Since its founding in the early 90s, Scottsdale’s Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center has rescued and rehabilitated native wildlife that has been injured, displaced, and orphaned. Here, Raandi Morales, executive director, discusses how a coyote named Don inspired the start of the nonprofit and how readers can contribute to Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center and its animal-focused mission.
What is the mission of the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center? Our mission is saving wildlife, one life at a time. We rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured, displaced, and orphaned wildlife back to the wild while educating our community about coexisting with Arizona’s native species and their vital role in the ecosystem. We provide 24/7 emergency rescue services through our volunteer dispatch team, on-site medical care, educational services, and research opportunities in conservation medicine. For animals that can’t return to the wild, we offer sanctuary where they can live out their life in dignity. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, everything we do is driven by our commitment to being a voice for wildlife when they need us most.
What prompted the start of the nonprofit? It all began with one coyote named Don. In the early 1990s, Linda Searles, SWCC’s founder, had a life-changing encounter that would plant the seed for what Southwest Wildlife is today. A local farmer had accidentally run over a den of newborn coyote pups with his tractor, leaving just one tiny survivor. He wanted to help, but didn’t know where to turn. At that time, there were no local veterinarians who would treat orphaned or injured wild animals. Through fate and the kindness of people who cared, that orphaned pup found his way to Linda, and she named him Don. Linda had a dream of creating a wildlife rehabilitation where animals like Don could get the care they desperately needed. That one little coyote became the inspiration for what would grow into what Southwest Wildlife is today.
What is the greatest reward in being involved with the nonprofit? Without question, it’s witnessing that moment when we successfully release an animal back to the wild where they belong. Those moments never get old, and they remind me why we do this work every single day.
What is the biggest challenge the nonprofit faces? Our biggest challenges are funding and awareness. We’ve been quietly doing incredible work in our community for years, yet many community members don’t know what we do. Many people don’t know we’re here providing critical wildlife services 24/7, 365 days a year, and we’re working hard to change that. This awareness challenge directly impacts our funding. We’re always working creatively to stretch every dollar for medical care, food, and shelter for the hundreds of animals we help each year. Our incredible staff and volunteers accomplish so much with what we have, but imagine what we could do if more people knew about the difference we’re making.
What are your goals for the remainder of 2025? We’re in a critical time of growth at Southwest Wildlife, and it’s incredibly exciting. Our primary goal is to continue educating the public about the importance of coexisting with wildlife, but we’re expanding that mission in significant ways this year.
How can readers help? There are so many ways to make a difference. Volunteering is at the heart of what we do, whether in animal care, rescue operations, education, or administrative support.Financial donations help us provide medical care, food, and shelter for the hundreds of animals we serve each year. Even if you can’t volunteer or donate, you can still help by spreading awareness, sharing our content on social media, and calling our 24/7 hotline when you encounter wildlife in distress. Taking photos or videos when safe helps our rescue teams respond more effectively. Every act of support, attending our events, purchasing wish list items, or simply advocating for wildlife in your community, helps us continue saving wildlife one life at a time.
What should someone do if they find an injured animal or one in need of help? The best thing to do is to call the Southwest Wildlife Emergency Rescue Line or your local wildlife rehabilitator before intervening. It can be tempting to jump in and get involved, especially when an animal is in distress, but that’s not always what is truly best for the animal’s survival. Taking pictures and videos also helps rescuers better understand the situation so they can provide the most effective help for the animal in need. The more information you can provide to our rescue team, the more prepared they’ll be to assist.
Does the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center have any events or fundraisers on the horizon? Absolutely! We regularly offer guided tours of our sanctuary to the public, which are always popular and a wonderful way for people to see our work firsthand and meet some of our permanent residents who can’t be released back to the wild. We’re actively working to expand our special events and fundraising opportunities throughout the year. The Arizona summer heat does present some challenges for outdoor activities and tours, but we’re really looking forward to fall when we can ramp up our programming significantly.