Heartland Hero
Meet our animal ambassadors used to teach our programs, school groups and our many visitors about the incredible animals who call our forest home!
By sponsoring one of our animal ambassadors you will be helping with the care and maintenance associated with these critters.
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Shelly$75.00 – $300.00
Shelly: Our beloved eastern river Cooter turtle Shelly was purchased from a pet store by a young boy when she was just a hatchling. As the years went by, Shelly outgrew her aquarium and the boy moved away to college, so Heartland Forest adopted Shelly. She now lives happily in a large turtle aquarium in our atrium.
Interested in being a Heartland Hero, click on Shelly to learn more!
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Noodles$75.00 – $300.00
Noodles: Noodles is our corn snake. She is a butter morph and around 105 centimeters long. You can often find Noodles burying herself in her bedding, resting in her rock house or soaking in her bath.
Interested in being a Heartland Hero, click on Noodles to learn more!
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Tree Frogs$75.00 – $300.00
Tree Frogs: Our terrarium is home to a group of whites tree frogs. Whites tree frogs are docile and peaceful with other members of their species, so they live together in harmony. You can often find them soaking in their baths and climbing or resting on their Monstera plant.
Interested in being a Heartland Hero, click on the tree frogs to learn more!
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Sunny$75.00 – $300.00
Sunny: Sunny the sunfish lives in our aquarium. He likes to swim around and explore his surroundings, especially the visitors who come up to see his tank.
Interested in being a Heartland Hero, click on Sunny to learn more!
Click Here to check out the Heartland Heroes
Wild Pal
Heartland Forest is home to amazing and diverse wildlife, by becoming a wild pal your donations will go towards one of Heartland’s many environmental efforts including wildlife surveys, conservation, habitat structures and educational programs.
Donations of $25 or more will receive a donation receipt, PDF thank you card and a fact sheet about the animal you’ve sponsored.
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Barn Swallow$25.00 – $300.00
Barn Swallows: Barn swallows are a beautiful blue and tawny bird with a long and deeply forked tail. The barn swallow has been given the designation of ‘Special Concern’ by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Barn swallows are aerial insectivores, a group of bird species which is declining globally. Aerial insectivores such as the barn swallow are very important for controlling the population of insects. They are also important as prey for many predator species.
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Blue Salamander$25.00 – $300.00
Blue-spotted Salamanders: The blue-spotted salamander is a small amphibian that is black or grey-brown with bluish white spots and a long tail. Blue-spotted salamanders are most important for their role as indicator species. Their presence or absence in an environment can indicate the overall health of the ecosystem. They are also important as both a predator and prey to other species.
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Chimney Swift$25.00 – $300.00
Chimney Swifts: Chimney swifts are a unique smudge-grey bird that often uses human structures such as chimneys to nest and roost. The chimney swift has been given the designation of ‘Threatened’ by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. As chimneys have become less common over the years, the chimney swift has lost many of its habitat options, causing a decline in populations. Chimney swifts are important for keeping the populations of the insects they eat in check. They are also known for their beautiful aerial acrobatics that many bird watchers find pleasure in watching.
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Little Brown Bat$25.00 – $300.00
Little Brown Bats: Like its name suggests, the little brown bat is a small pale tan to reddish or dark brown bat with dark brown to black wings and ears. The little brown bat has been given the designation of ‘Endangered’ by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. This is mainly due to an invasive fungus that causes a deadly disease called white-nose syndrome. They are important as one of the major predators of mosquitoes and other pest insects.
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Midland Painted Turtle$25.00 – $300.00
Midland Painted Turtle: Midland painted turtles are medium-sized aquatic turtles with a black or dark green upper shell and bright yellow and red markings on its skin. The midland painted turtle has been given the designation of ‘Special Concern’ by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Midland painted turtles are an important part of the aquatic food chain. They are very important predators to small animals, and prey to many larger animals.
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Muskrat$25.00 – $300.00
Muskrats: A muskrat is a large, brown, semi-aquatic rodent with a flattened tail. Muskrats are important because they are very helpful for the success of other species. They make lodges that are used by other animals as resting areas and nests. They also eat aquatic plants which gives birds clear pathways to swim.
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Spring Peeper$25.00 – $300.00
Spring Peepers: Spring peepers are very small chorus frogs that is tan or light brown with a darker X marking on its back. Frogs such as the spring peeper play an essential part in their ecosystem as both predators and prey. As tadpoles, they feed on algae which helps keep our water clean. Spring peepers are also important for their role as indicator species. Their presence or absence in an environment can indicate the overall health of the ecosystem.