The Club’s Trailblazers group took their shortest “road trip” of the season to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in North Scottsdale on Wednesday, June 11.

The group of 15 members, spouses and friends enjoyed a private tour of the facility where they viewed cougars, bears, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons and a 200-pound tortoise.

The club toured the spacious center and its well-maintained facility for almost two hours. The two veteran guides, Geneva and Kristi, were informative, knowledgeable and entertaining, said Public Relations Chair Frank Casanova.

“Just like we humans, our desert animal friends sometimes need critical care medical facilities staffed by world-renowned physicians. And that is just what they get at the Center,” Casanova said. “The Center rescues and rehabilitates native wildlife that has been injured, displaced or orphaned. The Center also performs educational and humane scientific research in the field of conservation medicine.”

When animals fall victim to wilderness life, they suffer from ever-encroaching human expansion, local authorities will contact the Center. The staff will collect the animal, treat its injuries, and house it at its large facility to allow it to return to full health, Casanova said.

“These wild animals make where we live special and exciting,” he added. “But they are the unintentional victims of expanding urbanization and loss of habitat. Feeding dog food to a coyote pup might seem logical to some, but kibble is not designed for the health of a wild coyote or other adopted wild critter.”

The Trailblazers’ visit contributed to the Center’s mission of supporting local wildlife.

The 15 members, wives and friends attending were Jim and Kristen Skivington, Jim Hannan, Frank and Denise Casanova, Shawn Rose and daughter Gianna, Joe and Marlene Stozak, Glen and Debbie Wohlenberg, Jim Haar, John Weimer and Karl and Sally Buschman.

After the tour, the Trailblazers gathered at the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club Grill for lunch and a debrief.

“It is wonderful to have such a unique organization doing great work right in our Fountain Hills backyard,” Casanova added.

The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center can be reached at 480-471-9109 and is located at 27026 N.  156th St. in Scottsdale.

For information about The Club membership or other events and activities, contact The Club in Fountain Hills at infotheclubfh@gmail.com or visit theclubfh.com.