'It'll Just Belong To Nature': Wild Heart Ranch To Buy 40 Acres For Expansion

Wild Heart Ranch is expanding in size. The wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center hopes to add another 40 acres to the organization’s more than 100 acres just outside Claremore.

"I'm in absolute shock. I mean, I really am. I am physically in shock over what's happening," said Annette King.

King, the rescue's founder, posted to social media about her hopes to expand at the start of the week. Her goal is to raise $275,000 for the land purchase.

"And before I knew it, I had raised $100,000 in 24 hours," said King.

If the sale goes through, 40 acres of land would be part of a protected wildlife sanctuary.

"I just want to own it, put it in the Land Trust, make it a preserve, and nobody can harm any wildlife there. It'll just belong to nature," said King. "This land over here gives them a place to move. They can migrate out of this property. And there's a spring-fed pond over there that never dries up, and it's beautiful, and it's open land, so they can see out. You know, they can watch for coyotes. It's really kind of perfect."

She hopes to continue to buy more land to give back to nature in the future.

So far, Wild Heart Ranch has raised $183,000.