Our Beginning
Established in 1998 by Lisa Bates M.S. and Peter Lininger, the Tucson Wildlife Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned wild animals throughout southern Arizona.
Tucson Wildlife Center became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in April of 2000. At that time we were immediately available to take in wild animals that had nowhere else to go. Special training, equipment and permits were obtained to handle the larger, orphaned or injured wildlife. The animals literally began pouring through the front door of the Center.
Our facility is set up to handle all of the larger animal species. We are one of the only centers in the area that can handle some of the more sizeable native and federally protected animals and we specialize in birds of prey (hawks, owls and eagles) and javelina.
Our Center is located on the far east side covering Tucson and all of Southern Arizona to help large birds and mammals, and any animal species other centers will not handle.
The Tucson Wildlife Center is a reputable non-profit organization. Use the Arizona Secretary of State Charity Search Page to verify our status.
Our Services
Services provided by the Tucson Wildlife Center include an emergency help line operating 24/7, capture and transportation of injured animals, 24-hour emergency room, volunteer DVM on call, rehabilitation, release, and education. All services are provided free to the public. Our sole support comes from YOU.
We specialize in the capture and treatment of the dangerous variety of animals such as javelina, bobcat, eagles or coyote. Hopefully, they are nursed back to health for eventual release back into the wild. When release is not 
possible, placement in a sanctuary can be sought. Sometimes, animals that are beyond care are humanely put down to end their suffering. We are able to provide all of these services free of charge because of generous donations from you.
Tucson Wildlife Center works with several veterinarians, physicians, community volunteers, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the University of Arizona in helping wild animals recover from injuries or illness and get them back to the wild. Detailed planning is done to assure the best reintroduction of these animals into their native habitat and preferably their original territory when animal and community safety is not in question.
Read about some of our typical success stories. Our team of gifted veterinarians, veterinary technicians, physicians, and volunteers is incredible. The quality of medicine and surgery provided to the patients at the Tucson Wildlife Center is world class.
Our Future
"I'm as excited about the future of the Center today as I was twelve years ago when we first opened our doors to Tucson's wildlife. Since the first year, we have rehabilitated between 250 and 300 animals per year. This year we project we will treat more than 700 animals. WOW! And, our success rate is phenomenal. Greater than 80% of treatable animals are released back into the wild. Also, watching the transformation of our barn into an intensive care nursery and state of the art surgery is thrilling. The Tucson Wildlife Center is humming with activity! Please join us to continue this mission for our community."
Lisa Bates, Tucson Wildlife Center Director
