Scottsdale conservation center seeing increase of orphaned animals

PHOENIX — A Scottsdale conservation center has seen a heavy increase in orphaned animals in the early part of summer because of nearby fires, real estate development and warmer temperatures.

The Southwest Wildfire Conservation Center is reporting a 50% increase in orphaned raccoons, baby bears, coyotes and other native animals.

“We have a lot going on in our state right now and in some of these cases, the mothers and their babies have literally been forced out of their homes and the babies end up lost and orphaned,” Linda Searles, SWCC’s founder and executive director, said in a press release.

“We are seeing dozens of more babies than what we normally see this time of year.”

The conservation center, located near 156th Street and Rio Verde Drive, said three brown bear cubs recently became orphaned after their mother was hit by a car in southern Arizona.

The cubs are being rehabilitated with the hope they can safely be rereleased into the wild.

The Woodbury Fire that has been burning east of Phoenix since June 8 has likely contributed to the orphaned animal increase.

“It’s important that we work to get these young animals rehabilitated quickly so they can be re-released back into the wild when possible and the cycle of life can continue for these animals,” Searles said.

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