This Week at Liberty
December 30, 2025
Hoots, Howls, and Hollers
Megan Mosby
Executive Director
Gratitude
As a young student, many years ago, I was fascinated by Greek and Roman mythology. I suppose it was the pre-runner to the Superheroes exploding into the awareness of today’s youth…and even without the special effects, they did catch my attention. What with the thunderbolt throwing, the forcing of seasonal changes and even the debauchery of old Bacchus…what wasn’t to fascinate a young mind. Somehow, I also developed a fondness for Janus, the god of beginnings and endings. He had two faces which allowed him to look back at what had been and at the same time he could look forward to see what was coming. It seemed like a reasonable talent to have and became something that I pathetically tried to emulate.
This year, I am looking back at all of our accomplishments in 2025. We had many obvious successes: the completion of our mammal enclosures and the presentation of new wildlife to the public; the successful release of thousands of injured, ill and orphaned wildlife back into the wild; the publication of our best yet annual report and magazine, WingBeats; the presentation of three great events, Wishes for Wildlife, The Native American and Wildlife Celebration, and El Rio Vivo. Thousands of people around the Valley were introduced to Liberty Wildlife’s educational endeavors to much applause; weddings, birthdays and anniversaries and field trips were held on campus, with wildlife and nature playing a part in each occasion. Read on to This Week at Liberty to learn of other happenings in our orb as we circled the sun in the year 2025.
But, Janus is steadily watching as the trip around the sun begins anew in 2026. I am not sure at all what will happen this trip, but what I have learned is that the operative for me is to look with gratitude at all of the fortune that has blessed us. In fact, my word for the past year and the upcoming year is gratitude.
We go to the gym to build muscles. We read books, take classes, and do other things to build our brain’s strength, and we need to add to that list, an exercise for the muscle of gratitude. Research has uncovered that an attitude of gratitude results in better sleep, improved immunity, decreased stress, higher self-esteem, lower blood pressure, stronger relationships, more optimism and greater self-satisfaction. What’s not to appreciate about those benefits?
So, for the followers of this blog and Liberty Wildlife, I feel a profound and heartfelt sense of gratitude for all of the accomplishments resulting from your support and participation. Our successes start with you…you who cared enough to bring in wildlife in need; you who have participated in events on campus and in the community; you who have volunteered your time to help a cause; you who have shared your hard-earned funds and time to help us with our mission to nurture the nature of Arizona. Forward-facing Janus is hearing me say this now…I feel such gratitude.
John Kennedy also said it well, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them”…look out Janus for gratitude in 2026.
This Week @ Liberty
The intake total for the year is now up to 9246.
The end is here! I mean, not really the END, but the end of 2025. Personally, I had a fantastic year; our pups have grown (somewhat, they are still insane), we went on lots of great mini-vacations with said pups, and overall, I learned a lot about who I am and who I’d like to be. In fact, this is the last year of my thirties. In May, I’ll be an adult-adult as I hit my forties, and to be honest, I’m here for it. I’ve had a great time in this endeavor of adulthood, and I think I’m ready for the next step (we’ll see how I feel when my actual birthday comes up and I cross that threshold).
Here’s to you and yours, as well, and hoping that you also had a great 2025!
By: Acacia Parker | Public Outreach Coordinator
2025 Recap
365-ish days later, and we’re here. 2025 is about to close-up shop and 2026 is making its way in. A lot has happened in that time, and not just here at Liberty Wildlife, either. We’ve all had our own adventures this past year, and while I’d love to recap it all for everyone, for the expedience of the blog, I think we’ll keep it to the happenings here at Liberty Wildlife.
So, without further ado, here are the highlights of 2025:
- Becoming a rescue volunteer could not be more fun than here at Liberty Wildlife. Becoming one means taking a call from a dedicated hotline volunteer who will direct you where to go, where you’ll rescue any number of raptors who are orphaned, injured or sick out in the wild. If you’re looking for a new adventure in 2026, click here to apply to become a volunteer at Liberty Wildlife!
- Mammal wellness day had Dr. Lamb and staff assessing our resident mammals for their yearly check-ups. Weights, vaccines, nail trims, you name it, it was done!
- Our second annual El Rio Vivo came and went with hundreds of people coming to Liberty Wildlife to see art vendors and walk the Rio Salado Trail right behind our campus. Many of our animal ambassadors wowed people with their impressive wingspan. (Watch for details of our third year of this event coming up on March 7th!)
- March and April mean one thing…babies! All the babies are starting to show up, which means Orphan Care is in full gear to care for all that wildlife coming through our doors.
- A public rescuer brought in nestling house finches who’d fallen (along with their nest). And a first for me; a snake skin had made its way into the nest as part of the material to build said nest!
- Pigeons be pigeons; they are incredible animals who have adapted well to our way of life, and were once messengers in ancient Rome as well as during wars throughout history.
- A reminder that imprinting (when an animal thinks we’re their people and cannot survive in the wild) happens on birds (especially raptors) some time between when they hatch to when they become a juvenile; make sure if you find an animal at this stage of life to bring them to Liberty Wildlife so we can prevent the imprinting process, and ensure we get them back out into the wild.
- So much weather here in Arizona! We had all the rain and haboobs!
- International Vulture Awareness Day is a thing! These incredible raptors have some of the best sense of smell in the bird of prey kingdom!
- A spadefoot toad (the first I’ve ever seen!) comes through our doors. It was a quick stay as the assessment confirmed he was A-ok and was released into our wetlands shortly after.
- Oh Benji, my Benji…that’s all I have to say! (If you’ve been here, you’ll know we have a new animal ambassador this year; Benji the raccoon!)
- All the weddings! ALL OF THEM.
Notable Mentions
I honestly can’t thank you all enough for being here with us. Between our annual events like Wishes for Wildlife and The Native Americans & Wildlife Festival to public hours and all the things in between, you’re continued support has allowed us to care for the thousands of animals who reach us each year. And we’ll get to continue to do that because of your continued support.
So, from all of us to you, thank you!
And, of course, without further ado, here are this week’s notable mentions:
- A bronzed cowbird who hit a window is brought in for assessment (3 pictures)
- Sulcata tortoises eat up breakfast after having their enclosure cleaned (1 picture)
Thanks for being here with us. Cheers to 2025, and here’s to 2026!
Until next time!
More Posts from Liberty Wildlife
September 23, 2025
In my last blog, I introduced you to one of our new programs for this year and hopefully for many more in the future, our Nature Explorer workshops for young nature lovers in the 4th- 6th grades.
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