New Mexico Wildlife Center, Inc.

We had the greatest morning at New Mexico Wildlife Center!! Everyone there really cares about the difference they make in the lives of the animals! We had the pleasure of meeting Dawn, Sydney and Max. They basically knew so much and shared information about the center and the animals. They truly love what they are doing. Such a great place to visit!!!

These people are great! Absolutely love the work they do.

I know that the employees of the center are hardworking and really care about the animals they help in the hospital and care for in the education side. The education programs are taught by individuals who really care about the reptiles, birds and mammals that they care for. They operate as efficiently as possible and use every dollar in donations or admission as carefully as possible. And the volunteers are SO important and really can make a difference.

NMWC is a wonderful organization with experienced staff and medical facilities. Our recent visit during their Open House exceeded our expectations. We have designated NMWC as a major beneficiary in our wills so they can continue to help our native wildlife.

These folks do such incredible work saving our local wildlife from all sorts of mishaps. They deserve the grand prize of prizes for having the biggest hearts and minds.

They do an awful lot with very little. We need more NM Wildlife Centers in the state!

July 2023 and a lot of Crows were ill with bird flu. I didn’t know that when I encountered a crow in a Santa Fe residential cul de sac, struggling to get up and off the heated asphalt at 3pm. I had an old sheet in the trunk, walked slowly to the crow and picked it up placing it under a shade tree. I found a box at neighbor’s house, placed the crow within and drove it up to NMWC. Volunteer who met me in the lobby said she’d phone and let me know in a few days how things went. Sadly, it had to be euthanized because it was too sick from avian flu. Still, I felt better knowing I had NMWC to bring the crow to and hope that if it could be aided, they would. Fantastic resource in Northern New Mexico!

Professional, friendly caring organization - entertaining & enlightening the public while saving (rescuing & rehabbing) wild critters. FIVE STARS!!!!!

From tiny critters and reptiles to the largest raptors and furry wildlife these folks are ready, so caring and educated, Over the years we have brought them a hawk, vulture, and starving bear yearling. What a joy to receive the release picture of a bulky, healthy young bear, off to live a free life. We are regular contributors to this amazing organization.

An exceptional facility, the only one of its kind in the state of New Mexico. Time after time they have treated injured animals, reptiles and birds, hoping to rehabilitate them so they can safely be released back into the wild. Some of those who simply cannot due to extensive handicaps become Ambassador animals, living for many years and helping introducing hundreds of people to our animal wildlife relatives. Their service is superb and irreplaceable. It is always a treat to visit and see the growing habitats and creatures being fed and cared for.

We enjoy learning about all behavioral enrichment the New Mexico Wildlife Center offers its animals. At one of their events, we also learned they offer enrichment not only to their permanent collection but even to the patients during their time in rehab, prior to release.

On behalf of Girls Inc. of Santa Fe, I want to express our sincere gratitude for inviting our participants on a field trip to the New Mexico Wildlife Center. The experience was certainly a fun favorite for all of us! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by the warm and accommodating staff at the center. They were incredibly patient and knowledgeable, and they took the time to answer all of the participants' questions.
We had the opportunity to see a wide variety of native New Mexican wildlife up close, including bald eagles, hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, and even a bobcat. The girls were especially excited to learn about the center's rehabilitation program, and they were amazed to see how well the animals were cared for.
Overall, our field trip to the New Mexico Wildlife Center was a huge success! The girls learned so much about the importance of conservation and the amazing diversity of wildlife in their own backyard. We would highly recommend this experience to any other nonprofit organization or group looking for a fun and educational outing.
Thank you again for your generosity and support! :)

The New Mexico Wildlife Center is a beloved institution in the Espanola Valley. Serving all of New Mexico and surrounding states. It grew from a tiny space adjacent to a local veterinary hospital into an expansive rescue operation with a full-time staff and many volunteers, rescuing thousands of wildlife every year. Their services and educational outreach is remarkable. Over the years I have taken many injured animals, mainly birds, to the Wildlife Center. Most have been healed and released into their natural environment. Staff and volunteers have spoken in my high school classes, prompting more awareness and even commitments to careers in wildlife sciences. I often bring visiting family and friends to tour the center, and I have always been greeted warmly even when bringing in an animal in need well after closing time. The New Mexico Wildlife Center is a treasure. Maryellen Stewart

With all the habitat and species loss from endless holocaust fires here in the US West, we need to pay attention to what we have before it is all forever gone. We protect what we love, but to fall in love with something, you must meet it face to face. That’s what NM Wildlife Center does—it brings the Ambassador Animals to meet kids (and adults) so the Ambassadors’ stories can be told while engaging eye to eye with a child awed by the scaley head of a vulture, a real-life American bald eagle—a turtle, snake, owl, fox, bobcat, an endangered peregrine falcon. We learn about their biology, behavior, habitat, and the threats to species and environment. We also hear what most inspires me—the Ambassadors’ personal stories, their injuries, their medical treatments, and recovery to almost-but-not-quite release. Dedication brings these Ambassadors to teach us. Dedication is also what allows almost all the other injured, lost, or orphaned animals to be supported and returned to their habitat. As an old woman of the mountains, I am hugely grateful for what the Wildlife Center does to help the small, injured ones return to the wild, and to help the small, tender humans be part of that wilderness, too.

