September 31, 2019
Wild At Heart was founded by Bob and Sam Fox in 1991. This month The Peak is publishing two articles to mark the nonprofit’s 28th anniversary. The first article, which tells the organization’s founding story, was written by Wild At Heart volunteer, William LeRoy. The article, which was published in the September/October, 2010 issue of The Peak, has been edited to facilitate online reading. A follow-up article, authored by Les Conklin, will be published in mid-October.
Wild At Heart
A Journey of Love, Hope, Restoration
The Founding Story
By William LeRoy
Bob & Sam Fox with legendary foster parents Chia & Sheherazax. Courtesy Wild At Heart.
The organization that we now know as Wild At Heart began in the loving heart of a very determined woman. A woman who would found a grass-roots organization that would touch thousands of individuals nationwide, and whose healing hands would personally touch and care for upwards of 10,000 individual birds of prey over a 16 ½ year time period.
Determined Woman, Idea
Sam was born in Mannheim, Germany. Sam’s mother was a German national and her father was a military man, who was stationed in Germany at the time. Sam met her husband, Bob Fox, in a pizza parlor while they were both living in Tacoma, Washington.
Sam married Bob in 1969. At the time, Sam and Bob were involved with a variety of animal rehabilitation efforts. However, the time was fast approaching when Sam would get the opportunity to become involved with the wildlife species that would occupy a very special place in her heart. We know them today as the magnificent birds of prey.
The idea began to take shape in early 1990, while Sam was a volunteer with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. She read “A Place for Owls,” by Kay McKeever, who was a well-known owl rehabilitator in Ontario, Canada. The book contained a segment that detailed the escapades of “Granny,” a spectacled owl, and Granny’s first efforts at being a foster mom. Sam was excited to read of Granny’s success at raising displaced owlets, and inspired by the concept of using severely injured and non-releasable owls as surrogate parents.
Idea Takes Shape
Great horned owl foster mother, Sheherazad, was featured on this 2003 Peak cover. Photo courtesy The Peak.
Inspired by Granny’s success, Sam persuaded the director to give her permission to initiate a foster parenting program at the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. The caveat was that Sam had to wait until a “suitable” bird was found. A few weeks later, a severely ill, six-week-old male barn owl with permanent wing and leg injuries arrived at the facility. Sam was given permission to take him home and, if he lived, to try to accustom him to the role of a foster parent. As Sam drove the injured owl back to her home, she prayed that he would survive and that she would be able to nurse him back to health. Sam recalled later that sometime during their first days together, her eyes locked with the owl’s eyes in a moment of pure magic. From there, a special love and commitment grew that burns deep and strong until this day. Little did Sam know that this pathetic looking owlet would drastically change her life.
Birth of Wild At Heart
It soon became apparent to Sam that “Chia” would need prolonged medical care. The Wildlife Center was not willing to spend their resources on one lone bird with no guarantees of survival. Not knowing what else to do and needing advice, Sam took him to Dr. Irv Ingram, a very experienced wildlife veterinarian. Dr. Ingram agreed to help Sam rehabilitate the badly injured owl.
As the days and weeks passed, it became clear that Chia was a fighter. Sam recalls that there were many times when she thought that he would not survive his injuries. In the first of what would become a well- documented history of healing successes, the little owlet survived his injuries and grew up to become a beautiful young male barn owl. Sam now had her first owl, and it needed a place to live. Sam and Bob looked at each other, and Bob began construction on the very first Wild At Heart aviary. This first humble aviary was constructed in the backyard of their former residence, and Wild At Heart was born. The year was 1991 and Sam and Bob’s lives, as well as the lives of countless individuals and injured birds of prey, would never be the same.
Wild At Heart volunteers release rescued Harris hawks back to the wild. Courtesy Wild At Heart.
Leading the Way
As a single father, Chia quickly adjusted to his new role and successfully raised his first group of 14 displaced nestlings. A gentle and devoted father to his adopted family, Chia became the avian forerunner of foster parenting in the State of Arizona. His amazing example in turn inspired other rehabbers to utilize non-releasable birds and mammals as surrogate parents.
Over the next 11 years, Chia and his mate, Tyta, would become foster parents to hundreds of baby barn owls. But there was an unresolved issue. Chia did not belong to Sam and Bob. He was legally held under the permits issued to the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. Even though Chia was now “healthy,” his wings and leg were forever compromised. He could not fly, and he walked with a limp. For Chia to stay with Sam and Bob permanently, it would be necessary for them to obtain special permits from the Arizona Game & Fish Department and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. This was no easy task, and it was one that would require an enormous commitment.
Chia the barn owl that started it all. passed away in 2002″ (Courtesy Wild At Heart.)
Becoming Rehabilitators
All birds of prey, including owls, are federally protected and cannot legally be kept as pets. In order to continue with their new healing work, Sam and Bob would need to start their own official rehabilitation organization and then apply to the Arizona Fish & Game authorities to legally transfer the care and custody of Chia to them. For Sam and Bob, it was too late to turn back, and their very first steps toward the fulfillment of a life-long passion had begun. Wild At Heart was incorporated as a nonprofit entity, and Sam and Bob formally dedicated their lives to caring for these wondrous creatures.
Today, Wild At Heart is one of the most successful raptor rehabilitation centers in the United States. Sam and Bob’s healing expertise is known nationwide, and they are recognized by many state and federal Agencies. In the next article, we will describe Wild At Heart’s current activities and volunteer opportunities.
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 into the 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, we will receive as many as 600 raptors into our facility. Most of these birds are brought to us by our many 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. Please make your check payable to: Wild At Heart, Inc. and mail it to the address below. Wild At Heart is a 501 c(3) organization and its Tax I.D. is # EIN 86-0770883.
For Additional Information
Web: www.wildatheartraptors.org Web
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildAtHeartOwl/ Web
Mail: 31840 North 45th Street, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Phone: (480) 595-5047 (Emergency Assistance 24 hours)
In 2004, Wild At Heart volunteer releases a great horned owl at Cookout at the Ranch. Wild At Heart supports many nonprofits by doing releases at fund raisers. (Courtesy Friends of the Scenic Drive.}
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