Emily Davenport, founder of Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance, with Atosha the Great Horned Owl – one of the alliance’s educational ambassadors.

Emily Davenport is passionate about wildlife. As a certified wildlife rehabilitator with nearly two decades of veterinary experience, she recognizes the importance of having relationships with others in her field. In 2017, she founded the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance (RMWA) to foster professional collaboration.

In 2022, she took a big risk and took it a step further. She invested savings to rent space on the Cherokee Ranch & Castle grounds to create a physical home for RMWA, thanks to an opportunity created with James Holmes, the ranch’s executive director. The mission of the alliance is to elevate the care and protection of wildlife by fostering a sense of community and collaboration. “We do that thorough rehabilitation, education and conservation,” said Emily.

The space boasts about 2,000 square feet of human space and 7,500 square feet of enclosed wildlife space, where volunteers care for upwards of 60 patients at a time. The nonprofit has exploded with growth since obtaining the space.

RMWA is completely volunteer based with 68 active volunteers. They operate seven days a week, 365 days a year. “No one day is the same. We learn something new every day,” shared Emily. Volunteers care for the sick and injured animals with daily feedings, weight checks, medication and treatment.

Proactively, RMWA provides education with on-demand classes such as training park rangers and weaving learning opportunities into classroom curriculum. RMWA has four Educational Ambassadors who help with community outreach and provide incredible teaching moments. “I am a big believer in creating one-on-one connections for education,” said Emily.

Kingston is a red-tailed hawk who lost sight in one eye after colliding with a window; Atosha is a great horned owl who experienced severe head trauma and lost an eye; Yarrow is a northern saw wet owl who broke a shoulder while grounded in a windstorm and is unable to fly; and Terra is an ornate box turtle kidnapped from the wild and left in an urban park.

Collaborating with wildlife professionals affords knowledge sharing for an otherwise autonomous profession. RMWA hosts the Wildlife Care Conference each January, bringing more than 300 people from across the world together. The next event is planned for January 25, 2025. Tickets go on sale in November. Although it is geared toward wildlife professionals, the event is open to all.

This month, Emily was recognized by the Douglas County Community Foundation with the Community Hero award, recognizing an outstanding nonprofit organization, community leader, volunteer or corporation located in Douglas County. Emily is humbled by the award and acknowledges all the volunteers who make RMWA possible. “I’m very grateful for everyone. It is an award for all of us,” she said.

RMWA has a big fundraising goal this year: $50,000. The funds are for an important last piece of equipment – an x-ray machine – to make the facility a full hospital. Tax deductible donations for RMWA can be made through the RMWA website or the Colorado Gives Foundation at coloradogives.org. Learn more about this organization, including volunteer opportunities, what to do for an injured or sick animal, educational programs and more at www.rmwalliance.org.

Emily Davenport (center) with her staff receiving the Community Hero award from the Douglas County Community Foundation on Friday, September 13.

By Elean Gersack; photo by Terri Wiebold and courtesy of Emily Davenport