ENC’s Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary to open to the public on weekends starting October 1

The Environmental Nature Center’s (ENC) Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. starting October 1. The property includes a natural history museum, trails and bird observation deck. The Sanctuary is located at 29322 Modjeska Canyon Road in Modjeska Canyon. 

 ENC acquired the 12-acre sanctuary in 2021 and made upgrades to the facility – including installing ADA compliant restrooms and restoring the historic Tucker Residence – over the past year. They hired staff, ran Summer Nature Camps over the summer, developed curricula for school and scout programs, and started running field trips for school groups and scout troops. Habitat restoration started with removal of numerous non-native plants. Some locally native, wildlife friendly plants have been planted and many more will join them this fall.

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 Courtesy of ENC

ENC’s Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary will provide opportunities similar to those at the ENC Newport Beach facility:

–Open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (starting October 1)

–Exclusive ENC member hours, Monday-Friday from 2-5 p.m.

–Field trips on weekdays for school groups

–Badge programs for scout troops

–Nature Camps, service learning, community programs and more 

Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary began in 1929 when Benjamin and Dorothy Tucker welcomed visitors to their bird observation deck in the Santa Ana Mountains. This site was dedicated as a wildlife sanctuary by the Tucker Family in 1939 and deeded to California Audubon as a memorial for Dorothy. From 1968-2021, the property was managed by California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). In 2021, CSUF sold the property to the ENC after a selection process led by the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society (formerly California Audubon).

“We are committed to Benjamin and Dorothy Tucker’s legacy. The Tuckers wanted their property to be conserved as a wild bird sanctuary, refuge and preserve, and that is how we will manage it,” said Bo Glover, executive director of the ENC. “We have already started hosting school and scout groups, and we’re excited to open our doors to the community in October.

For more information, visit www.encenter.org/tucker.