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 20,000 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 Marine Mammal Response program works closely with the National Marine Fisheries Service, local lifeguards, park rangers, and the Lost Hills Sheriff's Department 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.
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
Staff
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Christina VanOosten - Animal Care Coordinator
Christina works in the hospital. She is responsible for feeding and caring for animals. She works directly with hospital interns and volunteers. She also assists in ongoing research projects.
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Kristin (Jo) Joseph - Hospital Manager
Kristin oversees hospital operations and supervises the activities of the animal care coordinators, interns and volunteers. She also assists in ongoing research projects and maintaining accurate records and data.
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Jeff Hall - Marine Mammal Coordinator
Jeff actively responds to all marine mammal emergencies. He is also the Editor of our volunteer newsletter "CWC Chat".
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Jonsie Ross - Assistant Marine Mammal Coordinator
Jonsie actively responds to all marine mammal emergencies. She also helps out with website updates and video production.
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Volunteer Staff
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Karen MacKain - Volunteer Coordinator
Karen coordinates activities of the volunteers. volunteer@californiawildlifecenter.org
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Gill Verner - Volunteer Supervisor
Gill supervises volunteer activities in the Baby Care Unit and provides administrative clerical support.
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Tim Weis - Administrative Support
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Ed Verner - Volunteer Webmaster
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Board of Directors
Officers
Members
Juliet Beynon
President, Beynon Creative Communications
Michael Dee
Former General Curator, Los Angeles Zoo
Aaron Frank
Lecturer, Dept of Environmental Science, University of San Francisco
Victoria Harris
Principal, Harris Communications
Henry Holmes Esq
Attorney
Lisa Newell, DVM
Veternarian, Malibu Coast Animal Hospital
Ivan Rosenberg, PhD
President & CEO, Frontier Associates Inc
Glenda Singer
Education/Administration
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, 2006, and 2007
©2009, 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.
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 van to the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro where it can receive treatment.
