NEWPORT, CARTERET COUNTY — The Outer Banks Wildlife Refuge in Newport, a shelter for injured and uprooted wild animals, has issued a warning against keeping wild animals as pets.
Behind the scenes, wildlife rehabilitation technician Courtney Cole works tirelessly to heal and rehabilitate animals that are not your typical pet.
Cole said the creatures in her care, including vultures, snakes and owls, should not be treated as pets. She said, “We have volunteers, but they think this is a petting zoo, so we have to explain to people, don't mess with them, they're inpatients.”
Cole's days at the donation-based shelter are filled with challenges and triumphs. For just two months, she cared for animals entangled in fishing lines, treated gunshot wounds, and faced the harsh realities of human-wildlife conflict.
However, Cole makes one thing clear: Keeping wild animals as pets without proper permits is illegal and detrimental to the animal's welfare. “You always say, 'Don't get attached.' We want these wild animals to stay wild, so we want to treat them as little as possible,” she explained.
Barnabas the Owl serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of excessive relationships. “Barnabus was discovered as a small owl, and people took him home and tried to raise him, so he imprinted on them. He believes he is human, but he is an owl. They don’t understand certain things,” Cole said.
The goal is to return animals to their natural habitats, but some animals, like Barnabas, Trapeze the snake, and Squirtle the turtle, cannot return because the environment is not suitable for them to thrive in the wild. Cole showed Squirtle's sunken carapace and said, “Unfortunately, someone kept him as a pet, and due to improper care and improper lighting, he developed metabolic wound disease.'' did.”
Despite the challenges, Cole and her team pressed on, spending hundreds of hours renovating the shelter and caring for the animals. “It's sad sometimes because you have to do what's best for the animal, but sometimes it's best for the animal to end the suffering. Obviously, that's not what we want.” she said.
Between the tears and the fights, Cole finds joy in the moments when he releases the animals. “I cry a lot, but I don't think I would trade it for anything,” she admits.
Cole encourages volunteering, donations, and wildlife advocacy for people who are willing to make a difference.
