s a great time to start thinking about field trips. The Sanctuary offers conservation education tours that allow students to become completely immersed in new information with the added excitement of seeing the subject material right in front of them! There are few better ways to learn about exotic animals and conservation than to be observing them first hand!

Is your school (or your child’s school) too far away to visit IEAS here in Boyd, TX? Are the students who want to come to IEAS too young to take a tour in person (less than seven years old)? Well, don’t you worry – IEAS has gone VIRTUAL! The Sanctuary now offers virtual tours for students via Skype! It’s a great way for students around the country to meet the Sanctuary animals and learn about their natural histories and conservation efforts. The classroom will follow its tour guide through the Sanctuary, meeting tigers, lions, jaguars, grizzly bears, black bears, coatis, and much more!

We are so happy to be taking advantage of the opportunities that technology is offering us. You should, too! Call 940-433-5091 or e-mail us at iefsedu@aol.com for more information!

Donations for the Animals

While they are here, interns are able to learn how to care for all of the animals who live at IEAS.  They not only learn how to care about their physical and emotional needs, but also what it takes to care for them financially!  Interns take part in all aspects of fundraising for the Sanctuary.  They are able to guide our conservation education tours, from which all of the proceeds go directly to the animals.  They also take part in our Grants and Proposal Writing class in order to learn how to approach foundations and companies for donations.  In just this past week, we have received several donations thanks to intern’s written requests.  As they have in many years past, Root-Lowell Manufacturing Co. in Lowell, MI donated six Flo-Master Bleach Sprayers to the Sanctuary.  These sprayers are essential for keeping the habitats, houses and waters sanitary and clean.  Additionally, Flexovit Abrasives in Angola, NY donated grinding wheels which are necessary for many of the construction projects that take place here at IEAS.  We are currently rebuilding several old houses that have succumb to both time and extreme weather conditions.  These grinding wheels will be a tremendous help in completing these new and improved houses for the animals. 

                                                         

Another part of our fundraising that the interns are able to participate in is to go out and solicit help from local companies.  Recently, our summer interns all headed out to several stores in surrounding areas to see if there might be any way for them to help the animals.  Thanks to caring individuals that wanted to help, they did not come back empty handed!  Home Depot in Euless, TX donated three $25 gift cards so that we can purchase items to help the animals.  AGvantage in Decatur, TX donated a 75ft hose and insulators for our electric fencing that is used in the bear habitats. 

The interns are so excited that their hard work has paid off and has been able to help all of the animals who call IEAS home.  They have even started writing more letters in hopes of receiving more items for the Sanctuary.  We are so grateful to all of the caring individuals who believe in our cause and strive to aid us in our mission to provide these magnificent animals with the best possible life that we can.  Thank you so much!

Check out all of the generous individuals and businesses that have supported IEAS!

Building Danvir and Sajani's Pool!

Well, you've seen how Danvir and Sajani loved their new and improved pool (and if you haven't, click here), but are you wondering about the steps it took to get there? Building or developing on an existing pool is a process of layers. From cinderblocks, to mortar, to cement, there is a very specific set of steps we take to ensure the result will be sturdy, water tight, and most important, just right for the animals!

Below is a look at the pool coming together step by step! Take a look!

In Honor of a Very Special Supporter and Friend of the Animals

It is my honor to announce that Bear Orphanage will be called Dorfman Bear Orphanage! Mr. Louis Dorfman, a long time friend, supporter and contributor has devoted himself to the welfare of the sanctuary and all the animals for the last 16 years. Not only has he supported the sanctuary, but he has given his time as the Animal Behaviorist to help provide all the animals the best quality of life possible here at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary and also serves as Chairman of the Board Directors. Without Mr. Dorfman’s generosity and support the Dorfman Bear Orphanage would have only been a dream. Now it is a natural habitat on 10 acres and home to 11 orphaned bears that have a wonderful life thanks to a man that all animals call Friend!

“Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.” Alexander Pope

Could YOU relax this much in a tree?!

Every morning, we see Scoundrel up in his favorite tree, so relaxed and comfortable that he is very literally just "hanging out!" We know that black bears are adept climbers, with claws specially designed for the task, but their agility and comfort in trees never ceases to amaze us!

