Tucson Wildlife Center

Tucson Wildlife Center provides a much needed service to Tucson. We ended up with a javelina in our yard who had been impaled by an arrow through her neck. All the way through and sticking out each side so she could not walk without it hitting bushes etc. She was obviously left to die a horrible and painful death. The wildlife center treated her at their facility and then brought her back to the area she was captured. When released we heard a lot of noise and ran to our backyard. The herd in the wash was greeting her like a long lost relative. Rubbing up against her and making almost a happy sound. It made me realize that animals look at each other as we do. I will never forget that moment. Thank you Tucson Wildlife for all your help.

I have been a volunteer here since last year. I am very happy to be a part of their efforts to rescue, rehab, and release wildlife. I have met so many exceptional, skilled, and caring people there! They make every effort possible to save lives and return them to their natural habitat. I love Tucson Wildlife Center!

When I brought an injured roadrunner to this center a few years back I was impressed with the facility even though it was rustic. The caretakers were friendly and I was impressed with the cages for the javelina and bobcats and also the huge aviary for the raptors. But when I recently brought in a hummingbird fledgling that had hit our window I was even more impressed by their new building and facilities. It is beautiful. The front office is very professional with a friendly staff. I was allowed to look through a window to see the delicate cage my hummer was placed in and when I called the next day I was informed it was doing excellent and, since we knew it could fly, it should soon be able to be released. Highly recommended!

I have been volunteering here since October and really enjoy it! I have learned A LOT about our local wildlife, and the care I have seen given to the rescued critters is excellent. Tours are available to if you call ahead

I volunteer at Tucson Wildlife Center and they do an amazing job with all of the animals that come in there. They are very knowledgable and efficient. I am proud to be a part of an amazing place to help our desert wildlife.

The only remaining wildlife hospital in the Tucson area.
Without it, injured wildlife would suffer and die.

I had a chance to tour the TWC facility and I am so glad that someone cares enough to do this sort of work. I made a big enough impression that I became a monthly donor. Only $10 for now, I wish I could send more. Thank you for doing what you do!

I was looking for a place I believed in for some volunteer work and I found a great place in TWC! The evening hours worked perfect for my work schedule to volunteer once a week and it was very rewarding work. Even just keeping the building clean made me happy because I was around chirping birds and lovely like-minded people. I volunteered for the baby season for birds and bunnies (and other various small furry things). I look forward to next season!

As a retired architect, I look forward to being with animals, accepting new responsibilities, and the opportunity to make a difference in our community. Watching a wounded hawk learn to fly again. Rescuing a baby javelina encrusted with cactus spines and observing its acceptance into a newly formed herd, then knowing that it is once again living in the wild. Having a falcon alight on your shoulder or a vulture eat from your hand as you clean their holding areas. These are wonderful and unforgettable experiences. It takes lots of effort, time and money to make this work. I'm proud to be a part of it.

I've been volunteering for the Tucson Wildlife Center for 13 years. I was there when there were just a few buildings and animal enclosures and fewer volunteers. It's been amazing watching it grow and witnesses the opening of the new hospital. Lisa Bates has worked hard to keep the TWC going and even harder to keep it growing. The staff is great, the volunteers wonderful and hard working and every animal that comes through our doors is cared for with love and respect. Thank you Lisa for finding a place for Tucson's injured wildlife to get the help they need.

I have had the honor of volunteering at TWC for about 7 months. This place and the people who run it, including the volunteers, are so wonderful. There have been many birds and mammals that have been rescued and returned to the wild. Just knowing i have had a small part in that is absolutely fabulous! I have learned so much about the wildlife we are blessed to have in this state. If you ever are in need of a wildlife rescue, this is the place to call! And if you are considering volunteering your time somewhere, and you love animals, stop by or call them to see how that can happen for you!

I have been volunteering at the TWC for about a year. I enjoy spending time caring for and being around wildlife. TWC takes care of all kinds of birds, from the smallest hummingbird to eagles. They also see a lot of mammals, from tiny bats, bunnies and mice to the larger bobcats, raccoons, skunks, coyotes and javelinas. There are several resident birds and mammals that are here permanently because of health conditions that prevent them from being released to the wild. One of my favorite things is knowing the resident animals that serve as "foster mamas and daddies" to young members of their own species that come in injured, sick, or too young to survive on their own. These foster animals raise the babies until they are old and independent enough to be released back to the wild. I am a retired certified veterinary technician, and have learned so much here at TWC about wildlife that I never knew before (when I was working with domestic cats and dogs primarily). There have been a lot of improvements over the past year - the new animal hospital was completed, more wildlife rehabilitators have been hired, and several free teaching seminars for the volunteers have been developed. TWC has a quite small staff compared to the number of volunteers, and has a 24/7 phone helpline for people to call if they see injured, orphaned or sick wildlife.

I've been volunteering here for almost 2 months and I feel like I've already learned so much. There is opportunity to be as involved as you want and are available for. I've been fortunate enough to have been involved in a release, observe surgery, and participate in a workshop. TWC does awesome works and offers their volunteers some pretty great experiences.

