Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center
4.9(596)google
4.8(94)yelp
WildlifeNatureGuided Tour
Overview
The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, tucked away in the scenic desert of Scottsdale, is a premier non-profit sanctuary dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing lifelong sanctuary for displaced regional wildlife. Visitors can book exclusive, guided educational tours to view magnificent native mammals, including Mexican gray wolves, mountain lions, black bears, bobcats, coatis, and desert foxes that cannot be released back into the wild. Passionate wildlife biologists and docents share the touching rescue histories of each resident animal while educating guests on critical desert ecosystem conservation, delivering an intimate and deeply impactful educational experience.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeThe cool season of October to April is most recommended. Try to choose a morning tour session, when the desert's wild big cats and wolf packs are at their most alert and active foraging state of the day
Getting ThereHidden deep in the extremely remote Sonoran Desert of northeastern Scottsdale. Because it's in an ecological preserve, the last stretch is smooth unpaved dirt road passable by an ordinary sedan; be sure to use the precise coordinates provided on the official site when navigating
Travel Tips
- This is a nonprofit national-level wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center, dedicated to taking in, treating, and rehabilitating injured or orphaned native Arizona wildlife (such as mountain lions, wolves, black bears, coyotes, and bobcats)
- This is not a traditional entertainment zoo; to minimize human disturbance, by law the public is absolutely forbidden from just 'buying a ticket at the gate,' and must book a limited-quota exclusive Guided Tour in advance on the official site
- The tour is led throughout by passionate professional zoologists or volunteers, who let you observe these large predators up close and tell, one by one, the thrilling rescue and rehabilitation story behind each animal
Reviews
Positive
- A soul-stirring, heart-hitting experience! You can see the extremely rare Mexican Gray Wolf up close here, and the guide's explanation is full of awe and love for nature—far more meaningful than an ordinary zoo
- Very suitable for bringing older children here for real nature and life education. Watching those healed mountain lions live in a semi-wild environment, I truly feel the ticket money is very well donated
Heads up
- You must grab a reservation slot online well in advance; showing up on the spot won't get you in at all. Because it's a pure outdoor desert environment, the tour involves a fair amount of walking, and there's fairly heavy wind and sand along the way