LONGMONT, Colo. — Reptiles may make many of us squeamish, but Bob Nightwalker is passionate about saving them.
For the past 20 years, he has worked as a wildlife rehabilitator, caring for sick and injured animals with Northern Colorado Wildlife Center. The nonprofit is made up of local northern Colorado residents who have worked with wildlife for more than 20 years. Nightwalker serves as the nonprofit's treasurer.
"Bob is an amazing human being and he has just been doing so much work for so long," said Kate Boyd, vice president with the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center.
Nightwalker said he likes all the animals, not just reptiles.
"I like the variety of birds and there's some great personalities with some species," he said.
In his spare time, you'll find him at a Loveland home, which he turned into a temporary rehab center for reptiles and amphibians.
"There used to be a wildlife center in Fort Collins that closed in 2012 and it left a big void where people didn't have a place where they could take animals," he said. "The closest is Greenwood."
That's why he and his team are starting the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center. The nonprofit will help relieve some of the pressure from the overwhelmed wildlife center in Lyons.
"We want to create a center where if they find sick, injured or orphaned baby wild animals, they can bring them in," Nightwalker said. "We also wanna have a focus on education and outreach."
Boyd said the center focuses on teaching people how they can coexist with wildlife peacefully, all while ensuring the animals have a place to go when that doesn't work out.
Nightwalker has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of animals, but it's his dedication to teaching other people about them, that continues to makes a lasting impact.
For more information on the Northern Colorado Wildlife Center visit https://www.facebook.com/nocowildlifecenter.
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