One of the most popular attractions in the Palm Beaches, McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary in The Acreage is celebrating its 35th anniversary this summer.
From humble beginnings on a 1.25-acre lot, the wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit has grown into the top-rated attraction in Palm Beach County for the past 13 years on Trip Advisor. Along the way, the sanctuary has rescued more than 10,000 native animals and hundreds of exotic creatures ranging from big cats to venomous snakes.
Founder Mark McCarthy likes to tell the story of how, at only 16 years old, he volunteered with the Detroit Zoo and went on a successful snake-collecting adventure in Arizona. He kept a few rattlesnakes for his own collection, which his mother refused entry to the house…