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Coyote
Rescue, Rehabilitate & Educate

Pacific Wildlife Care has been serving wildlife in the San Luis Obispo area since 1984.

Owl
Who We Are

Donors, volunteers & staff working together to support the wildlife of San Luis Obispo County through rehabilitation and educational outreach.

Ducks
What We Do

Pacific Wildlife Care treats nearly 3,000 wild animal patients every year, from over 200 different species. Our goal? To return healthy animals to the wild! We also provide educational presentations for local organizations and schools.

Raccoon
Why it Matters

"Wildlife rehabilitation is a process of coming to know something quite unlike you, to understand it well enough not only to keep it alive but also to put it back, like a puzzle piece, into the gap in the world it left behind."
-- Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk.

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Help Us Build a Forever Home for Wildlife!

Pacific Wildlife Care is thrilled to announce our plans for a new, permanent home in San Luis Obispo. Located on a beautiful 10-acre property, the Kim and Derrel Ridenour Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will enable us to better serve our communityā€™s wildlife. Our comprehensive goal of $11.5 million will secure funding needed for the construction of this transformational project and create a sustainable future for PWC.Ā  Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, weā€™ve raised $5.7 million towards the $7 million needed for initial planning and construction needs. Additionally we have raised $3.8 million in legacy gifts to help create a sustainable future for PWC.Ā 

With construction starting in early 2025, your support is vital. Donate today to help us create a brighter future for wildlife in San Luis Obispo County.

Behind the Scenes at PWC

Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC) has been an advocate for wildlife in San Luis Obispo County since 1984.Ā 

From that time we have grown from a small group of dedicated home rehabilitators into a successful non-profit organization with a well-equipped rehabilitation center, a full-time wildlife veterinarian, a small paid staff, and nearly 200 volunteers. Ā In addition to the Rehabilitation Center, which is open every day of the year, we maintain a Wildlife Hotline that the public can call to report distressed wildlife (injured, sick, orphaned) and to receive information about our local wildlife.

Home-Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education

The Latest from PWC

Pacific Wildlife Care News

Pacific Wildlife Care Facebook

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Facebook Posts

October is bat appreciation month and WE APPRECIATE OUR BATS! Did you know Californiaā€™s Central Coast is home to 19 species of bats, including 7 species of special concern? All bats on the Central Coast are insectivorous, eating mosquitoes, moths, beetles, crickets, spiders, and more! Bats can consume their body weight in insects every night. As natureā€™s pest controllers, bats help protect our crops from pests and prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Bats in other places eat fruit, pollen, fish, and birds (and blood, but we donā€™t have any vampire bat species in the U.S.). Bats are well-known for their echolocation skills to navigate and forage in the dark, emitting high-frequency sounds and listening to the echoes that bounce back. Bats are not blind! They have sensitive eyesight tuned to low-light conditions. Bats are the only truly flying mammals ā€“ and some can fly really fast! A 2016 study found Mexican free-tailed bats (which we see here in SLO County) flew over 100 mph, making them the fastest mammals on earth! When it gets cold in the winter, some bat species hibernate and other bat species migrate to warmer areas. Bats usually give birth to one or two pups and, like other mammals, the pups are nursed by mom. Like cats, bats spend a lot of time grooming. Bats can have surprisingly long lives, some species have been documented to live more than 30 years in the wild! You can look for bats from dusk to dawn, especially where insects are abundant. If youā€™re lucky, you may spot the western mastiff bat, North Americaā€™s largest bat with a wingspan of 22 inches! If you find an injured or orphaned bat, or need advice with a bat-related issue, do not handle the bat and give our hotline a call! Hereā€™s what you can do to help your local bats: 1. Do not disturb bats 2. Keep cats indoors 3. Skip the pesticides 4. Learn about the wonders of bats 5. Promote the conservation of natural bat habitats We could not do this critical work helping bats and other wildlife without your support because it requires A LOT of resources! Could you check out our Amazon wishlist and donate a few items to help these animals? Today and tomorrow are Amazon Prime day and some of the items on our list are discounted right now! Any help is greatly appreciated! Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y158U67U1M83?ref_=wl_share Stay tuned next week to learn about our State Bat, the pallid bat! #Bats #Wildlife #WildlifeFactsImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

October is bat appreciation month and WE APPRECIATE OUR BATS! Did you know Californiaā€™s Central Coast is home to 19 species of bats, including 7 species of special concern?

All bats on the Central Coast are insectivorous, eating mosquitoes, moths, beetles, crickets, spiders, and more! Bats can consume their body weight in insects every night. As natureā€™s pest controllers, bats help protect our crops from pests and prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Bats in other places eat fruit, pollen, fish, and birds (and blood, but we donā€™t have any vampire bat species in the U.S.). Bats are well-known for their echolocation skills to navigate and forage in the dark, emitting high-frequency sounds and listening to the echoes that bounce back. Bats are not blind! They have sensitive eyesight tuned to low-light conditions.

Bats are the only truly flying mammals ā€“ and some can fly really fast! A 2016 study found Mexican free-tailed bats (which we see here in SLO County) flew over 100 mph, making them the fastest mammals on earth! When it gets cold in the winter, some bat species hibernate and other bat species migrate to warmer areas. Bats usually give birth to one or two pups and, like other mammals, the pups are nursed by mom. Like cats, bats spend a lot of time grooming. Bats can have surprisingly long lives, some species have been documented to live more than 30 years in the wild!

You can look for bats from dusk to dawn, especially where insects are abundant. If youā€™re lucky, you may spot the western mastiff bat, North Americaā€™s largest bat with a wingspan of 22 inches! If you find an injured or orphaned bat, or need advice with a bat-related issue, do not handle the bat and give our hotline a call!

