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Scottsdale man suing wildlife center over noise

Posted at 4:08 PM, Mar 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-01 19:44:53-05

When you get to areas outside of the Valley many expect to find things on the quieter side. But one man says it's anything but quiet near his home.

Seth Gortler moved in next to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in north Scottsdale near the McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

Now he's suing the director and the center over the noise of the animals which he says is just too loud.

Linda Searles opened the center 22 years ago. "It's my life's work," she says and admits the coyotes and wolves do howl.

Seth Gortler recorded the noise of the roughly 300 animals at the center. He posted them on YouTube and it's clear that things do get loud with that many animals.

According to Gortler's attorney, he didn't know how bad it was going to be before he moved in a few years ago.

He is also not a fan of the dust visitors bring driving down the dirt road, something Searles says she's tried to fix by watering down the road before people come.

Neighbor Carol Kuenzli says she hears the animals and sees the dust and still fully supports the center. "It does affect me but not enough to warrant her having to close down,"

All this has taken its toll. Linda says funds are way down and visitors are a fraction of what they've been in the past.

She says if they have to pay in the lawsuit, the center may close its doors and many of the animals will have to be euthanized.

Mr. Gortler declined an interview but his attorney says Gortler wants to make it clear he supports the center and doesn't want the animals hurt he just wants things quieter.