As Scoundrel woke up on his high tree limbs today, he tossed and turned as if he had all the room in the world. This shows that even half asleep, Scoundrel was very aware of his positioning and balance! We absolutely love seeing the bears this happy, confident, and comfortable in the natural setting we are so fortunate to be able to provide for them in Bear Orphanage!

Danvir and Sajani: Pool Remodeling!

Danvir and Sajani are pool lovers! They are spotted taking a dip every day, several times a day. For that reason, we are really excited about the remodeling we are currently working on for their pool. In just a few days, these two water loving tigers will have a bigger pool, complete with waterfall!

Interns are getting their first taste of pool building. This experience, along with their newly learned methods of re-mortaring and cementing, will help them in their futures as animal caretakers. Today, we started the foundation work for the fall, and tomorrow, we will begin building up the sides of the pool and putting in the pipe work for the pump!

Sajani kept a watchful eye on the renovations, and we're hoping to obtain her approval with the end result! A few splashes and dunk down into the fall will show us that she loves it!

Meet Christi!

If you've been to IEAS, you may have seen Christi getting work done all around the Sanctuary grounds. Christi Gilbreth is the Curator and Assistant Animal Behaviorist at IEAS, and she has been working here for more than seven years!

Christi graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management. Before coming to IEAS, she spent a year helping rehabilitating and releasing native wildlife at Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia, TX. There, she also helped care for resident animals, including bears, jaguars, cougars, and a variety of primates.

Upon her arrival at IEAS as an intern in December of 2003, Christi completed her internship and was asked to stay on as a keeper. She has since earned her current titles. During her time at IEAS, Christi has helped care for the resident animals while teaching interns the ins and outs of animal care and daily Sanctuary operations. She also co-founded SWAVA, an organization created to share information with sanctuary workers and volunteers in the hopes of improving the lives of captive animals in sanctuaries everywhere.

Christi has also spent considerable time working alongside Animal Behaviorist Louis Dorfman. She has helped raise two cheetah cubs, five white tiger cubs, two baby bobcats, a cougar cub, and eight black bear cubs. She has learned a huge amount since coming to IEAS and continues to learn something new every day!

Come out to IEAS to visit Christi and the animals in her care! 

See you soon! 

Make Your Donation Go Twice As Far!

Looking for a way to help IEAS? Well, if you work for one of the companies below, your donation to the Sanctuary can be MATCHED by your company! Below are the logos of the companies we know have matching gift programs. If you know that the company you work for also has a program and you don't see it on the list, let us know and we'll add it! 

Click HERE to find out how your companies donation program works! If you're having trouble, call our office at 940-433-5091 and we'll do our best to help you help us!

Thanks for all that you do for IEAS!

What are YOUR state's laws?

Did you know that the states in our country have varying degrees of laws relating to private possession of exotic animals? There are ranges of laws and requirements across the U.S., and some are much more strict than others. The map below depicts the four levels of law severity. What are YOUR state laws?

20 states have BAN ON PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF EXOTIC ANIMALS - including at least large cats (some ban all wild cats), wolves, bears, reptiles, most non-human primates. These states include Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming.


9 states have PARTIAL BAN ON PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF EXOTIC ANIMALS. This allows the ownership of some exotics, but not others. This level includes Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Virginia.


12 states require the "owner" of an exotic animal to OBTAIN A PERMIT OR LICENSE from the state agency to own the animal. These states are Arizona, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Texas.


9 states require NO LICENSE OR PERMIT TO OWN AN EXOTIC ANIMAL. These states may regulate some aspect of the ownership (entry permit, vet certificate) but some have no governing methods. These states are Alabama, Idaho, MIssouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

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As supporters of IEAS, we are sure that you are all well aware of the fact that exotic animals do not make good pets. Exotic animal ownership situations are both dangerous to the "owners" and other people around and extremely detrimental to the animal. One only needs to take one tour of IEAS to learn about how harmful living in less than ideal conditions can be for an animal. Nala, for example, came to IEAS after being so poorly taken care of that she was malnourished and suffering from severe osteoporosis, with tiny fractures in almost every bone in her body. When she arrived at the Sanctuary, she could barely lift her own head. It took a great deal of care get Nala to a healthy state, and now she is an ambassador for animals suffering in homes and backyards across the country. 

It is always important to stay informed about the laws in your state. Knowing what is and isn't okay can help you decide when authorities need to be contacted. We urge you to get in touch with your region's lawmakers and authorities to learn more about the laws in your state and to voice concerns!

