ANIMAL HAVEN: Sanctuary provides shelter

William Gilcrease the 82-year-old founder of Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary leaned over a playpen occupied by by two newborn goats.

"We have big busses of school children come here all the time. They love these little goats, and the goats like them too usually," he said.

Goats are only the beginning of the sanctuary's wildlife collection. There are exotic chickens, lizards, tortoises, burros, potbelly pigs, a miniature horse, ferrets, rabbits, goldfish, ostriches, emu, turkeys, pheasants, lovebirds and more in pens and petting zoo areas throughout the 5-acre site. The stars of the petting zoo are the mama lama Pansy Love and her new baby Desert Bandit, born Jan. 11. Gilcrease loves to keep the place filled with babies, especially in the Spring.

Among the rarest of the animals is the the toucan and a newly arrived African bird with fleshy red eyelashes. The sanctuary is also home to a wide variety of parrots, many worth thousands of dollars.

In 1920, Gilcrease's parents Leonard and Elda Ann Gilcrease moved to the area with dreams of starting a vineyard. The family endured a house fire and withered vines those first years. They had to live in a farm storage building until they could rebuild the house. When vines failed, the family used old railroad ties to fence in the property. They built chicken coops and became one of the area's first sources of fresh eggs. Later when egg competition arrived they raised alfalfa and hay.

When their parents died, William and his brother John planted fruit tree orchards. Families can still go to the pick-your-own fruit orchard run by John Gilcrease at 7800 Tenaya Way.

Over 20 years ago, William left the orchards in his brother's care and set out to build up his sanctuary on the site of the former Nevada Wild Animal Preserve.

"I love animals," he said. "But there are so many rules it's hard to save wildlife now. If you want to go out and save native birds you have to have a licence even to handle them. I have to have a permit just to have a petting zoo."

A few years back Gilcrease decided to make the sanctuary a non-profit organization in hopes that the place will outlive him.

"My mother and father were sort of isolationists. So neither of us boys ever got married. I had ideas to be married, but they all got discouraged and left," he explained.

While many of the animals are purchased, more are given to Gilcrease.

"I get lots of birds donated. People get tropical birds like parrots that live to be 50 years old and often they outlive their owners. The families don't want to sell them to pet stores so they bring them here. Most of the people who bring them here request that they not be sold or given away. They want them to stay so they can come and visit."

Gilcrease gets bitten by parrots all the time, but all the other animals at the sanctuary are pretty friendly.

"A chicken will peck you without hurting you, but a cockatoo or a parrot can really take a bite out of you. Most birds just stick to one person so it's hard for them when they first get here."

Gilcrease gets along with all the animals at the sanctuary. He plays catch with Rico the burro, he massages ostrich necks and he knows every goat and bird by name. He's even good natured when the birds tease him. Many parrots have learned his name well enough to call for him.

"The parrots sound just like a person, especially with all that other noise," he said.

Not all the animals are full-time residents. Wild ducks and geese use the sanctuary ponds as a pit stop on their migratory route. Some stay the whole winter, while others drop by year-round.

"Sometimes we get so many, they crowd out the resident birds. But they're welcome here. They're beautiful. I guess some places they get shot at, but they're safe out here," Gilcrease said.

Volunteers are also always welcome said Chief Zookeeper Char Chadwick. She's constantly looking for scout troops, seniors, school groups, civic clubs or anyone willing to help out with painting, carpentry, animal care or cleaning.

Richard Gerow became a volunteer after discovering the place with his three granddaughters.

"We came here and fell in love. They encourage anyone and everyone who can to come forward and help," Gerow said. "It's a nice place to meet and relax. There's a low admission fee and Mr. Gilcrease has just dedicated his whole life to this."

Volunteers are only half of the push, Chadwick turns to local grocery stores and restaurants for vegetables, fruit or day-old bread. Chadwick estimates that even with donations it costs around $5,000 a month to feed all the animals.

"Visitors are also welcome to bring bread to feed the birds or carrots for the animals," Chadwick said. "We have to be careful though because many of the animals are on strict diets."

The sanctuary is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The gates are closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is still a $1 donation per child and $3 for each adult. School groups are welcome, but should call ahead to schedule a tour. The 5-acre site also features picnic areas, walking trails and an amphitheater. Chadwick said they even do birthday parties or meetings for clubs.

The Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary is at 8103 N. Racel St. near Floyd Lamb State Park. To get there, take Interstate 95 just past the Durango Drive exit. Since the exit is under construction now, take the next exit at Grand Teton Drive. Follow the detour signs to Durango Drive. Turn right on Racel Street. The sanctuary is at the corner of Racel Street and Silk Purse Road. For more information, call 645-4224.


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