Sneak Peek: GPPA Announces Tribute to Wild At Heart’s Sam Fox

Posted By Les Conklin on Jan 24, 2021

By Les Conklin

Tribute to “Sam” Fox Supports Continuation of Raptor Rescue, Rehabilitation Efforts

Wild At Heart Co-Founder Died January 1st

Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA) – Friends of the Scenic Drive is posting this page as a tribute to “Sam” Fox who died on January 1, 2021. Sam and her husband, Bob Fox, founded Wild At Heart in 1991. Since the mid-1990s, Wild At Heart and GPPA have partnered on numerous occasions to promote the preservation  of the natural environment in the Desert Foothills and north Scottsdale Sonoran Desert. Readers are urged to visit Wild At Heart’s website and make a tax deductible donation.

Immediately upon learning from a Wild At Heart volunteer of Sam’s passing The Peak posted a notice of her death with an article that she wrote for The Peal three years ago. I also called Bob Fox to see how he was doing and learn if we could be of assistance. Bob told me that he was “O.K.” and planned to carry on Wild At Heart’s raptor rescue and rehabilitation mission, which was “Sam’s legacy.” He added that Wild At Heart’s volunteers were amazing in the support they were providing.

The next day, I received a message from Howard Myers. Howard is a highly respected Scottsdale activist and preservationist. He is also a GPPA member, Scenic Drive volunteer and former GPPA board member. Howard wrote,  ‘I just read that Sam Fox died. Is GPPA going to do anything for Bob or in memory of Sam . If so, I would like to be part of it.”

Support GPPA’s Tribute to Sam Fox and Wild At  Heart

Many readers and GPPA members share Howard Myers’’ appreciation of Wild At Heart’s contributions to our environment and community. If you live in north Scottsdale or the Desert Foothills and have watched an owl or hawk  soar above, the bird is likely the descendent of a bird that has been rescued and released by Wild At Heart, or perhaps a raptor that Wild at Heart saved.

Every year from 1996 through 2012 hundreds of guests enjoyed Wild At Heart’s raptor releases and live raptor exhibits at the annual Cookout at the Ranch event.  The cookout promoted the creation of Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the restoration and  enhancement of Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive and the preservation of our natural environment.  Thousands of readers from Arizona and around the globe have learned about raptors and their rescue and rehabilitation by reading articles in The Peak provided by Wild At Heart. As part of its tribute to Sam Fox and Wild At Heart, we will be re-publishing some of these articles in the coming weeks.

Donate Now

Click on the link below to visit Wild At Heart’s website and make a donation. Donations can be made in a variety of ways including the use of all major credit cards, PayPal, etc..

Thank you for supporting GPPA’s Tribute to Sam Fox and Wild At Heart.

About Wild At Heart

Wild At Heart is a rescue, rehabilitation, and release center for birds of prey.  Its primary purpose is to rescue injured owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles; rehabilitate them; and, ultimately, release them back e wild.  Its guiding mission is to do what is in the best interest of these magnificent birds.

Yearly, Wild At Heart rescues and cares for approximately 450-550 owls, hawks, and falcons. In the more recent years, it has received as many as 600 raptors into our facility. Most of these birds are brought to Wild At Heart by dedicated volunteers who drive across the city, county, and state when an injured raptor is reported.

Wild At Heart is a 501(c) 3 organization. Wild at Heart’s support comes from dedicated and generous members of the community who are concerned about the ever-decreasing wildlife habitats in Arizona and Worldwide. One hundred percent of donations go directly to the care of our magnificent birds of prey. Wild At Heart is a 501 c(3) organization. Website www.wildatheartraptors.org

About Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA)

Founded in the Pinnacle Peak area of Scottsdale, Arizona in 1977, GPPA is dedicated to the preservation of the natural environment and the enhancement of quality of life in the north Scottsdale Sonoran Desert. We support Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive, desert preservation, wildlife conservation, the arts, education, responsible development, and community service  through our publications, initiatives and community partnerships.

Founded in 1994, Friends of the Scenic Drive is a corps of volunteers, within the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association that works to preserve and enhance the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, an area landmark since 1963. A founding organizer of  Scottsdale’s Adopt-A-Road program, Friends conducts regular litter pickup programs and maintains Scenic Drive plant exhibits and monuments.

Published since 1983, A Peek at the Peak (The Peak) is an online publication provided as a complimentary community service by GPPA and Friends of the Scenic Drive.  The magazine supports their missions and is used to inform, protect, promote, and advocate on behalf of the environment and quality of life in the north Scottsdale Sonoran Desert.

GPPA is a 501 c (3) nonprofit charity organization.  Website www.gppaaz.org.

Photo Credit. Feature website image provided courtesy of Dennis Liddell. 

An Invitation

You are invited to use the comment area below to enter a verbal tribute to Sam Fox and/or Wild At Heart.