Hereā€™s what you can do to help your local bats:
1. Do not disturb bats
2. Keep cats indoors
3. Skip the pesticides
4. Learn about the wonders of bats
5. Promote the conservation of natural bat habitats

We could not do this critical work helping bats and other wildlife without your support because it requires A LOT of resources! Could you check out our Amazon wishlist and donate a few items to help these animals? Today and tomorrow are Amazon Prime day and some of the items on our list are discounted right now! Any help is greatly appreciated!

Amazon link:
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y158U67U1M83?ref_=wl_share

Stay tuned next week to learn about our State Bat, the pallid bat!

#Bats #Wildlife #WildlifeFacts
... See MoreSee Less

4 hours ago
Our ambassador merchandise page is live!! Melisa with Woollybear Travels has created beautiful images of our animal ambassadors that can now be purchased online! If you want to purchase some merch, go to PacificWildlifeCare.org and click the ā€œShop Onlineā€ link in the top right corner, or click this link: https://pacific-wildlife-care.square.site/. The profits will go directly to funding our mission of rescuing and rehabilitating San Luis Obispo County wildlife and, as always, we greatly appreciate your support!Image attachmentImage attachment+4Image attachment

Our ambassador merchandise page is live!! Melisa with Woollybear Travels has created beautiful images of our animal ambassadors that can now be purchased online! If you want to purchase some merch, go to PacificWildlifeCare.org and click the ā€œShop Onlineā€ link in the top right corner, or click this link: pacific-wildlife-care.square.site/. The profits will go directly to funding our mission of rescuing and rehabilitating San Luis Obispo County wildlife and, as always, we greatly appreciate your support! ... See MoreSee Less

18 hours ago
Meet our Board! Michael Damer is PWCs Board Director!!! šŸ¦‰ Michael & Jamie Damer moved to San Luis Obispo County in early 2022, bringing with them a wealth of experience and passion for wildlife conservation. Previously residing in El Dorado County for 20 years, Michael was deeply involved with Sierra Wildlife Rescue (SWR), the counterpart organization to Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC) in that region. During his time with SWR, he volunteered in the baby bird nursery for several seasons and served on the board for six years. Since relocating to SLO County, Michael has continued his commitment to wildlife care by volunteering in PWCā€™s baby bird room and contributing to the rescue & transport team. His dedication to community service extends beyond wildlife care, as he is also actively involved with Wilshire Hospice, Literacy for Life, and the Nipomo Native Garden. Michael resides in Nipomo with his wife, Jamie, and their menagerie of animals, including two dogs, four cats, and three alpacas. His diverse volunteer efforts and deep-rooted passion for both wildlife and community service make him a valued member of the PWC team and the local community. THANK YOU Michael & Jamie for your continued support of Pacific Wildlife Careā£ #wildliferehab #wildliferehabber #wildliferehabbers #wildliferehabilition #wildliferehabilitator #wildliferehabilitationcenter #wildliferehabilitation #wildlife #wildlifelovers #wildlifeprotection #pwcwildlife #pwcboard

Meet our Board!

Michael Damer is PWC's Board Director!!! šŸ¦‰

Michael & Jamie Damer moved to San Luis Obispo County in early 2022, bringing with them a wealth of experience and passion for wildlife conservation. Previously residing in El Dorado County for 20 years, Michael was deeply involved with Sierra Wildlife Rescue (SWR), the counterpart organization to Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC) in that region. During his time with SWR, he volunteered in the baby bird nursery for several seasons and served on the board for six years.

Since relocating to SLO County, Michael has continued his commitment to wildlife care by volunteering in PWCā€™s baby bird room and contributing to the rescue & transport team. His dedication to community service extends beyond wildlife care, as he is also actively involved with Wilshire Hospice, Literacy for Life, and the Nipomo Native Garden.

Michael resides in Nipomo with his wife, Jamie, and their menagerie of animals, including two dogs, four cats, and three alpacas. His diverse volunteer efforts and deep-rooted passion for both wildlife and community service make him a valued member of the PWC team and the local community.

THANK YOU Michael & Jamie for your continued support of Pacific Wildlife Careā£

#wildliferehab #wildliferehabber #wildliferehabbers #wildliferehabilition #wildliferehabilitator #wildliferehabilitationcenter #wildliferehabilitation #wildlife #wildlifelovers #wildlifeprotection #pwcwildlife #pwcboard
... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago
Pacific Wildlife Care released several litters of raccoons that came into our center as babies in May. Some of these kits were orphaned when a trapper caught and removed the mother leaving the helpless infants on their own. Contact your local wildlife rehabilitation organization for guidance if you are concerned about a wildlife issue. We can offer humane solutions to most wildlife conflicts to help coexist with our wild neighbors. Raccoons play an important part in our local ecosystem by controlling the rodent population and spreading seeds!Image attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

Pacific Wildlife Care released several litters of raccoons that came into our center as babies in May. Some of these kits were orphaned when a trapper caught and removed the mother leaving the helpless infants on their own. Contact your local wildlife rehabilitation organization for guidance if you are concerned about a wildlife issue. We can offer humane solutions to most wildlife conflicts to help coexist with our wild neighbors. Raccoons play an important part in our local ecosystem by controlling the rodent population and spreading seeds! ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago
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Info

Mailing Address: PO Box 4613, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Center Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm daily
with extended hours April to September
Wildlife Hotline Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm daily
with extended hours April to September
501c3 number: 77-0196350

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Our mission is to support San Luis Obispo County wildlife through rehabilitation and educational outreach.