Bigger and Better: Hospital Upgrade Coming Soon!

New Mexico Wildlife Center is pleased to announce an upcoming addition to our hospital facility, thanks to a generous grant from the Foxwynd Foundation.

Wildlife rehabilitators treat all kinds of conditions and injuries, from broken bones to parasites to large-scale outbreaks of disease. Many of our patients arrive with conditions that can be spread to other animals or even to humans. In 2020, a case of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2) was confirmed in New Mexico and has continued to spread among wild rabbits in the Southwest. Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, a bacterial infection that causes eye damage in songbirds, spreads easily when birds come into contact with contaminated objects. Sarcoptic mange, seen in the above photo of a coyote patient that we treated this year, is treatable but can spread between patients without proper precautions. And of course, we remain on alert for the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in not only our avian patients but in mammals as well.

Above: In 2024, this young coyote was admitted to our hospital with a severe case of sarcoptic mange. Mange is treatable but requires strict biosecurity protocols to prevent it from spreading to other mammals. This coyote patient recovered and was released!

NMWC’s hospital team frequently grapples with the challenge of maintaining safe quarantine protocols with limited space. In 2023, we converted a storage shed into a small quarantine space in preparation for the possibility of receiving patients with HPAI, and upgrades were made to that space in 2024. Unfortunately, the current shed is an imperfect solution without adequate climate control, electricity, or running water, making it only minimally useful. However, we are excited to announce that a better solution is in the works!

New Mexico Wildlife Center is the proud recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Foxwynd Foundation, along with a matching amount from a valued donor, that will allow us to purchase a larger and more suitable quarantine building! The new 12’x20’ building will be insulated and climate-controlled to create a safer and more comfortable recovery space for vulnerable patients. It will also have access to electricity and running water, making it easier for our team to work in the space and maintain a high standard of care and sanitation.

Above: Our current quarantine shed will do in a pinch, but we are excited to upgrade to a much more suitable building in the coming months!

The Foxwynd Foundation DAF funded the Foxwynd Foundation’s generous donation to New Mexico Wildlife Center. The Foxwynd Foundation’s mission is to act as a lifeline for communities in need, enhancing access to fundamental pillars of human dignity and potential such as healthcare, housing, and sustainable environmental initiatives. “Supporting animal welfare is a cornerstone of our commitment to environmental sustainability at the Foxwynd Foundation,” said Executive Director Pamela Villagra. “We believe that protecting animals is integral to our mission and are dedicated to initiatives that uphold the welfare and preservation of wildlife and domestic animals alike.” NMWC is grateful to the FoxwyndFoundation for their support of our quarantine building project, and we are excited to build this wonderful new partnership.