The New Mexico Wildlife Center has come twice to visit the third grade at Aspen Elementary in Los Alamos. Both experiences were fantastic! Beth, the educator, brought animals to both visits. The students loved having animals in their classroom, and Beth is a true expert. I've been an educator for over ten years, and am very impressed with Beth's classroom management. She had sixty students in one room, and knew how to direct their questions, so they were meaningful and productive, and how to keep students calm even when they are very excited about the animal that she's brought. There was not a question that the students came up with that she did not have an excellent answer for. Most importantly, the students loved the experience.

On a walk with my dogs one morning, an owl swooped down before us and landed on the ground nearby. Huge golden eyes looked right into my soul and asked for help. I took my dogs home and returned with a cardboard box with holes, a large towel, goggles and leather gloves. Magpies possibly awaiting death were calling nearby. I captured the smallish owl, a juvenile, I thought, who barely struggled. Several phone calls to various places later, the New Mexico Wildlife Center in Espanola answered right away and told me to bring the owl in, they had a vet on staff and could probably look at it right away.. I drove an hour from northern New Mexico and delivered it. The staff invited me to walk around the Center and I saw an incredible group of raptors and other wildlife, and was lucky to chat with a volunteer feeding a hawk who came to his glove. A staff member came out to ask me if I knew anything about the Great Horned Owl I brought in, who turned out to be an adult who had probably had some kind of oil or fuel thrown on it. Preening feathers had left the owl severely underweight and sick. The staff assured me they would be in touch by email, and a few days later they sent news. After doing everything they could at the Center, the Great Horned Owl did not make it. There may be many more success stories, but the kindness , skills and resources at this wonderful center deserve all the support donors can muster. We all tried for that owl.

Wonderful organization on so many levels! The hospital staff have been so helpful in times where I needed info, and also in support when dropping off injured birds. The visitor center staff are lovely and welcoming, and the techs working with the animals are more than happy to share info and stories as you encounter them with the animals. Dedicated and amazing folx, our state is so lucky to have them serving the wildlife of NM!

I have visited their facility with my children every year for about five years. I am astounded by the care they provide for their ambassador animals and education. If that was not enough – they’re active veterinary services have alleviated suffering and pain, as well as rehabilitated, and released countless animals.

What a great small center that has a fabulous rehab percentage of the animals brought in. If you like a close encounter with a raptor or mammal there is a side to visit their ambassador animals. Great education about our wildlife with a small home town feel.

This is a wonderful place to visit, volunteer and learn. The animals are so well cared for and the diversity of New Mexico wildlife represented is interesting to see! There are a few species you'd be hard pressed to spot in the wild, but you get a chance to be up close and personal with them at the New Mexico Wildlife Center. Their education programs and demonstrations are a not-to-miss highlight of the facility; the staff are experts on the animals onsite. Highly recommend spending time there - however you can!

I have heard the New Mexico Wildlife Center described as a "hidden gem." Tucked away on a hillside just outside of Espanola, NM, it rehabilitates hundreds and hundreds of injured animals annually and educates the public about wildlife species through its resident, non-releasable ambassador animals. It is a wonderful place to visit with children to see and learn about various birds, mammals, and reptiles. The public can bring hurt animals in for treatment. Staff members from the Center go out to schools and public events with animal ambassadors. A very good organization.

I have visited the Wildlife Center several times and I really enjoy the wonderful enclosures for the ambassador animals and how the staff is always trying to create amazing enrichment experiences for the animals. The hospital side does a tremendous job especially during the busy baby season. It’s great to have a place to take any injured animals that has such a good success rate for release.

NM Wildlife rescues both animals and humans. My cat attacked a baby bunny and brought it to me, I suppose, as a gift. NM Wildlife welcomed the bunny immediately into the ICU. I had a long talk with my cat and another long talk with the wildlife center staff. They are wonderful, caring, consistent and considerate. We are lucky to have them here in Española Valley

NMWC is an amazing organization that takes in all manner of injured wildlife with the goal of re-releasing. They also have an Education/Ambassador side with non-releasable raptors, mammals and reptiles the staff uses to help educate folks on how to avoid harming wildlife and what to do if you find injured wildlife.

Found 2 different injured birds and this organization was so kind and caring toward both birds. They provide much needed assistance to a state full of wildlife. They are a lifeline for animals in New Mexico!