The people here work constantly to help our wildlife. They are knowledgeable and passionate. They are also kind and fun :) Donate or come out and volunteer, help save precious lives. I'm very glad that I did :)

Hello all!
I work at an emergency veterinary hospital in Tucson, AZ. One of my co-workers found a hummingbird on the ground, in our backyard area. She thought he was dead but when I went out there, I saw he was still alive. He couldn't fly and seemed to have gone through some sort of trauma. I brought him inside and had been caring for him all night hoping he would pull through till the Wildlife Center could pick him up in the morning. I received a call from their aviation doctor right when she woke up in the early morning. She picked him up from me shortly after. She said it looks like a spinal injury. Hummingbirds take about 6 days to heal from this. Since he is alert, that's a good sign. So glad he is in good hands now! Good luck little one!
Its truly amazing what they do for our wildlife out here in the desert. I'm very thankful they were able to help.

I'll admit, I haven't always been that fond of Tucson. I hated the heat and I couldn't see what everyone loved so much about this city. Then I came across the Tucson Wildlife Center. I began working here about a year ago and the more time I spent out here, the more I began to fall in love with Tucson and all it's beautiful wildlife. I started seeing more that each animal has a personality and thanks to the Tucson Wildlife Center, I finally found my following--animal care. Being around the animals is therapeutic and knowing that we're making a difference is so satisfying!

This organization is absolutely amazing and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves animals!

Tucson Wildlife Center is making a huge impact saving native Southern Arizona's wildlife. The Center is dedicated to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured, sick and orphaned wild animals. Medical professionals volunteer their time and services as well as 70 individuals volunteer who feed and care for the animals and property. The state-of-the-art Sam Goldman Wildlife Hospital is under construction. When it is complete, their services will reach even more wildlife in need, all FREE to the public!

Some of the nicest, people I have met who are involved with animal rescue. They understood that the baby horned owl we found needed help, and a few days later, brought it back with a foster baby for the parents to care for. They even made a strong nest for the babies! Here we are 3 weeks later and we are honored to watch the babies thriving as the parents continue to feed them.
The volunteers checked with us and were very helpful after the return of our little guys. We have a friend who volunteers there are she gained alot of experience as a vet student working there.

I volunteer at TWC, and am very pleased with the care provided to the animals. The staff and volunteers are careful and caring with the animals, and the founder is active with releases and rescues. There are a few permanent resident animals that cannot be released due to an injury or due to being too friendly with people, and they act as surrogates for rescued babies or as educational animals. I am immensely pleased and impressed with how well the place is run.

My husband and I had a peregrine falcon in our yard with a wounded wing. We called the Tucson Wildlife Center and they came out to our home and rescued this magnincent creature.

A big thank you to TWC and your staff for a job well done,
Barbara E.

Currently under construction....TWC is building the ONLY FULL SERVICE WILDLIFE RESCUE HOSPITAL in Southern Arizona. Not only will they be taking care of more injured animals, they are also planning to become a training center for future veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators who are interested in specializing in desert species. THE energy at TWC is palpable. Supported mostly through donations and powered by many dedicated volunteers, TWC is unique in the services they provide. Many, many desert birds of prey and mammal would have succumbed to injury and dehydration were it not for these dedicated people.

I love watching the wildlife in my back yard. I think we all do. Unfortunately human encroachment is taking its toll on Southern Arizona's wildlife. If we want to protect this unique and beautiful environment, it's up to the community to be aware of what they might be doing in their every day lives that impacts wildlife. Tucson Wildlife Center takes in hundreds of orphaned and injured wild animals every year with the sole purpose of seeing them once again flourish back to their natural habitats. This is a truly a needed and worthy charity that has over 70 volunteers and rehabilitators who care about each other and every animal that comes through their doors.

I rescued a hawk and unsure of what to do I took him to the MP's on base who quickly contacted TWC and with the love and attention they provided I was informed he made a full recovery and is back to the skies again. This just makes me elated.

Lisa Bates and her dedicated team provide a very important refuge for injured wild animals while giving the community the peace of mind that they can help injured animals too just by making a phone call. Taking care of innocent, helpless, little (or big) animals is an incredible commitment and Lisa and all of the team are there to do the job. These animals are our future, too. Thank you for your strength and perserverance.

Lisa Bates and her team provide an extraordinary service for injured or abandoned wild animals that life among us in the southwest desert. Animals rarely have a voice in our world although humans can be great animal lovers. This is a first rate operation that provides quality medical care from surgery to rehabilitation with lots of love. When those animals that can be are released back into the wild, there is such a joyous a feeling of freedom. The Center provides excellent ongoing care, feeding, exercise and social time for those than need to remain in captivity. The surrogate animals that love and nurture babies is wonderful and provides them with realistic bonding. Our family feels this is such a worthwhile nonprofit and are happy to be a part of it!

Tucson Wildlife Center does a wonderful outreach educational program for schools. There is nothing like having a live vulture named Igor to catch a seven year olds attention and drive home the importance of man's stewardship of the animals. TWC provides an incredible and needed service in our community.

