More good news came later in the morning when we called for help from our partners in the Community. The Department of Fish and Wildlife, who licenses us and decides which of only 4 facilities in the state get to rehabilitate bear cubs, responded to our call for help. They immediately sent 5 of their top people to help us assess the situation and figure out what could be done for the bears that were still sound asleep and oblivious to all that was going on. Hodgin and Sons Tree Care also answered our call for help and promised to come out first thing the next morning to remove the tree. They were on life-threatening calls at the time for humans. Rick Smandra owner of Kenwood Fencing also responded immediately and helped us make plans to get the bear’s damaged enclosure repaired. We had to expedite the emergency repair plans, even in the pouring rain as the bears began to wake up one by one and started wandering around and making their own assessments.

During the time we were all working to resolve this emergency situation to keep the bears safe and prevent them from escaping, there was no talk about money or how we would pay for all this work that only the most skilled and qualified professionals could do. We are still in the process of doing that and have made a guesstimate from previous experience that this would be an amount of at least $70,000. It also escalated the need to get our Apex Predator Enclosure started as there were no options of bringing the bears anywhere else. Shelter in place was the only option.

Knowing how much the lives of our wildlife patients mean to all of us, we are reaching out now for emergency funding to help cover these costs. If you are in a position to donate, we would be so very grateful.

The last bit of good news to report is the 100 ft. Flight Aviary where our raptors get their pre-release and cardio conditioning is still standing. We just invested a little over $125,000 to upgrade and remodel the aging enclosure that was caving in. Thanks to Kurt Amman of Bench Mark West, the birds and their caregivers will be safe now. The Raptor Recovery Center and the mountain lion enclosures are all good too. If anything happened to those enclosures during a storm, it would be a very devastating situation.

Thank you for standing by us and we look forward to sharing some uplifting stories with you as the new year progresses.

Sincerely yours,

Doris Duncan

Executive Director

Baby season is fast approaching, and we are looking for caring and compassionate individuals who want to expand their knowledge and experience in wildlife rehabilitation to participate in our summer internship. The warmer months are the busiest time of the year, so interns are exposed to many opportunities to care for injured and orphaned wildlife. No previous animal care experience is required, as our team of staff members and volunteers take new interns under their “wings” to educate about the many facets of running a professional wildlife rehabilitation center.

Some common summer internship tasks include animal handling and weighing, enclosure maintenance, baby feeding, rescues, and releases. Interns are expected to take initiative, work independently, and have adept communication skills. If you are interested in applying for our summer internship program, you can find our application and more information in the link below.

The first time I visited the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue Center, the large catio caught my attention. The two cats at the center were running around and happily playing in this protected indoor-outdoor play and living structure designed for domestic cats. I have a pet cat and when I learned that domestic cats are the cause of death of millions of birds every year and are best kept indoors or in protected structures like the catio, I decided I needed to build one for my cat. When I got the opportunity to take a tour of SCWR, I was mesmerized by the wolf dogs who looked like they were straight out of a popular TV show, learned how to identify bobcats with their little bobbing tails, and met the two majestic mountain lions on site. I already could tell what an amazing place this was.

I took a walk in the garden and learned how to take care of my garden while keeping it safe from wildlife. I learned about how sick animals were being taken care of on-site, including bear cubs who were hurt during the fires, and there was an effort underway to raise funds and build multiple Apex Predator Enclosures (APE) to take care of additional injured bears, the only such setup in Northern California. I also saw the raptor center and got to view the recovery area with the long hallway where raptors get to practice flying before being released back into the wild. One of the most interesting parts of the tour was when I got to witness the hustle and bustle of the on-site kitchen where staff and volunteers prepare meals for the animals, taking into account the dietary needs of each animal on-site. I also got informed about the barn owl program (BOMP) that helps set up and maintain barn owl boxes in ranches and vineyards and is a natural and environment-friendly way of pest control in farms while providing habitat for barn owls. Now I am always on the lookout for the barn owl boxes set up in the many vineyards and ranches around Sonoma!

