Introduction
In a quiet area of the Santa Monica Mountains - on land generously provided by California State Parks - sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife receive quality medical care and rehabilitation, with the intent of releasing them back into the wild.
California Wildlife Center (CWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of a wide range of native species: from raptors and songbirds, coyote and deer, to marine mammal emergency response for the Malibu coastline.
As with all young nonprofits, CWC faces a constant struggle to afford basic operating expenses to staff and maintain its facility.
Mission
Rehabilitation And Release
As the Los Angeles area's primary rehabilitation facility, California Wildlife Center strives to ensure that each animal receives the highest level of rescue and medical care for release back to their wild, free-ranging state. Since 1998, CWC has experienced a steady increase in animal patients, caring for over 15,000 wild animals, many whose injuries were caused by the impacts of their urbanized environments.
California Wildlife Center is currently the only licensed facility providing marine mammal response as well as full term rehabilitative care for native wildlife including coyotes, deer, raptors, pelagic birds, songbirds, squirrels, opossums, bobcats, etc., in Los Angeles and Orange counties and southern Ventura County. CWC offers direct services at no charge to the public in cooperation with California State Parks, the California Department of Fish and Game, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, the City of Malibu, local county and city animal control agencies, and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network.
CWC’s Director of Marine Mammal Response, Cynthia Reyes, works closely with National Marine Fisheries Service and the local lifeguards and park rangers as the local link in the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. With so few wildlife rehabilitation facilities available to Los Angeles, California Wildlife Center is a crucial resource for federal, state, and local wildlife agencies as well as for the general public.
Education
A long term goal of the center is to promote protection of wild habitats and the environment through education, training and partnerships with the communities it serves. Many people have questions and misconceptions on how to help wildlife, which can create unintended consequences to the wildlife they admire. Some conflicts with wildlife occur when raccoons empty trash cans, deer raid gardens, and birds nest in chimneys.
Co-existence begins with the understanding of how to share our communities with wild animals. In order to do this, we need to educate individuals about the animals in their environment and provide solutions to existing problems, such as helping a neighborhood discourage a prowling coyote.
When people learn about the hardships animals face each day, they are more willing to take a proactive approach toward protecting the natural environment and the habitats of our wild neighbors. At CWC we educate communities, and in doing so, we are challenging homeowners, teachers, students, and businesses to continue learning about our environment and enriching the lands we live and play in.
Many people call us for advice on how to live with wildlife. You will find helpful tips for co-existing with and respecting wild animals on our Coexisting page.
History and Facilities
Started in 1996, CWC was initially an organization of dedicated volunteers working from home. About this time Aaron Frank was making a transition from a successful law practice in Atlanta to a wildlife rehabilitator and environmental champion. Soon after getting his hands dirty at the 1997 oil spill at Point Reyes National Seashore, he took the opportunity to help the California Wildlife Center transform itself into a fully functioning wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.
In 1998, the organization was granted use of an old ranger station in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu. This remains the primary facility and provides administrative space and a base of operation for resident and permanent staff.
In 2006, a new hospital facility was completed. This facility provides TBD.
People
California Wildlife Center has a staff of several key positions, more than 50 dedicated volunteers, and several interns on a seasonal basis.
Key Positions
Tim Weis - Director of Business Administration
/Outreach Coordinator
As Outreach Coordinator, Tim seeks to educate the public about co-existing with wildlife. tim@californiawildlifecenter.org
Glenda Singer - Secretary
/Board of Directors
/Education Director
Glenda is responsible for education programs and teaches basic training for volunteers.
Cynthia Reyes - Hospital Manager
/Director of Marine Mammal Response
Cynthia is responsible for daily hospital operations and for marine mammal rescue along the Malibu coast line. cynthia@californiawildlifecenter.org
Lauren Coffield - Hospital Technician
Lauren works in the hospital. She is responsible for feeding and caring for animals.
Christina VanOosten - Hospital Technician
Christina works in the hospital. She is responsible for feeding and caring for animals.
Kristen Joseph - Hospital Technician
Kristen works in the hospital. She is responsible for feeding and caring for animals.
Jimy Tallal - Hospital Technician
Jimy works in the hospital. He is responsible for feeding and caring for animals.
Jeff Hall - Marine Mammal Coordinator
Jeff actively responds to all marine mammal emergencies. He is also the Editor of our volunteer newsletter "CWC Chat".
Gill Verner - Volunteer Supervisor
Gill supervises volunteer activities in the Baby Care Unit and provides administrative clerical support.
Jonsie Ross - Assistant Marine Mammal Coordinator
Jonsie actively responds to all marine mammal emergencies.
Board of Directors
Aaron Frank
CWC President, aaron@californiawildlifecenter.org
Victoria Harris
CWC Vice President and Treasurer
Glenda Singer
CWC Vice President and Secretary, Advanced Solar Electric
Rick Dry
Co-Owner, Garrett Interiors, Inc.
Stephen Harris
Executive Director, Mountains Restoration Trust
Henry Holmes
Of Counsel, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Los Angeles
Lisa Newell, DVM
Malibu Coast Animal Hospital
Elizabeth Oreck
Board member, Coalition for Pets & Public Safety; board member, Pets90210; regional council member, IFAW; and researcher, Los Angeles Zoo.
Marko Budgyk
Board member
Ivan Rosenberg
Board member
Michael Dee
Board member
Legal
California Wildlife Center is in no way affiliated with any other wildlife rescue or rehabilitation center or service provider.
California Wildlife Center (CWC) is a Public Charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are deductible, as provided by law. See GuideStar for validation (registration required). Under Section 501(c)(3), CWC is required to file Form 990 with the IRS. These are provided here in pdf format for 2004, 2005, and 2006. along with financial data for 2006.
© 2008, California Wildlife Center (CWC). All rights reserved. This site and content (unless otherwise noted) is copyrighted subject matter owned by CWC, and is protected by United States and international copyright law. For purposes of copyright (unless otherwise noted), this web site and content are considered to be authored by CWC, in spite of the fact that some of the contributions may have been provided on a volunteer basis. While photo credits may be noted next to individual images, the images remain the property of CWC. [TBR]
CWC was granted the only deer rehabilitation permit in Los Angeles and Orange counties by the State Department of Fish and Game in the summer of 2001, and in the fall of 2002, was designated as one of five coyote rehabilitation centers in Southern California.
Federal and state laws and regulations require wildlife rehabilitators to hold valid permits. California Wildlife Center operates under the following permits, which allow it to rehabilitate most local wild animals:
- Under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Permit MB006662-1, CWC is allowed to rehabilitate all migratory birds.
- Under California Department of Fish and Game Permit R5-02-WCR-09, CWC is allowed to rehabilitate birds, land mammals and reptiles.
- CWC's contract with the City of Malibu covers the rescue of all wildlife within the city including marine mammals. CWC Marine Mammal Coordinators are always "on call." Once they rescue a marine mammal, the animal is transported in the specially-equipped CWC truck to the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro where it can receive treatment.
