LATEST NEWS & BLOG FROM CWC
NHM Avian and Mammal Collections
California Wildlife Center staff and volunteers recently had the unique opportunity to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the avian and mammal collections department of the Los Angeles Natural History Museum (NHM).
August 19, 2024/by Saras VenkatramWestern Coachwhip
In May 2024, a Western Coachwhip snake (Masticophis flagellum) was brought to our Intensive Care Unit by a concerned member of the community. In the over 25 years since its founding, the California Wildlife Center has only had four of this species arrive for care.
August 16, 2024/by Saras VenkatramTo Raise a Mockingbird
You have surely heard, if not seen, a Northern Mockingbird in your area. They can be heard serenading at any time of the day and night and can mimic hundreds of noises. This small gray bird with white patches on their wings and long tail feathers, can be found in grasslands, wooded areas, or in your backyard.
May 28, 2024/by Saras VenkatramIncredible Interns and Volunteers
Volunteers and interns are an integral part of the successful rescue, rehabilitation, and release of the over 4,000 patients that arrive at California Wildlife Center each year. Volunteers are present at CWC seven days a week, 365 days per year to assist the wildlife technicians with day-to-day animal care tasks including cleaning and maintenance of enclosures, and giving the patients their diets, medications, and enrichment.
May 28, 2024/by Saras VenkatramMarine Mammal Team Responds to a Distressed Gray Whale near Point Dume, Malibu
At 9am on March 16th, 2024, we received a report that a deceased whale had come ashore at Little Dume. Upon arrival, it was determined that this 30-foot-long sub-adult male, weighing approximately 25,000 pounds (the same as seven cars), was still alive, yet in grave condition and floating at the surf line.
May 28, 2024/by Saras VenkatramAre You My Mother? When to Intervene
Encountering a young animal in the wild can be an exhilarating experience. Although it is natural to have the initial instinct to intervene in an attempt to protect the animal, stepping in without proper knowledge can do more harm than good.
May 28, 2024/by Saras VenkatramThe Pinniped Rehabilitation Pathway: From Rescue to Release at CWC
Read this pictorial story about the rescue and release of a malnourished California Sea Lion pup found on a busy beach
February 20, 2024/by Saras VenkatramEducation is On the Move at CWC!
The new CWC education program is an all-ages outreach effort centered on what wildlife rehabilitation is, how it is practiced, and how to live alongside wildlife as a good neighbor. Our van, funded through generous donations from (now retired) Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, will travel Southern California to offer free educational outreach opportunities.
February 20, 2024/by Saras VenkatramGiving a Duck the Boot
Many years ago, when my wife and I were finishing our undergraduate classes prior to attending veterinary school, we were co-directors of animal care here at the California Wildlife Center, just a few years after it first opened. I remember one case from this period that needed us to be especially creative in order to help a female Mallard who arrived in dire condition.
February 20, 2024/by Saras VenkatramWinter Wild Times – The Underground Owl
Burrowing Owls, as their name implies, mostly live in underground burrows dug by other animals such as ground squirrels or gophers. These small brown and white owls have long legs and yellow eyes. While CWC has admitted eighty owls so far this year, only two have been Burrowing Owls.
November 21, 2023/by protectanimals