Pacific Wildlife Care's Latest News, plus Many Memorable Stories

Pacific Wildlife Care Names New Executive Director

February 1, 2021

Christine Johnson named as the nonprofit’s inaugural Executive DirectorMorro Bay, CA The Board of Directors of Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC) is pleased to announce the selection of Christine Johnson as its first-ever Executive Director. Johnson will take the lead at the nonprofit organization that is recognized as one of the premier wildlife rehabilitation centers in…

In Memory of Fiona

February 18, 2019

Fiona, the Red-shouldered Hawk who has been with Pacific Wildlife Care for more than 12 years died earlier this month. Fiona has lived with PWC volunteer Kelly Vandenheuvel since she was a baby. Fiona laid her first eggs in the spring of 2008. She sat on her infertile eggs diligently for almost two months. Kelly…

A Nearly Impossible Rescue

October 22, 2018

As I was paddling my SUP (standup paddleboard), checking up on wildlife in the San Simeon Cove, I noticed a very young deer on a hidden beach that is almost impossible to climb out of (steep and fragile)…I call it ‘paddler’s beach’ and have had many animals get stuck there or claim it during the…

Senator Monning Names Pacific Wildlife Care as 17th Senate District Non-Profit of the Year

June 9, 2018

SENATOR MONNING HONORS PACIFIC WILDLIFE CARE June 06, 2018 (SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today, Pacific Wildlife Care was honored as the 17th Senate District Nonprofit of the Year by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel). Pacific Wildlife Care is the only licensed rehabilitation center in San Luis Obispo County that cares for injured birds, mammals, and reptiles. “Pacific…

Young Filmmakers: A Contest Just For You

May 25, 2018

In March an 11-year-old from Oregon Won the First Annual Youth Film Competition ‘The Wild World We Love’ Sponsored by Pacific Wildlife Care PWC is partnering again with the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival to sponsor another wildlife film contest in 2019, calling for an original short, or animated film, as part of the Film…

The Outside the Oalm Theater at the showing of The Cat that Changed America

The Cat That Changed America – From The Mustang Daily

March 27, 2018

“The Cat That Changed America” brings awareness of human and wildlife interaction to San Luis Obispo by Emma Kumagawa (An article from Cal Poly’s Mustang Daily) In 2012, Los Angeles’ Griffith Park received a visit from an unexpected guest: a mountain lion. As P22’s story began to circulate, people began to learn about his journey…

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Pacific Wildlife Care

1 month ago

Celebrate #NationalWildlifeWeek! Get outdoors and enjoy our beautiful parks and beaches and the wildlife that fills them with music and color. Learn a new bird not only by its appearance but also its song. Visit the Morro Bay Natural History Museum or the Monarch Butterfly Grove. Sign up for a visit to a beaver dam through the SLO Beaver Brigade. Take a hike on one of the many trails throughout our county. Wildlife to enjoy is everywhere but is also under threat. National Wildlife Week reminds us to treasure, protect and preserve it for our children and grandchildren and generations to follow.
Donald Quintana shares some of the local songbirds that you may see in your own backyard.

#wildlife #songbirds #ProtectOurWildNeighbors #keepwildlifewild #notapet ... See MoreSee Less

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Great photographs Don!

Thanks for identifying.

Pacific Wildlife Care

2 months ago

A special #FreedomFriday story written by one of our volunteers…

Time, Patience, and Olympic Landings

Sometimes it takes more than a village. Sometimes it also takes patience and a long, long time.

Red-tailed Hawk (RTHA) 353, found along the highway in Buttonwillow, was brought to the PWC clinic on March 28, 2021. Although alert and exhibiting pain perception in his feet, he was not using his legs and was unable to stand or grasp with his feet.

After examination, radiographs, and blood tests, the hawk was prescribed medication and placed in a small enclosure with a soft “donut” (rolled-up towel) to rest against, since he was unable to stand – much less balance – on a perch.

