The North Texas Wildlife Center, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife, has 60 days to find a new location or face closure due to a zoning violation in Plano.
The center, operating out of a modified residential property, received a call from Plano’s Business Department stating it cannot generate foot traffic in a residential area.
“We’ve been working with the owners, and will continue to work with them, as they bring the property into compliance. The facility appears to be well managed, and the only issue is that it violates our zoning ordinance,” the City of Plano told NBC 5 DFW.
With a 50% increase in animal intakes this year, the center has admitted over 2,500 animals since January, including opossums, raccoons, squirrels, and various birds.
“We rescue, rehabilitate, and release them into the wild. They are not friendly. They are not our pets. We want them to recover and go back into the wild to serve their ecological value,” said Rebecca Hamlin, president of the center, per Fox 4 KDFW.
The facility, which houses around 200 animals, has outgrown its current space, often closing intake due to capacity limits.
“The goal was always for this to be a five-year plan,” Hamlin said, NBC 5 reported. “For us to stay here a maximum of five years and find another place.”
The center is urgently seeking a new property in Plano, Lake Highlands, or Richardson that includes an outdoor space, such as a former daycare or church.
“People don’t know about wildlife rehab until they need it,” Hamlin told Fox 4, recalling a resident who saved baby opossums from a poisoned mother. “Had no chance until someone picked him up and said, ‘I see you and want to help.’”
Founder Mela Singleton highlighted the instinctual recovery of the animals, noting a recent rescue: “This guy is being tube-fed formula. He is doing great and expecting a full recovery.”
The center is appealing for community support, including property leads, funding, sponsorships, and volunteers. Contact information and donation options are available on its website.
Hamlin remains optimistic, stating, “There are wildlife heroes every day, and we can’t stop here. This is not where it ends for us, this is where it starts,” Fox 4 reported.