Dr. Cameron checks out a Northern Saw-whet Owl. Photo by Alissa Mundt

WILDLIFE CENTER News:

• Live snake demonstrations, nature activities and raptor viewing

ESPANOLA – The Wildlife Center, New Mexico’s only wildlife hospital, is holding its free Annual Open House 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4. The Open House is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with native New Mexico wildlife.

The Wildlife Center is in its 28th year of providing rehabilitation services to native New Mexico wildlife and educational programming to the human inhabitants of the state. Each year, The Wildlife Center takes in more than  700 animals, from songbirds to eagles and squirrels to bears. The extreme drought is resulting in hardships for many different types of wildlife. Lack of sufficient prey, from insects to rodents, is resulting in starving raptors and other predators. As Baby Season progresses, The Wildlife Center will take in more than 200 orphaned animals. Already this year, the Center has cared for over 40 desert cottontail orphans and 20 songbirds.

Katherine Eagleson, executive director, sums up the work this way, “Everything the Wildlife Center does, from rehabilitation of injured and orphaned animals to getting kids out into the landscapes, from presenting programs on how to live with coyotes and snakes to citizen science projects that increase our understanding of wildlife is meant to build a stewardship ethic. We want to make sustaining healthy and diverse wildlife populations as New Mexican as red and green chile.”

More than 10 of the Center’s raptors as well as several reptiles will be on handler’s arms for up-close viewing and educational information. Tours of the educational animals, including eagles, hawks, bobcats and owls will be available. Children’s nature-related activities will be provided including a scavenger hunt and nature craft projects. A presentation on the snakes of New Mexico, including live rattlesnakes, will be held both days.  Refreshments will be available. There is no charge for this event.

The Wildlife Center is five miles north of Pojoaque at #19 Wheat St. in Arroyo Seco. For additional information on The Wildlife Center’s Annual Open House, contact Katherine Eagleson or visit www.thewildlifecenter.org.

About The Wildlife Center

The Wildlife Center in northern Santa Fe County, is New Mexico’s only wildlife hospital serving all endemic species. Thirty-five non-releasable educational birds and mammals including eagles, bobcats and owls reside at the Center and are the centerpiece of more than 100 educational programs and more than 400 public tours each year at the Center and throughout northern New Mexico. These programs and tours reach about 5,000 adults and children each year. The Center is staffed by seven employees and more than 70 volunteers, who give over 6,500 hours of their time annually. The Wildlife Center is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization whose primary funding comes from individual donors and private foundations. For additional information, contact The Wildlife Center at 505.753.9505 or visit www.thewildlifecenter.org.