We visited Wildlife West Nature Park yesterday. Unlike a typical zoo, Wildlife West is a preserve for orphaned, injured and certified non-releasable animals and birds in natural habitats.
This is Morley, a golden eagle. Morley is missing his right eye, making it impossible for him to be released into the wild.
Here’s Dia, a western red-tailed hawk. Dia was found on the ground, injured in the right shoulder and wing – the result of a gunshot.
Magnificent.
Here’s Don having a chat with Lucky, a white-tailed deer rescued by the New Mexico Game & Fish Department.
I couldn’t get over how beautiful the pronghorns were. Tonto was orphaned as a baby and brought to Wildlife West by the New Mexico Game & Fish Department.
Did you know the pronghorn is the only living member of its family in the world? They are not antelopes. They’re the fastest land mammal – they can sprint up to 60 mph and maintain a speed of 30 mph for miles (they can sustain high speeds longer than a cheetah). They can see 320 degrees without turning their head and can see movement up to four miles away.
This is Forrest, a gray fox. He was found orphaned as a baby in a train car in southern New Mexico.
Meet Ernie, a great horned owl. Ernie is at Wildlife West due to a serious injury to his right wing, most likely caused by a collision with a vehicle.
And, last but certainly not least, Don and I were intrigued by Max and Polly, a pair of crested caracaras.
Max and Polly are at Wildlife West because they were illegal pets.
They are members of the falcon family, although their structure and habits are quite different from those of other falcons.
Stunning.
December 6, 2010 at 4:24 am
Oh wow, these are such wonderful and beautiful creatures! All animals have their own beauty and they always amaze me. Thanks for sharing this.
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December 6, 2010 at 6:04 am
That sweet little Pronghorn with those eyes…oh my.
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December 6, 2010 at 6:08 am
would love to be that close to a pronghorn. Only have ever seen them from a great distance. What a fascinating animal. Thanks for sharing. Suzanne
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December 6, 2010 at 6:24 am
That’s a great little smile on the corner of the fox’s mouth. Makes you wonder what he’s planning. Chickens? HA
Nice photos today.
Di
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December 6, 2010 at 7:03 am
What cool pics!!!!
So glad all these guys have a safe place to live, and that we can go see them, up close and personal!
You did a great job of minimizing the fencing! Always an issue at zoo-type places. Either the animals are wild, and too far away to see (thinking of the Dall sheep we saw in Denali in Alaska, which were barely-visible specks on a hill side, estimated by the guy with the telescope to be a mile away), or the critters are close and we photographers have fencing issues…..
I’d never heard of those last guys — very striking!
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December 6, 2010 at 7:18 am
Vicki,
I hadn’t heard of them (caracaras) either. They reminded me so much of the raptors from Jurassic Park.
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December 6, 2010 at 7:34 am
Beautiful photos. I have never heard of this place–must visit!
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December 6, 2010 at 8:02 am
Thanks for sharing! The pronghorn has such a beautiful face!
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December 6, 2010 at 8:10 am
Rosanne,
Thank you! (No worries.) 😉
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December 6, 2010 at 8:18 am
Such great photos you got! I took my parents to check out the Carolina Raptor Center over T’giving weekend. It’s frightening to hear of all the ways those birds are injured–at least there were very few hurt intentionally.
I’ve always been fascinated by the uniqueness of pronghorns. I think they’re highly underappreciated!
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December 6, 2010 at 8:20 am
Flartus,
It is frightening, isn’t it? I can’t figure why someone would want to shoot something as beautiful as a red-tailed hawk. It’s beyond my comprehension.
And the pronghorns… I agree with you… they’re definitely underappreciated!
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December 6, 2010 at 8:39 am
Very good photo’s! Thanks for sharing. When I look at animals, with all of their colors and markings, it really makes me appreciate God’s creativity!
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December 6, 2010 at 8:57 am
A blessed place. Thank you for taking me along with you to meet all those magnificent souls. xoxo
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December 6, 2010 at 9:53 am
We’ve taken the grands to this wonderful preserve and also fallen in love with the wild ones. You know how kids get a “favorite” animal? Well Ms. GK also fell head over heels in love with the pronghorn. They both have brown eyes and long lashes….acccording to she. When WW first opened, I had it in my mind that is was going to be a glitzy, che che place but it is a very nice showplace for “mostly” indigenous animals. Much like the one near Greer Garsons place up north.
Thanks for the info on the Belen parade…it was cold, but it was so much fun.
The Olde Bagg, Linda
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December 6, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Linda,
I’m so glad you had fun at the parade! 😀
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December 6, 2010 at 9:57 am
Just great that these beautiful birds and amazing animals have a safe and nice place to live!
I agree with Di, I also see a smile on the corner of the Forrest’s mouth. What a beautiful fox!
Ernie is lovely too! I have a fondness for horned owl.
You did a great reportage here, Justina.
Thanks for sharing!
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December 6, 2010 at 10:33 am
I love the depth of your pictures. And those eyelashes on Tonto….sigh. So sweet.
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December 6, 2010 at 11:31 am
Nice photos, I love the birds of prey! And this cunning smile from the fox, what a sight!
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December 6, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I would love to go visit there. You got such great photos. I can’t decide if I like the fox or the pronghorn better… I’m partial to foxes because of their attitudes, but the pronghorn has such lovely eyelashes…
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December 7, 2010 at 7:27 am
What a wonderful facility. The pics are fantastic – great job. It is my dream to start a wildlife refuge. Hopefully someday 🙂
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December 7, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Colleen,
I hope your dream comes true. 🙂
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