Connecting people and wildlife through conservation education and rehabilitation because a world with wildlife is a better world.
History
New Mexico Wildlife Center (NMWC) was founded in 1986 by a local veterinarian, Dr. Kathleen Ramsay. Originally formed as a rehabilitation center for injured birds, the organization evolved to treat all species of wildlife in New Mexico. As NMWC’s reputation grew and the world awakened to the serious threats facing wildlife and wild habitats it became clear that saving individual animals was not enough. In order to conserve species for the future, we must work to connect people and wildlife through education.
In 2004, through a number of fortuitous events and donor generosity, most notably a bequest from a long-time volunteer and supporter, Pat Insley, New Mexico Wildlife Center was able to acquire a 20-acre parcel of land just south of Espanola that was owned by the BLM. Although located on the northern edge of Santa Fe County, the site had been part of the Rio Arriba County Fairgrounds and had a few old buildings. From these humble beginnings New Mexico Wildlife Center grew, remodeling and repurposing the old buildings into a brand-new facility that would be open to the public.
In 2005 we moved into this facility and now visitors can tour the site, visiting with our more than 35 Ambassador Animals in our main building and along the DePonte Family Wildlife Walk. Guests can see native New Mexico wildlife up close and may even meet our Ambassador Animals during formal programs or more informal “Animal Encounters.”
Our wildlife hospital is also on this site and treats between 650 and 900 injured and orphaned wild animals of more than 120 species annually, returning as many as possible to the wild. We answer phone calls year-round, responding to public inquiries for information about living with wildlife.
Today our mission is to connect people and wildlife through conservation education and rehabilitation because a world with wildlife is a better world. It means that we care for wildlife and work to help people understand how we can create a better future for all species, including humans.
Values
The staff, volunteers, board members, and interns of New Mexico Wildlife Center are dedicated to each other, our mission, and our animals.
We treat each other as valued members of a team through: communication, trust, respect, helpfulness, mutual care and support of each other.
We “level up.” We always work to improve our own knowledge and skills.
We prioritize the welfare of the animals in our care and strive to always provide the best care and welfare for them.
We value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are dedicated to improving the diversity and inclusivity of our team.
We promote environmental stewardship and strive to practice it as an organization.
We strive to build the capacity of our department teams and of our organization as a whole. We value each team member’s contributions toward creating a sustainable organization.
How We Operate
NMWC is a non-profit organization, operating through the generosity of private and corporate donors and with the support of foundations and granting entities. NMWC employs a small staff of ten full-time and part-time employees. But we could not do what we do without our corps of 60 or more volunteers who help with everything from cleaning animal cages, to filing, to pulling weeds and more.
We invite visitors to explore our website and to come visit us. We would love to tell you more about what we do!
