What makes Tallon Nightwalker with Northern Colorado Wildlife Center a good neighbor?  

Wildlife rehabilitation centers often operate in the shadows of our communities, their vital work largely unseen by the public eye. The Northern Colorado Wildlife Center stands as a beacon of hope for thousands of injured and orphaned wild animals each year, and its story is as inspiring as the work they do.

Founded in 2016 by a father-son duo, the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center emerged to fill a critical gap in wildlife services for Larimer and Weld counties. As Tallon Nightwalker, one of the founders, explains on the Good Neighbor Podcast, wildlife rehabilitation is in his blood. Growing up with a father who directed a wildlife rehabilitation facility, young Tallon witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by native wildlife and developed a passion for becoming their advocate. This early exposure wasn't just educational; it was transformative, setting him on a path that would eventually lead to creating one of northern Colorado's most impactful wildlife conservation organizations.

Perhaps the most revealing insight from Tallon's interview is the stark reality behind wildlife injuries. Contrary to the common misconception that wildlife rehabilitators are "interfering with nature," the center's data tells a different story. Of the nearly 2,500 animals representing 130 different species they treated last year, a staggering 96% were in distress due to human-related causes. These animals weren't suffering from natural predation or disease—they were victims of vehicle collisions, domestic cat attacks, entanglement in fishing line, or trapped in human structures like window wells. The center's mission isn't to interfere with natural processes but to mitigate the unnatural impacts humans have on wildlife populations.

The Northern Colorado Wildlife Center doesn't just rehabilitate animals; they're equally committed to environmental education and habitat restoration. Their comprehensive approach addresses both immediate animal suffering and long-term conservation needs. Through educational programs at schools, community events, and their own facility, they're building a more informed public that can better coexist with wildlife. Their habitat restoration initiatives, including native tree and grass plantings, ensure that rehabilitated animals have suitable environments to return to upon release. This holistic approach recognizes that saving individual animals is only meaningful if we're simultaneously protecting the ecosystems they depend on.

What makes the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center truly special is its community-centered approach to conservation. With 70 regular volunteers dedicating their time each week, the center exemplifies how collaborative efforts can create exponential impact. Tallon emphasizes that anyone can contribute to wildlife conservation, whether through hands-on volunteering, financial support, or even simple donations of supplies like paper towels. Particularly touching are his stories of children hosting lemonade stands or dedicating their birthday gifts to wildlife causes—powerful reminders that conservation ethics can take root at any age and that meaningful contributions come in all forms.

For those inspired to support this vital work, the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center welcomes visitors at their Drake and Timberline location in Fort Collins. Open daily for both wildlife admissions and public education, they offer opportunities to meet ambassador animals and learn how to make homes and businesses more wildlife-friendly. Their website, nocawildlife.org, provides volunteer applications, internship information, and other ways to engage with their mission. As Tallon wisely notes, there's a place for everyone in wildlife conservation, regardless of age, background, or resources. The wildlife sharing our communities need champions, and the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center is showing us all how to be better neighbors to the wild creatures that enrich our world.

To learn more about Northern Colorado Wildlife Center go to:

https://www.nocowildlife.org/

Northern Colorado Wildlife Center

970-283-7822