On a Sunday morning, I awoke to find a baby owl in my yard with an injured wing. I grabbed the phonebook and found the hotline for the Wildlife Center. The person on the phone took the situation very seriously and worked hard to give me all the help she could. Even though I live very far away from the Center, a volunteer arrived in less than an hour to help the owl. The volunteer was courteous, skilled, and very attentive. He kept me informed about the owl's situation. I was extremely impressed with the level of professionalism, communication skills, and timely response demonstrated by this organization. I work for a not-for-profit myself and I feel very confident that my donation to this organization will be put to good use.

As stewards of the land, it is imperative that we learn how to coexist with one of our most precious resources, our native wildlife. Urban development is presenting one of the greatest challenges our wildlife has to try an overcome. Decreased open areas, increased traffic & negative human interaction, whether accidental or deliberate is threatening their existence. I commend Tucson Wildlife Center (TWC) for the services they provide, free of charge. This dedicated staff is available 24/7, 365 days for emergency intervention, referral services, and education. Their mission is rescue, rehabilitation & release. The duties can be quite arduous. The hours endless, with over night rescues, feedings &/ or medications being delivered throughout the night, emergency surgeries and yet this staff is ready & willing to assist our wildlife. I am honored & proud to be associated with this outstanding group of individuals. I know TWC is making a real difference. Please help us help our wildlife, let others know about the Tucson Wildlife Center. Thank you.

Tucson Wildlife Center is a haven for those who are injured, orphaned or literally lost ( such is the case of the brown pelican.) I volunteered for 2 and a half years and treasured being a part of TWC, but I had to relocate recently. My favorite job was cleaning up the yards of the residents (those unalbe to be released.) I loved having the greathorns act as "yard foreman" as I raked beneath them, and hosed off the mesh to cool them down in the hot summer months. It was the same with the screetch owls, a special harris hawk and a redtail, peregrines and others. Being able to assist in the rehabilitation of a golden eagle as it regained it's flight strength was wonderful and fulfilling. What we do there benfits our precious wildlife in a direct and important manner. It is invaluable in it's ability to rehabilitate, protect and relocate animals and birds for their highest benefit. Much of the time what we do goes unnoticed. We do our best to inform and educate the public, but it just takes once for someone's heart to be touched by the life of a wild creature - seeking only to live free in natures balance. We are a part of that. Assisting in this endeavor, will enhance the lives of countless animals.

I volunteered at TWC for about a year until I was sidelined by an accident. I really enjoyed helping out around there mostly because the people there were pretty level headed unlike some people with some rescue groups. The center does a great job of helping wildlife and putting up with AZG&F's crap. I would love to see this facility grow so they could have a vet on site at all times and all the equipment necessary to handle the worst cases and in my time there I have seen some pretty bad stuff come into the surgery suite. I will definitely be volunteering there again in the future. A fantastic organization that I would recommend to anyone who is looking to volunteer and give back to nature.

It is a pleasure to work for this organization because it is always growing, improving and helping every wild animal, no matter what the species, that comes through the door. They concentrate on getting the rescued patients, after they have healed, back to the wild with their original families, and familiar territory. They are helping close to 800 large animals every year!

The fact that the Tucson Wildlife Center is staffed almost completely by volunteers giving their time, energy and resources to help rectify wildlife tragedies that are mostly human-caused really touches me. I think it's amazing that they will travel anywhere in the area to rescue an injured animal at no cost. Their selfless volunteers have given presentations to both my Rotary club and my company's networking club. They brought live animals and helped educate our people about our habitat and those we share it with. While they did not charge a fee, my organizations were glad to give them donations. My husband and I have not only donated a small sum of money, but in-kind donations of copy paper and dry erase markers in the hope that more of their organizational funds can now go to the animals who so deserve a chance to live. While we were at the center yesterday, the Education Director received a package of thank you letters from a 1st grade class to whom she and her colleagues had given a presentation. It was heartwarming to see what the kids had learned and I could tell that many of them will be good stewards of their environment now that they understand more about it. This organization deserves all the support it can get.

Tucson Wildlife Center does it all. And does it with minimal administrative expenditures. Last year they admitted over 700 injured, sick or orphaned desert native wildlife. Their goal is rehabilitation and release back into the native habitat. And they do is all with 3 staff persons and many many professional and lay volunteers. In addition to treatment of the injured animals, they inform the public about the importance of the animal to the desert ecosystem. The Center allows invited guests to learn about the resident animals and the education director goes to many many schools and community events with in-house produced DVD's, wildlife posters and desert ecosystem information. This non-profit deserves recognition in the areas of environment, ecosystem improvement and wildlife sustainability.

The southwest desert is a harsh environment in the best of times. Now, with a major drought and human encroachment on all remaining water supplies and lands, wild living animals are barely surviving to adulthood. Add the pressures of highways, cars, hunters, trappers, disease,and natural predators and you can see how bad the odds for desert wildlife are. One of the only organizations to stand between these terrible odds and an animals survival is the Tucson Wildlife Center. TWC. They are professional, expert and caring...a rare combination. With a brilliant volunteer staff of veterinarians, animal caretakers and office staff, they somehow manage to keep the place going...but always on the verge of survival, just like the animals they help.