A week later – progress, of sorts: our veterinarian noted the hawk had “some degree of comprehension of where [his] feet are.” Three days later, he began eating on his own. And three days after that, he was standing, though unsteadily and with his tail tucked under him. Both feet were barely able to grip, but both legs had “noticeably more tone” than the previous week.

Exactly one month later, he had improved enough to graduate to an outdoor aviary. He was still “mildly ataxic” (lacking in muscle control or coordination), and when placed on a perch still used his wings to “correct balance,” but he was able to remain on that perch. Very slowly, over the next three months, his grip strength and balance improved.

Finally, the Creance Team was called in to begin exercising RTHA 353. When we took the hawk out to a field and attached him to the “creance” (150-foot line), we didn’t know what to expect. For five months, he had not flown beyond the limits of the aviary.

Our goal was for him to fly to the end of the line ten times, with good form. For the first flight, as always with the raptors we exercise, we placed him on the ground to orient himself and choose his direction. (After that, we would gently toss him.) We held our breath.

The hawk turned out to be gorgeous in the air. Nothing was wrong with those wings. All ten flights were strong and to the end of the line.

His legs were another matter, though. His landings and standing posture were awkward, indicating a weakness in his left leg. In subsequent sessions, we tried an unusual creance technique: we started him from the ground for most flights, instead of tossing him, for more of a lower-body workout. Still, it took until November for him to nail his landings and stand in the erect posture that reminds us of an Olympic gymnast.

Then it took until December for his grip on our veterinarian’s glove to be strong enough with both feet for his talons to actually go through the glove – a healthy sign for a raptor who grabs food with those talons.

Finally, at the end of December, Red-tailed Hawk 353 was cleared for release – a momentous occasion toward which a “village” of PWC caregivers had been working for nine months, a reminder of the importance of patience in wildlife rehabilitation.

✍️ Pam Hartmann
📸 Morgan Nolan

#wildlife #wildliferelease #wildliferehab #redtailedhawk #homesweethome #backtothewild ... See MoreSee Less

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We love PWC!

Thank you!

Do you know what caused this?

You guys are the BEST!

Pacific Wildlife Care

2 months ago

If you find wildlife in distress call a licensed wildlife rehabber immediately! Even holding on to an animal for just a day or two can cause irreversible damage and hinder a potential successful release.
PWC is working hard to transition our Hotline from the voicemail system to answering the calls "live" as they come in from the public. We are making these changes to provide the best care possible to SLO County wildlife in need. Doing everything we can to provide a quick response to callers who find distressed wildlife gives each animal its best chance at survival. Our hotline responders are 100% volunteer and work 7 days a week, 365 days a year! Please be patient with us as we make this transition. Thank you!

#wildlife #wildliferehab #NotAPet ... See MoreSee Less

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Pacific Wildlife Care

2 months ago

We’re planning for the future at PWC! Thank you Tolosa Winery for hosting our event—the perfect venue! 🌟🍷🦉🍷🦅🍷 🐿🌟 ... See MoreSee Less

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The Evans girl's miss PWC❤

Event?

Pacific Wildlife Care

2 months ago

Freedom Friday! A Common Murre was brought to PWC in late January from Oceano. The adult bird was reportedly found weak on the beach. Common Murres are black and white seabirds, (sometimes mistaken for penguins), that live on the open ocean. Their name comes from the murmuring sound like a cross between a purr and a growl they make when communicating with each other. Murres dive and literally fly underwater regularly going a hundred feet deep to catch fish. A Common Murre found on the beach is in trouble and needs help. The bird should be protected from harm and reported to a wildlife rehabilitation organization.
This bird was examined and found to be thin and infested with both internal and external parasites causing debilitation. It was given fluids and vitamins and treated for parasites. After 6 days in our pelagic pool with lots of fish to eat, the bird was given a clean bill of health and transported out to the open ocean by the Morro Bay Harbor Patrol.

#commonmurre #Murre #homesweethome #backtothewild #seabird #bird #ocean #wildlife #wildliferehab #wildliferelease #freedomfriday ... See MoreSee Less