– Notable Scottsdale Charities – The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center is Celebrating Its 20th Anniversary-
The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) is one of my favorite local charities. Its mission in a nutshell is to care for and rehabilitate native animals who have been injured, displaced or separated from their caregivers. While the ultimate goal is for the animals to be released back into their respective habitats, some of these animals will not be able to make it and thus become permanent residents of the conservation center.
What kind of animals will you find at SWCC? More than you think. The first ‘patient’ was an abandoned coyote pup and many coyotes have come through SWCC since then. Other desert dwellers that come to mind are javelinas and bobcats. In addition to these more frequently seen animals, SWCC also cares for mountain lions, foxes, wolves, bears and even coati, leopards and deer. Many of these species have full-time residents at SWCC for various reasons.
This year, the SWCC is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. What started in a backyard has evolved into a truly amazing center that has helped countless animals over the years. The animal sanctuary not only provides a home for the non-releasable animals, but it also serves as a wonderful way to educate people about desert animals and how we can prevent hurting and/or harming them, even unintentionally.
All year long, the SWCC provides tours of the sanctuary as well as several educational programs and community outreach events. Tour space is limited to twenty people, so you will need to book your visit in advance and can do so via their website. During the summer, they will offer day camps as well for children who want to learn more.
The SWCC has provided Scottsdale area animals, and even animals from throughout the rest of Arizona and the United States, a very valuable and safe sanctuary as they have gone through their rehabilitation and recovery processes. Besides providing a home for the animals who cannot return to the wild, SWCC is providing a great educational resource to people who want to learn more about these animals and their habitats.
If you have not had a chance to do visit the SWCC Nature Center yet, you should definitely make a plan to stop by.
More Information:
Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC)
27026 N. 156th St
Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Phone: 480-471-9109
Website: https://www.southwestwildlife.org/
P.S. Here is a great resource from their website. It is a list of Wildlife Emergency Numbers for the Phoenix Area
