History
 
Prior to obtaining 501 (c) (3) status, Kathy Rogers spent eight years rehabilitating injured and orphaned birds out of her home.  Once the non-profit status was granted, the Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center moved its operation to Samuel Farms in 1989. During the following ten years, Kathy Rogers and her team of volunteers provided medical treatment and care for more than twenty thousand birds.
 
In 1999, Browning-Ferris Industries dedicated 20 acres of restored wetland habitat to serve as the permanent home of Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.  Located in Hutchins, Texas, RWRC has grown to be the largest all species avian rehabilitation center of its kind in North Texas.   The Wildlife Center consists of a critical care clinic, The George and Fay Young Clinic Annex, the Stemmons Foundation Native Texas Owl Exhibit, a museum and classroom.  The avian care facilities also include various enclosures and over twenty five rehabilitation flight cages.  At any given time you will find more than 600 birds, of various species, residing at the Wildlife Center.
 
In August 2006, Texas Parks and Wildlife added RWRC to its Prairie & Pineywoods Wildlife Trail.  Located at the edge of the Trinity River, bordering the Great Trinity Forest, the Center provides wonderful opportunities for birders to view migratory birds though out the year.  RWRC is listed in the Texas Discovery Loop along with such other Texas attractions as the Texas Discovery Gardens and the Leonhardt Lagoon at the Dallas Museum of Natural History.
 
Over the last decade, RWRC has provided medical treatment and care for more than thirty five thousand birds.  The majority of birds that we receive come to us with life threatening injuries as a result of abuse, bird strikes, animal attacks, nest displacement (orphaned) and natural or man-made disasters.  We provide all medical treatment at the Wildlife Center with the exception of surgeries that require anesthesia.  Routinely we treat infections, wounds, broken legs, broken wings, head and back injuries.  Recovery time, depending on the injury, ranges from three days to six months.
 
In 2008 alone, RWRC received 4,845 birds of which 82% are protected by federal and state law.   After months of medical treatment, care and rehabilitation, we successfully returned 72% of the various hawks, owls and other protected species back to their native habitat.  Rogers Wildlife serves as a sanctuary for the remaining birds as they are deemed non-releasable due to the extent of their injuries.  All of our permanent residents live in habitat specific settings and are cared for seven days a week, year round by our dedicated staff and volunteers.  
 
In addition to our wildlife rehabilitation efforts, RWRC also serves as an environmental educational facility.  Each year hundreds of students and their families visit us to learn about Texas wildlife, natural history and conservation.  Rogers Wildlife offers a variety of educational programs from Pre-K through 12th grade.  Our primary objective is to encourage the protection and preservation of our wildlife and its habitat in which we coexist.
 
Various scouting organizations visit us through out the year to fulfill badge and Eagle Scout requirements.  Their most recent contributions include a split rail fence, butterfly garden and construction of six large flight cages.
 
Our Community Service Restitution (CSR) program allows eligible court-mandated individuals to fulfill community service hours assigned as a condition of probation.  More than one hundred individuals come to the Wildlife Center each year to fulfill their service hours. Our staff and volunteers work side by side these individuals with the goal of fostering a sense of responsibility to care for all living creatures and the importance of preserving our natural resources. 
 
RWRC is entirely dependant on private donations as it does not receive any Federal, State or Local funding for its rehabilitation and conservation efforts.  To learn more about how you can support our cause, please visit our website at www.rogerswildife.org or call us at (972) 225-4000.  Rogers Wildlife is located at 1430 E. Cleveland Rd., Hutchins, TX 75141, and is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.