Beat the Heat!

It's going to be a hot one! This week is shaping up to be over 100 degrees almost every day, and that means that the animals (and people) at IEAS are finding ways to beat the heat!

Newt, relaxing under his mister!

For your four legged friends, pools, misters, and favorite shady spots are the chosen methods of staying cool. We are starting to see these guys really take advantage of these options, and it's wonderful to see how cool they can stay! Newt, one of the IEAS bobcats, loves his mister so much that he chooses to sit as close as possible, letting the mist soak his fur! Other residents, like the coatis, enjoy them just as much! Mork and Mindy often spend the afternoons on their perch that sits directly under their mister. However, when a friend comes to visit, they are more than happy to venture down to say hello!

The people at IEAS use the same methods as the animals to stay cool! Well, some of them! With 90-100 degree days, the staff has been taking full advantage of our "Big Pool." This pool, located near the Ed Browne Nutritional Center and the Meadows Dormitory, is a wonderful way to cool off and relax after what you know has been a day full of hard work! Additionally, IEAS has devised a few ways for tour goers to stay comfortable during their walking tour of the Sanctuary - people misters! The felines of IEAS have had them for some time, and we figured they'd be a great addition to the tour path! Now, several stations are set up where visitors pass under an archway of cool mist! Be sure to come out and beat the heat just like the residents do!

Wonder how we stay cool during the work day? Well, we find ways...

Intern Alex helping another intern, Jessica, cool off!

INTERN UPDATE: Almost Done with Training!

The new interns are almost done with their training! They've had three weeks of learning so far. It always takes some time to get the basics down because, with as many animals as there are living at IEAS, the "basics" includes a whole lot of information. Past interns can be a testament to the fact that it can be a bit overwhelming to jump right into the Sanctuary routines, but it can be even more rewarding than it is challenging, that's for sure!

In addition to getting our normal cleaning and daily procedures down, the interns have been dabbling in several other projects, already adding new abilities to their skill sets. Several of them learned all about mortaring as they helped us with Domino's new pool. A few others have been aiding Richard and Roy in habitat construction, building a new house for Danvir and Sajani! On top of this, cleaning pools, working with PVC pipe, painting and landscaping have been added to their lists of experiences!

Redecorating the Nutrition Center!

We've made a few changes to the Nutrition Center here at IEAS in the past few days! Several are minor changes, like the re-painting of a lion on the entrance door! This lion had been painted over many years ago, but we decided that it might add a little something to the Nutrition Center, so it's back in action!

Another addition to the front room is a large map of the United States! This may seem a bit out of place at an Animal Sanctuary, but on this map are dozens of colored pins, each indicating the current location of one of IEAS' former interns. These interns spent their time at IEAS, then moved on to other reputable animal facilities and agencies all over the country!

We love to add a new pin each time one of our former interns gets a job, because it shows us just how far our interns go! When an intern leaves the Sanctuary, it is an opportunity for our high standards of animal care to be spread across the nation and even the world! The new map in the Nutrition Center is a testament to how an experience at IEAS can help you get a foot in the door in the animal world, which is a very competitive career field. We couldn't be more proud to be represented in across the U.S., and we hope for the very best for each one of the former, current, and future interns of IEAS! 

Rainy Day Play!

For some of the animals at IEAS, rainy days mean it's time to lounge in the house and sleep the weather away. However, for others, the rain is just another opportunity to cool off and have some fun! 

Nala decided she'd prefer to seek refuge from the rain in her house!

A "through the rain" look at Titan enjoying the wet weather!

After feeding this morning, some very wet keepers wanted to see what some of the animals were up to! Most of them were napping in their houses, but others were outside and having some fun. The tigers were the most likely to be seen out and about. Tigers love water so it makes perfect sense that they might take advantage of an opportunity to cool off in the rain. Allie, Rasul, Kim, Karen, and Titan were outside on their perches, soaking up every drop of rain that they could! Karen took her enjoyment even further by hitting her big boomer ball into her pool, then pouncing straight onto it. This sent a mini tidal wave all over and spurred a play session that no rain storm could put a damper on!

George decided that the rainy weather made for a perfect swim session!