The New Mexico Wildlife Center is a great facility for handling the needs of native wildlife. They have dedicated staff that ensures each animal there is given the very best care so that it can be returned to the wild. If the animal cannot survive on its own, they find a suitable home for the creature to live out its life safely. They have great educational events for the public to see. They're putting funds to good use in order to rebuild aging structures as the center continues to grow. A great place to bring the family and learn all about wildlife.

They are doing such important work helping the wildlife of New Mexico. It is an amazing place to visit and learn about the wildlife in New Mexico.

NMWC is a very important part of our community. Not only is it a wonderful educational experience but a very important resource for animals in need. I was impressed by how truly passionate the staff are about the work they do.

I visited in the spring time this year with a friend and it was a fantastic experience! I love animals so I wanted to see what their organization does. Meeting all of their Ambassador animals was a highlight, particularly Grubb, a burrowing owl. I plan to visit again and would highly recommend visiting if you are in the area.

I have visited many times and am always impressed with the love and compassion that the staff and volunteers exude for their resident animals and those in their temporary care. It's a wonderful place to visit if you want to spend some time in beautiful natural surroundings and have some close encounters with wild animals. Great for kids and families!

We are from Virginia, and have visited the Wildlife Center several times in the past few years. We have been impressed every visit with the care of the staff and volunteers for these animals, the diversity of animals served, and the growing sophistication of the treatment options for injured, orphaned or ill animals. We receive regular updates and pictures from the Center, and are very pleased to see the growth of the center, both in facilities and staff but also outreach and education.
My husband and I had the opportunity to provide funding to support building an enlarged enclosure to house 5 bobcat kittens. This allowed them to have the space and environment to thrive and eventually be reintroduced into the wild. It was also an extraordinary experience to watch videos of them as they developed. It was gratifying to see the project to which we donated come to fruition. We feel that our money was well spent, and that the organization appears to handle their financial affairs with integrity. Most importantly, they provide outstanding care and rehabilitation to the animals in their facility.
We are nature lovers and advocates, and own property that is home to a variety of wildlife, as well as care for our own animals, and two rescue horses. We are acutely conscious about the treatment of both domestic and native wild animals, and have always been impressed with the habitats and treatment of the animals in the care of the NMWC.
I most recently witnessed the kestrel release, which was an amazing sight! The volunteers training the falcon have obviously have a great deal of commitment and specific knowledge, and their success made for a fascinating presentation!
Dr. Alphonse and Annette Sirica
Rockville, Virginia

After I retired from teaching in Espanola I became a board member of NMWC for 7 years, It has been a joy to watch the Center grow and expand, especially in the area of education for both children and adults. The staff is providing a fantastic service to our community, our state and our wildlife.

I am a local(ish) New Mexico resident who recently made my first visit to the Wildlife Center. It was such a pleasure to meet with the staff, tour the facilities, and learn about the breadth of NMWC's efforts to protect, rehabilitate and educate about the wildlife populations. I learned so much in my short visit about the threats wild animals are facing in this changing world and how this center operates with focus on rehabbing and releasing as many animals as possible. The staff is wonderful: passionate, kind, welcoming, and knowledgeable. And it's such a treat to see the ambassador animals up close. Thanks for all you do!

I had the pleasure of meeting with Matthew and his staff recently. I was impressed by their expertise, dedication and ability to convey the issues that confront wildlife today. They are at the forefront of a challenging struggle to maintain not only the animals themselves but also the habitats that support and sustain the wildlife. The enthusiasm with which they conduct their educational outreach programs and tours makes for a fun and informative experience. These are great people doing great work for a great cause! William Basso

My partner and I did a tour of NMWC while we were on a weekend excursion.
The center is set in the middle of a beautiful area outside of Espanola.
It is the first time I've ever visited a place with such diverse wildlife and such a knowledgeable and caring staff.

New Mexico Wild Life is an amazing place filled with interesting animals. Great educational experience. Very informed and patience staff. Excellent experience for all.

My wife and I stopped by the New Mexico Wildlife Center with our two girls (ages 7 and 9) on a road trip through New Mexico. It was a very worthwhile stop - we loved seeing the ambassador animals up close, and the staff were very welcoming and knowledgeable. It's clear they have a passion for rescuing and educating folks about the local wildlife. Stop by if you're in the area!

NMWC is an amazing organization with an incredibly skilled, dedicated and hardworking staff. Their focus is not only to treat and release animals that have been injured but to reconnect humans and animals, educating the public on how we can live together safely and in harmony. In a world where humans are increasingly encroaching on animal habitats and changes in global weather patterns are threatening the balance of these fragile ecosystems, the mission of NMWC and the impactful work they are doing has never been more essential.

Great service and staff that are truly passionate about the work they do. I’m glad I stopped by to tour the facility and check out the ambassador animals.

They provide excellent care for the animals. They also provide educational opportunities for the community. Especially good for children.