Draft:North Texas Wildlife Center

North Texas Wildlife Center (NTXWC) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of local injured or orphaned wildlife located in Plano, TX. Established in 2013 as Dallas Wildlife Center (DWC), we quickly learned our wings expanded to a much larger area. We support 3 separate but interwoven communities; local injured or orphaned wildlife, the public trying desperately to find help for the animals, and other rehabbers who need help with both time and resources.

The current President of the organization is Rebecca Hamlin. Founder and Co-Founder Mela Singleton and Jeniffer Coats serve on the 2024 board.

Permitted by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the center is legally allowed to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured or orphaned native wildlife, ensuring that all activities are conducted in compliance with state wildlife conservation laws and regulations. The center's work plays a crucial role in the preservation of local biodiversity and the health of the regional ecosystem.

NTXWC is a high-volume wildlife rehabilitation center with 50 sub-permitted satellite rehabilitators with specialties ranging from opossums, raccoons, raptor (federally permitted), skunks, song birds, squirrels, tortoises and turtles, waterfowl and more. The organization is primarily volunteer based with over 75 volunteers working around the clock to rescue, transport, rehabilitate, and release native Texas wildlife.

At the North Texas Wildlife Center, a core part of their mission involves working with native wildlife while maintaining the natural behaviors essential for their survival in the wild. The center emphasizes minimal human interaction to prevent the animals from becoming habituated to or dependent on humans, which could endanger their safety and survival when they are released back into their natural habitats. This approach ensures that rehabilitated wildlife retains its wild instincts, crucial for their long-term wellbeing and the stability of local ecosystems. To give wildlife the best chances possible once released, wildlife receives a variety of species-specific enrichment tailored to their specific needs. For example, armadillos and skunks, which are prolific diggers, receive dig bins to forage and hunt for live and freeze dried bugs. Arboreal animals are adapted to staying or hanging on trees. Their bodies are suited to live in trees. They have long and strong limbs with sharp claws to climb the trees. To prepare them for the wild, squirrels receive a variety of climbing opportunities both natural and unnatural ranging from sticks, branches, hammocks, and ladders.

Vet staff visit the center twice per week during peak season for examinations, monitoring progress, and medical intervention as needed. NTXWC takes critical animals to the vet for immediate care as needed.

Notable alumni from North Texas Wildlife Center include their current educational ambassador, Coconut. Coconut has been featured on NBC 5 DFWand Fox 4 KDFW. Scooter the opossum received sanctuary at the Amarillo Zoo in March 2024. Chester the opossum received sanctuary with the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in April 2024.