New Mexico Wildlife Center

The New Mexico Wildlife Center was founded in 1986 by a local veterinarian, Dr. Kathleen Ramsay. The non-profit was originally formed as a rehabilitation center for injured birds, but they evolved to treat all species of wildlife. The New Mexico Wildlife Center, located outside of Espanola, New Mexico, treats between 650 and 900 injured and orphaned wild animals of more than 120 species annually, returning as many as possible to the wild.

The New Mexico Wildlife Center operates through the generosity of private and corporate donors and with the support of foundations and granting entities. They employ a small staff of ten full-time and part-time employees.


The New Mexico Wildlife Center's values include:

  • Treating each other as valued members of a team through: communication, trust, respect, helpfulness, mutual care and support of each other.
  • "Leveling up.” They always work to improve their own knowledge and skills.
  • Prioritizing the welfare of the animals in their care and striving to always provide the best care and welfare for them.
  • Valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion. They are dedicated to improving the diversity and inclusivity of their team.
  • Promoting environmental stewardship and striving to practice it as an organization.
  • Striving to build the capacity of their department teams and of their organization as a whole. They value each team member’s contributions toward creating a sustainable organization.


The staff, volunteers, board members, and interns of New Mexico Wildlife Center are dedicated to each other, their mission, and their animals.

New Mexico Wildlife Center Logo
Rachael and Grubb at program
Pepper with trainer Karly

The mission of the New Mexico Wildlife Center is to connect people and wildlife through conservation education and rehabilitation.


New Mexico Wildlife Center's Work

The following are a couple highlights of the impactful work of the New Mexico Wildlife Center.

Wildlife Hospital

Beth and Amelia at program

The New Mexico Wildlife Center houses a wildlife hospital that cares for as many as 900 injured and orphaned wild animals each year. Their federally- and state-licensed wildlife hospital is staffed with experienced, certified wildlife rehabilitators and a wildlife veterinarian. They aim to return the animals back to the wild in New Mexico, and to educate their community about living peaceably with wildlife.


Since 1987, the New Mexico Wildlife Center has treated close to 30,000 injured and orphaned wild patients of all kinds. They also partner with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and United States Fish and Wildlife to return healthy wildlife to the wild.


The hospital includes an x-ray machine, surgery suite, and a clinic area to perform intake exams and daily medical care. In addition, there are several outside enclosures, ranging in size from small to large, that provide the necessary spaces for recovery before release.

The New Mexico Wildlife Center offers a variety of educational programs including classroom programs, field trips, community outreach presentations, and virtual programs. They also offer a unique program specifically for fourth grade classrooms called "Caring Kids" through a partnership with the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society. In this free program, educators from the New Mexico Wildlife Center and the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society visit with students four separate times to discuss responsibility, compassion, safety, and environmental awareness through students’ interest in animals.

Education Programs

Bobcat kitten patient 2023
Appalachian Trail Sign

Join us in supporting the New Mexico Wildlife Center

75% of this month's donations will go towards our partner, New Mexico Wildlife Center.

This month and every month, Wild Boyz Photography will be partnering with one nonprofit. 75% of any donations that we receive during the month will go to the nonprofit. Help New Mexico Wildlife Center continue their mission to to connect people and wildlife through conservation education and rehabilitation.