History of Runaway Creek Nature Reserve

The story of Runaway Creek Nature Reserve is one of hope and triumph for all nature lovers dismayed by the ecological losses suffered in the past century. The property offered shelter to runaway slaves and was used by Mayans for purpose of ritual. Before becoming Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, the land was slated to become a gravel mine. Had this come to fruition, the land would have lost its rich soil and ancient caves along with its astounding beauty and wildlife. Few better examples of a burgeoning hub of wildlife, research and daily discovery exist.

Fortunately, the Foundation for Wildlife Conservation under the direction of Dr, Gil Boese purchased Runaway Creek in 1999 to protect it, creating hope for flora and fauna and endless research and education opportunities. Dr. Boese worked feverishly for 60 years in conservation efforts all over the world. He was also director of the Milwaukee County Zoo. Cindy Law of Bainbridge Island, Washington, together with her late husband Larry, established a new nonprofit organization, The Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, to purchase Runaway Creek and continue the good work begun by the late Dr. Gil Boes. Having met Gil and his wife Lillian in 2004, and traveling with them numerous times to Africa and Belize, Cindy and and Larry learned well the importance of conservation.

Hope is that Runaway Creek can serve not only as a model for conservation but also as one of many reserves in a network throughout Central America and beyond. A world with corridors connecting protected areas giving animals options to roam and flourish is critical to survival of species. “All these small dots on the map- if you save one, that’s great. But if you save enough of these unique fragments in such a way that they can be linked together then you’ve created a system. If others do this in other countries and continents we may patch together a network of survival for the remaining species of our planet.”