New Mexico Wildlife Center, NM

Western Rattlesnake

Crotalus viridis
Commonly called Prairie Rattlesnake

Napoleon's Story
Napoleon was brought to the Wildlife Center to be stitched up in 2005. He became tangled in mesh netting at the Pilar Visitors Center and sustained severe skin damage.

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos
The golden eagle is one of the best-known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. This Golden Eagle on display was electrocuted from a powerline.

American Kestral

Falco sparverius
The American Kestral is the smallest falcon and most colorful bird of prey in North America. Despite being the most common falcon in North America, data collected from ongoing research studies indicate a long-tem decline of American Kestral populations in numerous regions in North America, including New Mexico. Unknown causes have contributed to an average decline of 50% across the continent since the 1960s. The public is encouraged to stop the use of rodent and insect poisons and toxins, and building nesting boxes where adequate.

Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

Reider's Story
Reider was found off of Highway 599, south of Santa Fe in early 2014. She had been hit by a car and suffered head and eye trauma and left knee damage. The head injury resolved, but her damaged eye and knee weakness has resulted in her inability to be released. Reider was named after long-time NMWC volunteer Bonnis Reider who worked with many of the Center's small owls. Bonnie passed away in 2014.

Western Screech-Owl

Megascops kennicottii
The Western Screech-Owl is common in low-elevation woodlands, deserts and urban and suburban areas of the southwest United States. Western Screech-Owls are tolerant of humans and are common in residential areas. Population generally stable but habitat destruction due to human development has significant impact in some areas, particularly riparian habitats in the southwest desert areas. Common problems include being hit by cars at night, pesticide poisoning, caught in traps and disturbance of nest sites.

Aurora's Story
Aurora arrived in October 2012 after she was found inside a fireplace in a home in Santa Fe. The bird had suffered soft tissue trauma and was missing feathers from the right metacarpus, the tip of the wing, which is needed for steering during flight. Her wing condition worsened and she was unable to grow healthy flight feathers at the injury site.

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginanus
The Great Horned Owl is one of the largest and most common species of owl in North America.. They are aggressive and powerful. They can catch prey as varied as rabbit, hawks, other owls, snakes, and even skunks and porcupines. They are one of the owl species often called "hoot owls" for their characteristic hooting call. Despite being adaptable and common owl, Great Horned Owls, like other species of owls, often fall victim to poisoning by rodenticides and other toxic substance that have accumulated in their prey.

Bubo's Story
Bubo was brought into a wildlife hospital in Illinois as a young bird. Although raised by professional rehabilitators, Bubo never learned how to be a Great Horned Owl. When it came time to release her to the wold, she came back to the only home she had known, one with people. She had become "imprinted" on humans and would never survive on her own.