Live Animals: One hundred and forty three live animals are permanently cared for at the Austin Nature Center. These animals have physical or behavioral problems that prevent them from being returned to the wild. 18 mammals (including a fox, bobcat, coyote, and porcupine); 29 birds (including owls, vultures, and hawks); 42 reptiles; 43 amphibians (including several permitted endangered Barton Springs salamanders); 12 invertebrates; 10 species of fish
Other minor species (not including a mouse colony and meal worms used solely for food, a Madagascar hissing cockroach colony, or our bee hive);
Non-Living Specimens: 1) Mounted Specimens: 64 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians are museum mounted and used in exhibits; 2) Study Specimens and Parts: 264 mammals, 192 birds, 157 reptiles, 13 amphibians, 40 fish, 300 arthropods, 108 other invertebrates, and 104 mollusks are all kept in discovery boxes, educational program boxes, or collections storage; 3) Geological Specimens: 217 Central Texas rocks,219 fossils; 4) Pressed Plants: 161 native plants have been collected, identified, pressed, mounted, and stored in our herbarium for use with interpretive programs and exhibits; 5) Flora and Fauna: 250 different types of grasses, trees, and shrubs have been inventoried and now are being mapped. Over 90 species of birds (including Broad Winged Hawks) have been spotted 15 different species of mammals have been observed (including deer, skunk, fox, squirrel, and opossum)