We had the good fortune of connecting with Linda Searles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Linda, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Every life is important.

Everything is connected in our world. Once you get started in wildlife rehab, you have the opportunity to witness first-hand the problems wildlife are facing. You realize that many of the problems are caused by people – but not malicious people. Folks who just don’t know that what they’re doing isn’t helpful, or may put another animal at risk. So then I realized there’s an opportunity to educate people through the work Southwest is doing. Now, instead of just rescuing animals post-tragedy – which we will always do as long as there’s a need – we have the opportunity to possibly prevent issues before they happen through educating visitors.

I marvel that every being in the world depends on each other like a chain. In order to have strength, each link has to be strong. When one is weakened, it weakens the whole chain. This encompasses all life and all aspects of the world: water, plant life, bugs, animals, humans, rocks, terrain – everything. We all rely on each other to continue to exist.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m proud of how Southwest Wildlife has grown from a “backyard rehab” to an institution that saves hundreds of wild lives year after year.

I’m proud of the compassion, generosity, and passion of Southwest’s donors, staff, volunteers. These people are the village that has gotten Southwest here.

I’m proud of the work we’ve done with the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, housing senior or disabled endangered wolves and giving them a safe and peaceful home. We also partnered with this program to cross-foster two Mexican wolf puppies into the wild in northern Arizona.

I’m particularly proud of past Animal Care interns who begin their studies at Southwest, who then go on to wonderful careers. Past interns have moved on to careers in zoos, rehab centers, wildlife agencies, and beyond. I’m very proud of them spreading the knowledge and compassion they learn at Southwest.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh we aren’t “fancy” around here. The best day you could have is to take a horseback ride through the beautiful Sonoran Desert, enjoying nature and the big blue Arizona sky. Then we’d go to dinner at The Horny Toad in Cave Creek, AZ for a no-fuss, delicious meal – with a margarita for sure!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s a lot!

I’d have to dedicate this Shoutout to Dr. Richard Hancock, veterinarian and my childhood mentor. He taught me a lot about animals and caring for them. A fond memory of him I have is this. He came out to my childhood ranch ranch to respond to a call about a sick horse. He got out of his car and walked over to the horse, and from afar he observed him. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing. He just crouched on the ground without any of his equipment and watched for several minutes. When he stood up and walked back to his truck to gather his supplies, I asked him what he had been doing. “Once the horse knows I’m there,” he said, “he’ll change his behavior.”

It’s important to watch animals in their natural state – and their natural state is not with people. I’ve taken that fact with me through my whole career, and I see it constantly. It goes back to interconnectedness, too – animals can sense when a human is interrupting their natural flow, or when something changes in the environment however subtle.

Wildlife is magical. The way they can adapt, the way they’ve evolved is amazing – it’s magic. And Dr. Hancock helped me see that from a very young age.

Website: https://www.southwestwildlife.org/donate

Instagram: @southwestwildlife

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Southwest.Wildlife

Youtube: @SouthwestWildlifeCC

Other: TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g31350-d3346494-Reviews-Southwest_Wildlife_Conservation_Center-Scottsdale_Arizona.html TikTok: @southwestwildlife

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.