Enoch Wildlife Rescue celebrates new facility with raptors, rescued baby animals

Written by Alysha Lundgren
May 2, 2024

ENOCH — Dozens of people braved rainy weather and muddy roads to celebrate with Susan and Martin Tyner, their raptors and volunteers, as they opened the doors to the Enoch Wildlife Rescue Center — a facility the Tyners say they’ve waited decades for.

The Enoch Wildlife Rescue Center celebrates its grand opening in Enoch, Utah, April 27, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

The Southwest Wildlife Foundation was founded in Cedar City in 1997, and the couple did much of the work in their Enoch home, Martin Tyner, the nonprofit’s CEO and co-founder, told Cedar City News. It is currently doing business as the Enoch Wildlife Rescue.

“I have been caring for sick, orphaned wildlife as a volunteer for 57 years,” he said. “This is not my occupation; this is my life’s work.”

The foundation owns Cedar Canyon Nature Park, where it focused its energy on multiple projects. But Martin Tyner said that due to issues between the nonprofit and Cedar City, it relocated to a 1.3-acre plot of land adjacent to the Enoch PetSafe Dog Park and Enoch City Animal Shelter in 2021.

The nature park is currently for sale, and once sold, the funds would be placed into a trust so the foundation can use the interest accrued to fund its work “into perpetuity,” Martin Tyner said.

Martin Tyner and Scout the golden eagle sit in a flight chamber in the Enoch Wildlife Rescue Center, Enoch, Utah, April 27, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

The new facility was built on the land, which was leased from Enoch City for $1 per year for a hundred years, with the option of renewing the contract twice more, Martin Tyner said. It features two offices, a clinic, a meeting room, five 10-by-20-foot chambers, 10 10-by-10-foot chambers and two 20-by-100-foot eagle flight chambers.

“(In) most communities, the municipality does its very best to function like government,” he said. “Here in Enoch — Enoch has done its very best to function like community. … So, yes, it’s a dream come true.”

Enoch Mayor Geoffrey Chesnut told Cedar City News that he’s “very proud” that the city had a hand in assisting the nonprofit with its lease. He also credited the Tyners for their work.

The Enoch Wildlife Rescue Center celebrates its grand opening in Enoch, Utah, April 27, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

“We’re happy to be a small part of it,” he said. “And you know, it’s their day and their thing, and we’re just lucky to have them as Enoch citizens.”

Going forward, the nonprofit plans to build a mammal facility and a multi-purpose auditorium to host educational programs, Martin Tyner said, adding that these projects could take some time to come to fruition.

“It took me 45 years to do this one,” he said. “So please, be patient with us.”

The crowd gathered outside around 11:30 a.m. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Susan and Martin Tyner, Belle the Harris hawk, the nonprofit’s board members and volunteers, and others. Susan Tyner cut the ribbon with a large pair of scissors to cheers and a celebratory high five.

The building was decorated with donated merchandise and art being sold to fundraise for the nonprofit. The Primitive Waffle, a Parowan-based, gluten-free cafe, was set up in a flight chamber, selling food and coffee.

The Enoch Wildlife Rescue Center was filled with merchandise and art donated to fundraise for the nonprofit, Enoch, Utah, April 27, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

Originally, the nonprofit planned Arbor Day demonstrations and a tree planting with Ryan Johnson, an urban and community forester with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. But these were rescheduled to May 11 due to inclement weather. Johnson was still present at the event.

While happy to open the center, Martin Tyner said he was ready for the festivities to begin winding down.

“There’s two things in life I hate: moving and parties,” he said. “And we’re doing both right here. And so I’ll be very grateful when this is over, and I can settle and do what I do, which is care for critters.”

Meeting the critters

Throughout the day, the Tyners offered tours of the facility, and guests were invited to view the rescue’s animal ambassadors: Scout the golden eagle, Belle the Harris hawk, Helen the peregrine falcon and an unnamed screech owl.

A baby cottontail rabbit hops around its enclosure at the Enoch Wildlife Rescue Center, Enoch, Utah, April 27, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

There were also several animals currently in the Tyners’ care. A baby barn owl — about 2 weeks old with downy, white feathers — slept in a clear case. Susan Tyner said the owl was found alone but unharmed in a St. George underpass.

“This is kind of a full circle event, guys,” Martin Tyner said. “For me, it’s really wild. The very first bird of prey I ever rescued in my entire life — I was 12 years old, and I rescued a baby barn owl. The first bird of prey to be rescued in our new facility here is a baby barn owl.”

In another enclosure, a 2-week-old baby cottontail rabbit huddled under a piece of cardboard that served as a makeshift burrow, occasionally venturing out to hop about in the open.

A baby barn owl rests at the Enoch Wildlife Rescue Center, Enoch, Utah, April 27, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

Susan Tyner said the bunny had been caught by a dog but survived and was given to the foundation to raise. A hatchling sparrow fell out of a nest in St. George before arriving at the center for care.

A great-horned owl that had been electrocuted was housed in one of the smaller chambers. Once she’s well, Martin Tyner said she’ll be released rather than serve as an ambassador.

However, the incident left the bird with damaged wing tips, so she’s likely in for a few more months of recovery, he added.

Martin Tyner also answered questions in the flight chamber with Scout perched on his arm. He said he was the first person licensed to keep a golden eagle for falconry, beginning much earlier in his career with Bud, who lived to be 28 years old.

Scout the golden eagle, is an animal ambassador for the Enoch Wildlife Rescue Center, which recently opened its doors in Enoch, Utah, April 27, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

Bud died after 16 years with the Tyners when he was bitten by a mosquito and contracted the West Nile virus. And the eagle, who Martin Tyner said helped found the nonprofit, is featured on its logo.

Martin Tyner kept his eagle’s “personal items” in his office since he died over 20 years ago, including a bell, jesses and a hand-sewn leather glove, he said. These were placed inside a time capsule as part of the event, along with other keepsakes.

Scout was born in 2003 and rescued in 2006. He and Martin Tyner have been together for nearly 20 years, despite the man stating he’s given his eagle ample opportunities to leave while flying free during one of their hunts.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alysha Lundgren joined the St. George News team in 2022. She began her career as a freelancer, writing resource articles for families of children with disabilities. She's also covered topics such as astronomy, recreation and nature. Originally from Nevada, Alysha fell in love with Utah quickly after moving to Cedar City. In her free time, she enjoys wandering and photographing Utah's gorgeous landscapes or hunkering down in a blanket to play video games or read a good book.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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