The North Texas Wildlife Center has secured a future

In a quaint residential neighborhood in Plano, there’s a house bustling with raccoons, opossums and owls.

No, it’s not animal control’s worst nightmare. It’s the North Texas Wildlife Center’s permitted animal rehabilitation facility. Cages sit stacked on yet more cages tagged with custom care sheets, a myriad of aromas drift through the halls and a cacophony of noises from numerous species fill the space. A trip to the backyard reveals yet more enclosures and recovering animals.

Before June, this cramped assembly of box turtles, Mississippi Kites and gray squirrels hadn’t been a problem. Foot traffic increased significantly in 2025, with NTWC reporting 1,400 drop off visitors as of September, up from the 950 seen in 2024. On June 28, the center received a call from the City of Plano’s business department, giving NTWC 90 days to vacate the premises.