Have you ever found an injured bird or other wildlife and didn’t know what to do with it? Did you know that there’s an amazing organization nearby who will take in injured and/or orphaned wildlife species? Liberty Wildlife, nurturing the native species of Arizona is centrally located in Phoenix, south of Sky Harbor International Airport off of 24th Street. Part of their vision is to instill compassion and stewardship in young minds and to provide a place to reconnect the public with the beauty and benefits of native wildlife and habitat. They are nurturing the nature of Arizona.
Our family seems to attract injured wildlife all the time. The first time we found an injured bird in our yard we had no idea what to do with it. We decided to wait until morning to see how the bird was doing, but unfortunately it passed away overnight. I wish I had known about Liberty Wildlife Rescue back then. Especially since we have four indoor/outdoor cats.
Our cats are all expert hunters of birds, lizards, rats, and little baby bunnies. I know, they’re absolutely horrible, but I love them. Also, circle of life. I also know that you might be thinking that my cats should be kept inside, and you’re probably right. It’s just that I also have dogs and a doggie door and children who leave the doors open, and I just have to give it all to God. They like to play with their prey more so than eat them. They also think it’s delightful to bring us little gifts because cats are so thoughtful like that.
The lizards they have brought us are usually rehabilitated by my two boys. We have a designated large storage bin in the garage for lizard triage and rescue. The lid has been colored blue for the sky with a large yellow circle for the sun. Names of the rescued lizards have included Billy Gibbons (of ZZ Top fame), Slash (from Guns & Roses), Mr. Dawson (the principal of our elementary school), Dave (after our neighbor), Jalapeño, Buzz Lightyear, and Simon Cowell.
On a couple of occasions, we have found injured birds. We give them a special name, get them into the lizard hospital, and take it to Liberty Wildlife Rescue. The volunteers at the drop-off window are always so nice and helpful. I always appreciate how patient they are when it comes to my children wanting to give all the information. The volunteers at the window will ask if you would like to make a donation to the care of the animal and while I have always made a donation, I have never felt pressured to do so. The amount of the donation is up to me to decide. They accept cash, check, credit card, ApplePay & Android Pay. They want to make it as easy for you as possible. I’ve typically donated $20. The intake window is open daily from 8am – 6pm. There’s also a hotline to call if you need further assistance. The hotline is manned to return calls from 8am – 8:30pm, seven days a week/365 days a year. The number is 480-998-5550. More information about animal drop off & FAQ can be found here.
Birds are easy to load up into your car, but what if you have a larger animal that needs to be rescued? No problem! Just call LWR and let them know what you have and they will come to you. My friend was a volunteer for LWR and she used to go into peoples’ backyards to trap javelina! Liberty will only take native wildlife at their facility.
Not only does Liberty Wildlife Rescue take in injured or orphaned native wildlife, but they are also very active in conservation of wildlife and their habitats, as well as education for both young and young at heart conservationists. Field trips to the conservation center are held from October – April and both traditional and home school groups are welcome. Field trips to Liberty include a walk along their Education Trail to see non-releasable birds of prey, classroom activities, encounters with reptiles and a live bird presentation in the amphitheater. Sign me up! Tours are also available to the general public.
Volunteers are always needed to help with wildlife and rescue efforts. From caring for orphans to the daily care of the injured animals, Liberty is always looking for people who love wildlife and the environment. I can only imagine that caring for these animals must be such a wonderful experience. Volunteers as young as 13 are welcome to apply. For more details on volunteering opportunities, please click here.
After dropping off our newest little friend to Liberty Wildlife, I was so inspired by the team there. I just knew I had to share with our Scottsdale Moms Collective community. For more information on ways to get involved, field trips, drop off window hours, emergencies, and more, please visit Liberty Wildlife’s website.
