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…

Pacific Wildlife Care

15 hours ago

Wishing all our human and wildlife dads a Happy Father's Day! On this Father's Day, we also celebrate American Eagle Day. Just like their human counterparts, the Bald Eagle dad helps to raise its young with his life partner. With their major food source being fish, let’s help these fathers raise their families by joining the efforts of a park or beach cleanup day and ensure the proper disposal of fishing line and hooks near our bodies of water.

A special thanks to wildlife photographer, Donald Quintana, for this photo of a pair of Bald Eagles — www.donaldquintana.com

#HappyFathersDay #NationalEagleDay #AmericanEagleDay #BaldEagle #Wildlife ... See MoreSee Less

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Beautiful!!

Pacific Wildlife Care

3 days ago

A special wildlife release and story by one of our volunteers…

Substitute Dad

Many folks, even beachcombers, never glimpse a Common Murre. If they come upon one on a beach, it is because the bird is sick, injured, oiled, or emaciated. But in less than two weeks, members of the public had found three young stranded Common Murres – two fledglings and a juvenile – and brought them to PWC.

There is nothing common about Common Murres, who spend most of their lives in the ocean, diving like jet planes underwater to forage for fish. They come to solid ground only to nest, in densely packed colonies called “loomeries” on bare, rocky cliff edges.

From a human point of view, murres are real charmers. Standing upright in black and white plumage, these oceanic birds look like a northern version of a penguin, although they are actually large auks. Before they can even fly, baby murres fledge by flinging themselves from their rocky birthplace into the water below, where the father is waiting. Young murres spend the next two months with papa, learning the ropes, so to speak, of life in the ocean.

At PWC, the young murres were diagnosed with various disorders and problems. All were dehydrated, two had an infestation of flagellates (parasites), one had lice, and one was heavily oiled. This one was washed. They were all given fluids, treated with medications, and fed fish. But what could be the future for three young fatherless murres?

One month later, another Common Murre arrived at PWC – a heavily oiled adult who, after being washed, appeared “unusually high-stressed” and didn’t “seem to be preening,” says Clinic Director Vann Masvidal. He thought this murre “might benefit from joining other Common Murres.”

As luck would have it, there were three in an outdoor pool.

The outcome? The adult perked up. The youngsters gained a role model and guide. Two weeks later, Rescue/Transport Team members Morgan Nolan and Kathy Simpson were tasked with releasing all four together. Captain Becka Kelly ferried them on a Harbor Patrol boat out to the ocean, where four uncommon birds were returned to their natural habitat.

To honor all the dads in your life and to make releases like this possible, please consider donating to our fundraiser to help feed, medicate, and care for the hundreds of wildlife babies this season. Click here—> www.facebook.com/donate/4287605164623615/

Story by: Pam Hartman

#FreedomFriday #CommonMurre #WildlifeRelease #WildlifeRehab #BackToTheWild #HomeSweetHome #FathersDay #CommonMurrePWC ... See MoreSee Less

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There is healing and learning to be around your own kind, this is a wonderful outcome

Great job everyone! Just listen to those happy vocalizations! What a wonderful release.

Pacific Wildlife Care

4 days ago

As spring turns into summer, always our busiest time of year, wildlife patients in great numbers continue to arrive in need of help. This high case load also coincides with the time of year when our donations are at their lowest.
Pacific Wildlife Care is open 365 days a year (and was throughout the COVID-19 shutdown) to provide compassionate care for the wildlife of San Luis Obispo County. We have received over 1,200 animals since January, more than 850 of those since April. Patients span the animal kingdom, from weasels to warblers, lizards to loons, rabbits to ravens. Birds, reptiles, and mammals all receive the highest standard of veterinary care.
Our ability to be there for these animals depends on you— the village that keeps us going. Only with your support can we continue this vital, life-saving work. Please consider helping right now knowing how critical our needs are today.

A gift of:
$5 buys us Vetwrap, necessary for bandaging injured wings and limbs.
$15 buys us thirty small syringes, vital to feeding the hundreds of baby birds and mammals this spring/summer.
$30 provides personal protection equipment for our staff and volunteers.
$50 lets us buy a soft-sided pet carrier to help house and transport wildlife.
$100 helps with medications, baby formula, food and supplements for rescued animals.
$250+ helps keep the doors open for our clinic and supports wildlife rehabilitation.

Your donation of any amount does a world of good for wildlife! Thank you for considering a gift to Pacific Wildlife Care. ... See MoreSee Less

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Pacific Wildlife Care

5 days ago

It’s snack time for Penny our educational opossum! Her favorite snacks are grapes and avocado 🥑 🍇. Unfortunately, Penny is not releasable due to a head injury after a dog attack but she now has the chance to educate the public on how awesome opossums are. 🙂 Opossums may look scary to some but they mean you no harm. They are easily frightened but when cornered will show their teeth and growl. Please just leave them alone and let them go on their way... they have an important job to do eating all the snails, slugs, and ticks from your yard!

#Opossum #AwesomeOpossum #WildlifeEducation #PleaseBeKind ... See MoreSee Less

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I love how they smack their food. Sounds like my son when he eats. 🤣🤣🤣

Back when I was a rehabber with your group, late 80's..I housed Posey the possum and Hoot the great horned owl. Those were the good old days

They each have their own personality and like certain foods and not others - just like our kids! Except: opossums groom & clean themselves (I doubt my sons would have done that if I hadn't insisted on nightly baths!)

So adorable!

She’s precious!

Mariana Trejo ❤️❤️

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Pacific Wildlife Care

2 weeks ago

Found a fawn? Call us if you are in San Luis Obispo county before intervening- 805-543-9453. Thank you!Have you found a fawn in your yard? If you've found a fawn, here are a few things to keep in mind!

Does will leave their fawns for 12 hours or more at a time. They're designed to stay down and quiet to hide from predators until mom returns. Mom often leaves them close to homes (even right along your house or garden) as these areas tend to be safer from their native predators. Mom will return for them when she can see the area is safe – not if you're out standing with them.

If you find a fawn that appears uninjured and is alert, that fawn is fine! If you have already interfered, please place the fawn down where you found it.

If you find a fawn that has visible injuries, is laying on its side, or has visible discharge from the eyes or nose, please call the Center and we can help you choose the next best step. “Curled ear tips” are not an appropriate indication of a fawn needing help, despite being a widespread myth on social media.

Even if you find a confirmed orphaned fawn (dead mother with it), it may not need assistance! Other lactating does will often “adopt” babies in need as did the doe photographed below. This specific doe was living in and around a staff member’s yard with her singleton and the smaller fawn’s mother was hit by a vehicle. Our staff member let the orphan cry in the yard and saw the doe approach with her fawn and allow the crying baby to nurse – this family of three stayed together for the remainder of the season.

If you have any questions about a fawn, please call before intervening!

#IfYouCareLeaveThemThere #WhiteTailedDeer #Fawns #WildlifeRehab ... See MoreSee Less

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Just spotted a doe and her 2 fawns at our seasonal pond (empty for years due to drought). We've been keeping a blue kiddie pool down there close to our well and we kept it filled with fresh water from the well's hose bib. Thanks for stressing the importance of letting fawns stay where their mom leaves them!