Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education
About
Our History
The Origins of Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center
Vida’s roots date back to the late 1990s, when a shared passion for wildlife brought together a group of dedicated individuals in Yuma, Arizona. Around 1999, George Montopoli a licensed master falconer, wildlife rehabilitator and professor at Arizona Western College (AWC) and Deena Williams, a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator, began working alongside Dr. Cecilia Vigil, a veterinarian and fellow professor at AWC. Together with several enthusiastic students, they formed an informal but impactful network of wildlife rehabilitators, each contributing their skills independently.
Among these early contributors was Bea Vizcarra, a student of Dr. Vigil who specialized in bat rehabilitation. Bea played an important role during Vida’s formative years, helping to shape the foundation of what would eventually become a more structured organization.
In 2002, Linda Winchell began working in the Arizona Game and Fish Department and soon joined this loosely organized group. She began rehabilitating wildlife under George’s permits. Although there were early efforts to formalize the team, the group remained unofficial for several more years. Linda later left Game and Fish from 2007 to 2016, but her dedication to wildlife never wavered.
Upon her return to Arizona Game and Fish, Linda resumed her work as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator this time acquiring her own state and federal permits. Driven by a vision to establish a permanent, nonprofit organization, she set out to bring that dream to life.
To build a solid foundation, Linda assembled a passionate team: veterinary assistant Teresa Roman, Kim and Anthony Dickerson, Christy Teschmacher, and her son Tony Shelton. Together, they began the process of drafting bylaws and filing for nonprofit status. As momentum grew, additional members including Albert Ustaszewski, Peggy and Charles Stankovich joined the cause.
Thanks to the vision and persistence of these individuals, Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center was formally established, transforming decades of dedication into a legacy of care, education, and advocacy for Arizona’s native wildlife.
Join Us
Are you passionate about helping wildlife and making a difference in your community? We’d love to have you join our team! Whether you’re interested in volunteering, helping with transport, or assisting with outreach and education, your support is vital to our mission.
Mission Statement of Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center
At Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, our mission is to provide expert rehabilitation services for sick, injured, and displaced wildlife, with the goal of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing them back into their natural habitats. We are dedicated to delivering exceptional medical and husbandry care within the scope of our resources, ensuring that each wildlife patient receives thorough evaluation and critical medical treatment at a licensed facility.
Beyond rehabilitation, we strive to engage and educate local communities and government representatives by raising awareness, offering training, and sharing valuable resources to promote wildlife conservation. Through our commitment to expert care, education, and advocacy, we work to foster a deeper understanding of the vital role wildlife plays in our ecosystem and inspire collective action to protect and preserve it.
Community Support & Partners:
At Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center, we are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from our local community. Our work would not be possible without the generosity, time, and expertise of individuals and organizations who believe in our mission.
Veterinary Support:
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Haugo at Desert Veterinary Clinic, who has been a vital sponsor and partner for many years. She has dedicated countless hours free of charge to providing expert medical care for our injured, sick and orphaned wildlife patients. Her commitment to wildlife rehabilitation has had a profound impact on the lives of the animals we serve.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Danielle Amavisca, Dr. Kathy Opfenring, and the exceptional team at Yuma Veterinary Clinic for their unwavering support of Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation. Their dedication to the care of injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife has been nothing short of extraordinary. In every case, they have gone above and beyond providing expert medical treatment, compassionate care, and invaluable guidance. Their partnership plays a vital role in our ability to rehabilitate and release Arizona’s native wildlife, and we are truly thankful for their continued commitment to our mission.
Flight Cage Donation & Restoration:
Our large flight cage, essential for preparing birds of prey for release, was generously built and donated by the AWC Welding Program. It remained at Arizona Western College until 2017, when it was officially transferred to Vida Wildlife. To get the enclosure ready for this season, we completed several repairs and upgrades. Special thanks to Shanen L. Aranmor and the team at Weld Like a Girl for reattaching the cage door and helping us restore this critical structure.
Shade Installation:
Thanks to recent donations, we were able to install shade coverings on the flight cage providing much-needed relief from the intense Yuma summer sun for our owl patients. We are especially grateful to Elaine Schramm, Corey Mitchell, and many others (some of whom prefer to remain anonymous) whose contributions made this possible. The owls thank you too!
Waste Disposal Support:
We are also proud to partner with Arizona Hauling and Junk Removal, a local business offering Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation discounted services for waste disposal. Their support has helped us keep our facility clean and functional. A sincere thank you to Andrea and the entire team for being so accommodating and easy to work with.
To all who have supported us, whether through time, materials, services, or donations please know how deeply we appreciate you. Your kindness keeps our mission alive and makes a real difference for Arizona’s native wildlife.
Document Library
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Team Members:
Albert
President, General Class Falconer, Wildlife Rehabilitator
Anthoney
IT Support
Brianda
Volunteer
Charles
Treasuar
Catherine
Secretary, Wildlife Rehabilitator
Christy
Wildlife Rehabilitator
Deena
Wildlife Rehabilitator
Elizabeth
Volunteer
Kelsey
Volunteer
Kim
General Class Falconer, Wildlife Rehabilitator
Linda
Executive Director, Wildlife Rehabilitator
Pam
Wildlife Rehabilitator - Lake Havasu, AZ
Peggy
Volunteer
Thersa
Wildlife Rehabilitator
Tony
Vice President
Support Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center
Help Us Make a Difference!
At Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, we are dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured and orphaned wildlife, while also providing educational programs that inspire future generations to appreciate and protect nature. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we rely entirely on the generosity of donors like you to continue our vital work. Your donation is not only a gift to the animals in our care, but it is also an investment in conservation, education, and a better future for wildlife.
Every dollar you contribute goes directly toward providing food, medical treatment, shelter, and enrichment for the animals we rehabilitate. It also helps us expand our educational outreach, ensuring that children and community members gain a deeper understanding of the importance of protecting our local wildlife. Your support allows us to maintain and improve our facilities, purchase necessary medical supplies, and provide expert care to the animals who need it most.