Karen wasn't the only one who thought the rain meant it was time for a swim. A little ways down the path from the playful tiger, George, one of the IEAS Grizzly bears, was kicked back in his pool, just relaxing. His brother, Willie, watched from nearby and eventually followed George's lead and jumped right into the pool, where the two engaged in one of their popular play sessions!

It's wonderful to see that a little bit of wet weather doesn't mean the there can't be some fun. Everyone is fed, happy, and safe, so for now, the keepers and interns are drying off and getting some inside work done! 

Wild Animal Instincts!

The animals who live at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, due to truly unfortunate circumstances, will live their lives in a captive setting, rather than in the wild. This, however, does not mean they are domesticated! Many people have the misconception that, because they were raised by humans, tigers, lions, and other animals living in a captive setting, will be affectionate, trusting, and safe for humans to be around. This is not AT ALL the case.

Here at IEAS, we are careful to never get TOO comfortable. We stress the understanding that though these animals know us and often trust us (to a degree), we would never be 100% safe around them. A wild animal's instincts, regardless of how they are raised, can be very strong and VERY dangerous!

We get reminders every day that the animals we care for are, in fact, wild. It doesn't take much to indicate that an animal is feeling a bit instinctual. Thor and Duchess, two cougars, instinctively stalk humans as they pass by, only moving when our backs are turned. As another example, tigers, being ambush predators, would normally pounce on their prey when they least expected it. As such, if we were to turn our backs to them at the wrong moment, it may cause them to jump, simply as a natural reaction. For this reason, we are extremely careful and aware of every animal we work around, never turning our backs to them, thereby avoiding any unnecessary excitement or agitation.

So, remember! Regardless of how they are raised, 

wild animals are just that - WILD! 

Animal instincts are strong and innate!

Thinking about a Tour?

Lots of people like to do new and different things during the summer! It's a great season to get out and see the sights, and the perfect time to explore what the Dallas/Fort Worth area has to offer! Well, the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary is a wonderful attraction just 45 minutes north of Dallas, and our daily tours are an amazing opportunity to come out and see what we're all about!

On your walking tour of the Sanctuary, you will be introduced to the resident exotic animals, all of which were rescued from situations where they had been abandoned, abused, neglected, confiscated, or previously owned by people unwilling or unable to care for them. These animals' species range from big cats like lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards, to bears, such as American black bears and grizzly bears, to other species like the white-nosed coatimundi! The tour will feature natural histories of these species, the personal stories of each animal, and the importance of species conservation, including how YOU can help!

At IEAS, we take great pride in the standards of care we set for the animals, the maintenance of our facility, and our work to educate both IEAS interns and the public. Tours are big part of conservation education and gaining support for the amazing animals that call IEAS home. As such, we work hard on each and every tour to make your Sanctuary experience a great one!

Click HERE to read some testimonials from people who have been on tours at IEAS. They may just convince you to head out and visit us here in Boyd, TX! You can even WRITE a testimonial for us by clicking "Submit a Testimonial" if you have already been on a tour!

For more information about the tours, click HERE. Be sure to read our Tour FAQ by clicking HERE.

We hope to see each and every one of you out at the Sanctuary soon! 

What a Week!

The past few weeks have been busy at IEAS, to say the least. With the departure of the spring interns, arrival of the the summer ones, and the arrival of the newest Sanctuary resident, we've been on our feet with plenty to do!

The new residents of IEAS, cougar and intern alike, are doing great! Sapphire, or Saphy as she's being called, seems to be enjoying her new home here. She is a bit shy, understandably, and so we have been giving her plenty of time to herself to explore and relax in her habitat. She has found her cave and loves to lounge in there, and her appetite is wonderful, which is always good to see in a new arrival. The period of adjustment to new surroundings is different for every animal, and Saphy seems to be settling in relatively quickly. She's visited with a keepers when they come for a visit in the evenings and appears to enjoy the time spent with her new friends.

The new interns of IEAS are a few days into their training, and have been meeting the animals that call IEAS home. In the beginning of every internship, safety is the number one priority on the list of things to teach interns. Checking locks, locating cats, and double checking gates are procedures that the interns are sure to learn within days of arriving at IEAS! The interns seem eager to learn more, and the next few weeks of training should do the trick!

Keep an eye on our Facebook and website to stay updated on the progress of both Sapphire, the new cougar, and the new summer interns!