Since 2016, we have been helping busy Nashvillians make simple decisions to protect local wildlife and their home.
About NWCC
The mission of NWCC is to empower our community to connect with the natural world and coexist with our native wildlife by providing education, rehabilitation, and environmental stewardship. As a 501(c)3 non-profit, we work with Nashville to Connect, Conserve, and Coexist with wildlife.
Connect
Through our wildlife education outreach, we connect Nashville with wildlife they can find right outside their own home.
We grow up focusing on tigers, elephants, gorillas, and other amazing wildlife that lives continents away. This puts a disconnect in our minds — when we first visit schools, we often hear students telling us wildlife is found in the jungles, not outside in our schoolyard. We work hard to bridge that gap, so that students not only learn about wildlife in their community, but also form a connection meeting a wild animal for the first time. This helps the student to find their sense of place in nature, no matter where they are.
All of our wildlife ambassadors receive LIMA (least-intrusive minimally aversive) training, and utilize techniques taught by Barbara Heidenreich, Avian Behavior International, and The Raptor Center in Minnesota.
Conserve
We are a wildlife hospital that focuses our resources on species of most concern here in Nashville.
Our specialty is teaching, and we have travelled throughout the United States to teach at state conferences, national conferences, and individual centers about different topics in wildlife rehabilitation.
Our practice is based off of research, specifically post-release. We work hard to ensure the animals we are caring for not just survive post-release, but thrive. We then use those protocols to help other wildlife rehabilitators.
Coexist
Everything we do comes down to coexisting with wildlife.
Unfortunately, 99% of the cases we admit into the wildlife hospital were preventable, and due to human/wildlife conflicts. Our goal is to reduce these issues.
Whether you have a group of baby eastern cottontails you need to protect from your dogs, need to keep a mole out of your lawn, or are looking for alternatives to pesticides, we are happy to help!
The top three reasons wildlife was admitted into our hospital:
Hit by lawn mower
Hit by car
Cat/dog attacks
Meet the Team
DEBBIE SYKES, CWR
Founder & Executive Director
Debbie was inspired to create Nashville Wildlife Conservation Center, because she didn’t believe that anyone should be denied access to nature. Debbie, a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator, has worked as a Wildlife Rehabilitator for over a decade, taking every opportunity to learn as much as she can about rehabilitation, education, and behavior. Beyond her experience in animal rehabilitation, Debbie has been educating children of all ages for several years (Starting at Warner Park Nature Center), and is a certified Tennessee Naturalist. Currently, she’s an instructor for the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, and in the Veterinary Technician program at Volunteer State Community College
AMANDA HEALAN, PhD
President
Amanda Healan is a versatile, experienced science communicator. A small business owner, she works with universities, non-profits, companies, and government agencies to make complex scientific topics accessible to the public. Amanda earned her PhD in microbial pathogenesis from The Ohio State University and is a certified Tennessee naturalist. She uses her warm style – and musicianship – to engage NWCC audiences across platforms.
KATY HEA
Vice President
A native Nashvillian, Katy Hea has a background in non-profit administration, wildlife rehabilitation, and education. Katy has been working professionally in the restaurant and hospitality field for nearly 20 years. An avid lover of nature, Katy is thrilled to be a part of the NWCC team and help facilitate a greater understanding and appreciation for Nashville’s native wildlife.
MEG MORGAN
Secretary
As the Root Nashville Campaign Manager at the Cumberland River Compact, Meg Morgan is passionate about grassroots community leadership that builds more equitable, healthy, climate-resilient neighborhoods. In 2020, Meg received the Nashville Emerging Leader Award in Environment and Sustainability presented by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. Meg has a master’s in Leadership and Public Service from Lipscomb University and a graduate certificate in Urban Forestry from Oregon State University. She is also a regular volunteer in NWCC's turtle rehabilitation hospital.
EMILY DAVENPORT, CWR
Treasurer
Emily Davenport has been a veterinary professional for close to two decades, serving in multiple small animal and exotic practices. She is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with the state of Colorado and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and board-certified in wildlife rehabilitation by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Emily’s area of interest and expertise is raptors, and in 2017, she founded Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance. Emily earned her BFA in Illustration from the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, where her focus was on veterinary and medical illustration.
Interested in joining the board? Email board president Amanda@NashvilleWildlifeConservation.org