Second Chance Wildlife Rescue

08/21/2026

This baby cottontail was rescued from a street in Las Cruces. Unfortunately, when the rescuer came upon the scene, the mama cottontail and two siblings had already passed away. She thought this baby had passed as well because of how it was found. She saw it move and did the right thing. She cleaned it off and brought it to Second Chance Wildlife Rescue. The baby cottontail does not seem to have any injuries. It is resting, eating and will be with us for awhile.

08/13/2026

Growing.

08/11/2026

Our nestling Kestrel has doubled in weight and is developing a personality. Demanding and screeching.

08/06/2026

This nestling kestrel was delivered to us early this week. He was found on the side of a road. No nest nearby. Ordinarily their parents would feed them insects, small mice, voles, lizards, and small birds. Both parents hunt and bring food directly to the nest cavity. Kestrels are the smallest falcons in North America---roughly the size of a blue jay. It is famous for its unique hunting style of hovering motionlessly in mid-air over open fields before dropping down on prey.

08/02/2026

07/27/2026

This Black-headed nestling heron was brought to us by the city's Animal Services. When brought in he was scared and very shy, but started eating well almost immediately. After a day, he started vocalizing a lot more and is pretty feisty trying to attack the rehabilitator's work boots and fingers. He enjoys eating his fish.
Black-headed herons are found in open grasslands, savannas, and open fields, often far from water. They feed on fish and frogs in shallow water, but frequently hunt on dry land for large insects, small mammals, and small birds. They also build large stick nests in colonies high in trees, on cliffs, or among dense reedbeds.

07/23/2026

We took in a very hungry, weak, Quaker Parrot, that needs a home. He/she is, now, in very good condition and flies.
If you are interested, please, call Josie at (915) 588-2788. No rehoming fees.

07/23/2026

We had an unusual patient today. A semi-truck driver brought us a female opossum-- from Brownsville! Poor thing (the opossum, that is) could not even stand. We surmise she has an injured back and is not able to use her back legs. Because we have no way of taking x-rays, we called the zoo and they are willing to see her tomorrow--if she survives the night. She has not passed any fluids or solids yet, but the rescuer told us that she went quite a bit (solids) on the ride here so that's a good sign. She weighs 244 grams which is about the same as a juvenile pigeon. We are thankful the driver was able to find us and drop this girl off. We'll give her some meloxicam and feed her liquid insectivore food. Note her interesting tail. She also has very sharp teeth.
Opossums are North America's only marsupial. They are found statewide except for the arid Trans-Pecos and Llano Estacado of the Panhandle. Opossums as a group, are among the oldest, most primitive mammals of the New World. Some scientists call them "living fossils" because they have survived relatively unchanged for at least 50 million years. They are cat-sized mammals with a pointed snout, grayish fur, small ears, and long, scaly tail. It can use its tail to hang from tree branches and it has paws with opposable "thumbs." Their chief character is the marsupium or pouch that develops on the abdomen of females. One species occurs in Texas.
They have an eclectic diet and will eat both plants and animals including rodents, young rabbits, birds, insects, crustaceans, frogs, fruits and berries and vegetables.