For the past year, I have spent many days and hours at the SCWR barnyard, working on installing my livestock pen management solution oPen at the puma-proof pen with guidance from Dr. Quinton Martins of True Wild and Living with Lions. As I worked in the barnyard I enjoyed the company of the baby-doll sheep who always seemed to be alternately eating and staring into space, the very curious Nigerian dwarf goats who often nuzzled me or tried to chew on the equipment I was installing, and the very busy family of hens who clucked around me letting me know I was on their home turf. I also got to meet and learn from many who visited the barnyard. I met children and families on educational tours at the barnyard and often director Doris would stop by to encourage me, share her stories, and always be supportive of my interest in conservation. Kelsey patiently assisted me and provided help whenever I needed it and always shared feedback with me on how the installation has been performing. I’m also very grateful to Board President Hal Arbit, who spent time meeting with me and understanding the oPen system that I installed in the puma-proof pen. Through all my interactions, I have had the opportunity to observe closely the dedication of SCWR staff and volunteers who take care of the animals on site, always with a smile and enthusiasm that continues to inspire me.

The natural world around us is precious and we are all its keepers. I believe it is important for school students like me and children to get hands-on education in wildlife conservation in our communities so we can all have a better understanding of how to live life in balance with the environment around us. This past year I have learned that when we come together with common goals and a determination to make a difference, like the staff and volunteers at SCWR, we can make amazing things happen.

Working with long time SCWR volunteer Lee McCann as our builder and insectivore specialist Veronica Bowers of Native Songbird Care and Conservation, we were able to construct the first SCWR bluebird boxes! We installed the first of these boxes around SCWR’s property and were thrilled to see bluebirds inspecting the boxes within days of installing them.

With as much fun as they have been to watch, we are very excited to share with you that we are ready to start offering blue bird boxes to our barn owl maintenance clients! Bluebirds are extremely beneficial to gardeners and farmers a like, catching and eating many insects that may otherwise prey on crops.

In spring of last year, Dr. Matthew Johnson brought some of our barn owl boxes across the border to Mexico to help farmers there protect grape crops from rodent predation. These boxes are the first to be installed internationally by BOMPCO!

During our annual meeting this fall, BOMPCO members discussed Dr. Matthew and his team’s findings and discussed potential ways to encourage higher occupancy in our boxes during maintenance. We are excited to implement these ideas this year and explore any changes in occupancy!

With all the work that we were able to accomplish in 2022, we are equally excited for what lies ahead in 2023. If you are interested in our Barn Owl Maintenance Program or would like to speak with someone about installing blue bird boxes on your property, please email us at [email protected].

On a cold day in December a wildlife hero came across a juvenile raccoon in dire straits in the quiet coastal town of Gualala, California. The raccoon was found trapped inside of a trash can, laying in 4 inches of icy, putrid water. Thankfully, the finder immediately called for help and was able to promptly transport the raccoon two hours to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue.

Upon arrival at our center, the raccoon was brought into our wildlife hospital and found to be suffering from hypothermia. At the time, the raccoon’s chances of survival were not high. Nevertheless, our animal care team got right to work to save the raccoon, administering emergency fluid therapy and providing heat support with our specialty incubators.

After a few days of intensive care, the raccoon’s condition began to slowly improve. Before long, we were amazed at its improved energy level, as it began to eat and drink on its own. The staff at the center continued to monitor the raccoon’s progress and provided it with the necessary care to help it regain its strength.

After several weeks of recovery, the raccoon passed all release criteria and was released back to its home in the wild. Our release team selected a suitable release site in Gualala and the raccoon was set free near the location where it was found. The raccoon’s rescue and rehabilitation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the staff and supportive community at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and to the wildlife hero who rallied to help save this animal. It’s a reminder of the importance of our organization's work and the impact we can have on the lives of animals when we come together united with a common goal. We hope that this raccoon will continue to thrive in the wild and serve as an inspiration to us all with our conservation efforts.