Wild At Heart, Inc.

Description

Wild At Heart is a volunteer organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of Arizona's native wildlife through the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned birds of prey, relocation of displaced burrowing owls, species recovery programs, educational presentations, and habitat enhancement projects.

Wild At Heart is incorporated as a non-profit 501(c) 3 and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The center includes a team of volunteers, veterinarians and community supporters all sharing a vision of protecting and preserving Arizona’s raptors.

The number of raptors Wild At Heart (WAH) rescues and cares for varies between 400 & 600 owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles each year.

Wild At Heart is a strong proponent of education. Its educational raptors are taken to schools and other community events. WAH also offers innovative opportunities for community involvement designed for youths under the age of eighteen including special needs students.

Conceived by WAH in 1993, its Burrowing Owl program is recognized as one of the most successful conservation and habitat restoration programs in the U.S. WAH has installed over 6,000 artificial owl burrows and created new habitat for over 2,600 Burrowing Owls.

Wild At Heart has been entrusted to help with the Endangered Species Program for the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl to determine if this species will breed in captivity for reintroduction back into Arizona. WAH has also helped to re-establish endangered Barn Owl populations in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and other eastern states.

Wild At Heart specializes in the foster parenting of orphaned and displaced nestling raptors. In 1990, WAH initiated the first raptor foster parenting program in Arizona. This program established a standardized foster-parenting protocol adopted by many other rehab groups. Wild At Heart’s foster owls, hawks, and falcons care for 150-200 nestling and hatchling raptors each year.