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Who We Are - About US

The Phoenix Wildlife Center was started in 1992 calling itself WREN, the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Network, a team of dedicated volunteers and rehabilitators. After moving to Phoenix, Maryland from Howard County in 1997, we renamed ourselves The Phoenix Wildlife Center, incorporated as a non-profit, and began serious wildlife rehabilitation. Today we have treated thousands of orphaned and injured native wildlife, returning them back to the wild. Our staff is one of the most highly trained in Maryland. Our veterinary support is unsurpassed, receiving medical, surgical, and emotional support from many, including Fallston Veterinary Clinic, Vinson Animal Hospital, and Mt. Carmel Animal Hospital locally, to the Easton Veterinary Hospital, Emergency Clinic in Annapolis, and TriState Bird Rescue in Newark, Delaware.
Our Center could not operate without community support. We will always be indebted to Carron McDonough, former owner of The Feed Bag in Jacksonville, for referring to us and believing in our mission. Carron, and subsequently Debbie Dixon, always gave us a break, giving us broken bags of food, dented cans of formula, samples of anything we asked, although they could have returned the items for credit. This support is what has, 11 years later, made us a fully operational, community supported Center. Brad and Ruth Moore saw to it that the North County News splashed our pictures on the first page. Nature Centers asked for our support during festivals, and in turn, refer people to our Clinic. The Oregon Ridge Nature Council and Center, Irvine Nature Center, Cromwell Valley Park, Anita Leight Estuary Center, and Eden Mill Nature Center allow us to offer educational programs and ask for support from their members. Local veterinary staff were encouraged to refer to our clinic. Eagle Scouts built our raptor and songbird cages. Friendships were established, trust earned, and the Clinic has flourished.
We currently have Department of Natural Resources permits to treat mammals (including rabies vector species) and US Fish and Wildlife permits to treat migratory birds. Our Director has had a bald eagle permit since 2004, before they were taken off of the endangered species list, and she continues to rehabilitate and release bald eagles.
None of the staff are paid employees; this is an all-volunteer operation. We do not receive funding from the Local, State or Federal government. There is no charge for our services, encouraging those who would be afraid of a huge bill to bring the injured animal to the Clinic. And although we have never asked for money, the community continues to support us. We had one formal fundraiser aimed at procuring $40,000 for a bald eagle flight cage; 50% of those receiving our fundraising letter made donations.
We are continually amazed at the support we receive. At a recent Eden Mill Volunteer event, everyone who came brought a donation. The room was packed with donations of sheets, towels (some with tags still on!), laundry detergent; it was so much stuff that Paula Harris had to load it all up in her van to bring because it would not fit in my car! Checks come with notes that say “my daughter brought you a bird 5 years ago and we just came across your name and wanted to send you something”, or a note from the mother of an 8 year old girl, who met us last year, and has asked that for her birthday, donations be sent to us! So this note is for all you who have and will support us: thank you from all of us. We couldn’t do it without you.

Recent Educational Programs 2009:
Eden Mill Nature Center: Owl Workshop
Pinewood Elementary School Earth Day Celebration
Youth’s Benefit Elementary Scool Environmental Program
Enoch Pratt: National Library Week
Look for us this Fall at the Honey Harvest at Oregon Ridge, Pickering Creek Environmental Center in Easton, Cromwell Valley Park Fall Festival, Valley View Farm, Holt Center, and Ladew Children’s Day.
Baltimore Bird Fanciers (A HUGE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE DONATIONS!)
Chesapeake College Veterinary Assistant program
Franklin Garden Club
Pinewood Elementary Earth Day