Only once a year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department opens its Wildlife Center to the public. This year come see a bald eagle, bobcat, ringtail, and many bird and reptile species on Saturday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 22 from 10-3 p.m. daily. The event is free and perfect for the whole family.

Visitors will get a glimpse into the center's operations, see wildlife up close, view educational displays, make wildlife-related crafts and meet wildlife experts.

Over thirty years ago, Arizona Game and Fish opened the first state-run wildlife rehabilitation and education center in the nation. Since then, the center has provided wildlife triage, treatment and rehabilitation to more than 30,000 sick or injured animals and delivered wildlife education programs to millions of people at events and schools.

Its original focus, when founded in 1983, was on treating and rehabilitating sick and injured wildlife. While the center still continues to provide care to wild animals, it focuses heavily on educating the public about Arizona's diverse native wildlife and managing the desert tortoise adoption program. Ultimately, the center strives to rehabilitate wildlife for return to the wild, but in instances where an animal cannot be rereleased, the center may use them as educational wildlife ambassadors.

The center is operated by the department with a small budget from the Heritage Fund, a voter-passed initiative that provides for wildlife conservation and education through Arizona lottery ticket sales. It also receives some financial and volunteer support from the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Auxiliary (www.azwildlifecenter.net) and depends on public support. The following donations are always very welcome:

• Paper towels

• Plastic storage bags (quart or gallon)

• Laundry bleach

• Heavy-duty trash bags (30-33 gallon)

• Tall kitchen trash bags (13 gallon)

• Gift cards to grocery and hardware stores

• Game meat (good quality, not freezer burned)

• Monetary contributions

The wildlife center is located north of Pinnacle Peak Road just west of I-17 in Phoenix. The address is 2800 W. Pinnacle Peak Road. It is on the same property as the Adobe Mountain School. Officers and volunteers will be giving directions for parking once at the facility.

Admission and parking for the open house are free. Food and merchandise will be available for purchase.

For more information about the Wildlife Center, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/wildlifecenter .