LATEST NEWS & BLOG FROM CWC
The Education Corner: Renesting
CWC receives over 35,000 calls each year, and many cases end without a rescuer ever entering our facility. A number of these happy stories involve neonate and infant patients, who can often be reunited with a parent by the caring individual who noticed them.
May 13, 2026/by protectanimalsRescuing Stranded Marine Mammals during an Outbreak of Avian Influenza
Each season, the marine mammal department recruits additional team members and holds refresher training sessions to prepare for the busy stranding season. Following a rigid life history, large numbers of recently weaned Northern Elephant Seal pups in distress strand on the Malibu beaches during March, April, and May.
May 13, 2026/by protectanimalsWild Beginnings
At California Wildlife Center, we care for thousands of injured, orphaned, and sick wild animals each year. Animals are admitted year-round, but there is an influx of patients between March and October, with the majority arriving between March and June. During these months, we take in 30–40 animals daily and respond to over 100 text messages a day, all while balancing the intricate medication and feeding schedules of the animals already in our care.
May 13, 2026/by protectanimalsThrough Darkness back to Flight
Throughout the year, each patient that comes through our doors carries a story. Some are straightforward. Others, like one of our Great Horned Owl patients, use every tool, skill, and ounce of creativity our team can offer. This case perfectly illustrates both the complexity of our work and the impact of community support.
May 13, 2026/by protectanimalsThe Education Corner: Nests
With the arrival of Spring, CWC always alerts our neighbors to stop trimming trees and bushes unless absolutely necessary. We warn about giving space to nesting animals, particularly nesting birds. But bird nests can be hard to find. So, what are you really looking for around your home?
February 17, 2026/by protectanimalsSoaring to New Heights
This time of year, November through February, is referred to as our slow season, simply because we receive significantly fewer patients daily than we do during the summer months. This slow season, however, has been anything but, as we have admitted an unusually large number of birds of prey in addition to our usual caseload.
February 17, 2026/by Saras VenkatramStranding Season and Second Chances
In February of 2025, the Marine Mammal Department looked very different than it does today. We were just returning to our hospital after evacuating during the Palisades Fire and had no patients in care.
February 17, 2026/by Saras VenkatramMourning Doves
Mourning Doves forage on the ground for small grains and seeds, much like grazing mammals such as deer and antelope. While such a pastoral life may seem peaceful, it attracts hungry predators.
February 17, 2026/by Saras VenkatramWildlife Rescue Calls
If you give a squirrel a cookie…Each day we receive a variety of calls and we never know where they might lead. While many make us smile or laugh, some are emotional. These calls remind us that behind every rescue is a person who stopped what they were doing to help an animal in need. That gives us hope.
November 4, 2025/by Saras VenkatramHighlights from a Wild 2025 Marine Stranding Season
2025 will go down in the record books as a year of many challenges. Yet, with challenges come growth and shining moments of success! Things started off slower than in 2024, but that quickly changed. By the second week of January, devastating wildfires forced us to evacuate. Response operations shifted to a remote staging location.
November 4, 2025/by Saras Venkatram