Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

Come see a bald eagle, bobcat, ringtail, and many bird and reptile species at the free Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center's open house on Saturday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 23 from 10-3 p.m. daily.

During this once-a-year glimpse into the center's operations, visitors will have the opportunity to see wildlife up close, view educational displays, make wildlife-related crafts and meet wildlife experts.

Over thirty years ago, the Arizona Game and Fish Department opened the first state-run wildlife rehabilitation and education center in the nation. Today, 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 also focuses heavily on educating the public about Arizona's diverse native wildlife. 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 ambassador.

The Heritage Fund, Public Support

It is operated with a small budget from the Heritage Fund, a voter-passed initiative that provides for wildlife conservation and education through Arizona lottery ticket sales, and operated by the Game and Fish Department with help from the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Auxiliary. The center depends on public support to care for the vast number of animals that come through its doors.

The following donations are always very welcome:

• Paper towels

• Plastic storage bags (quart or gallon)

• Dawn dish soap

• 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

More Details

The wildlife center is located north of Pinnacle Peak Road just west of I-17 in Phoenix. 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, and food will be available for purchase.

For more information about the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, go online to http://www.azgfd.gov/wildlifecenter or watch a related video at http://youtu.be/YrIPSVYtNWQ.