RESCUE HOTLINE: 805.681.1080

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Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network

Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network (SBWCN) is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that rescues and rehabilitates injured wild birds, mammals, and reptiles in Santa Barbara County, California.

Staff and volunteers currently help approximately 4,000 native animals each year.

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RESCUE HOTLINE: 805.681.1080

About

HOW WE HELP

Our Mission:

The Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network exists to support the present and future health of wildlife species and communities by:Providing quality rescue, treatment, rehabilitation and release services to injured, sick, oiled, orphaned and displaced wildlife in accordance with current standards in the field. Gathering and sharing information on wildlife treatments, rehabilitation and release criteria and techniques, behavior, optimal management methods and care facilities with other wildlife care providers, researchers, and agencies.Educating the public about the needs of at-risk wildlife, the challenges faced by wildlife in the region, and effective ways to help ensure the health and survival of wild animals.Promoting efficient use of community wildlife support resources by cooperating with other organizations and individuals in order to fulfill our mission: Maintaining a climate of openness, respect, and cooperation within our organization and in all of our outreach efforts.

MEET THE TEAM

Julia

Julia Parker Director of Animal Affairs

Julia Parker has been employed with the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network for five years. She oversees the Network’s rehabilitation program for injured and orphaned wildlife found throughout the County, and also coordinates and trains the many volunteers who work at the Center. She gives presentations to school and community groups, and is a member of the Education and Outreach Committee.Ms. Parker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology. She was previously employed at the Santa Barbara Zoo for 25 years. Some of the species under her care were: the African Lion, Bengal Tiger, Puma, White-Handed Gibbon, Lesser Panda, Roseate Spoonbills, Giant Anteater, and Small-Clawed Asian Otter. Julia also worked with the Asian Elephants and Baringo Giraffes. Her experience included hand-raising the young of many of these species.At the Zoo, Ms. Parker spent ten years as the Animal Care Supervisor for over 500 animals and worked with many exotic animal veterinarians. She later went on to work with the Island Fox Recovery Program partnered by the Channel Islands National Park and the Zoo. She cared for captive Island Foxes during several tours of San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands.

Sophie

Sophie Busch Animal Care Specialist

Sophie Busch possesses a B.S. in Biology from Westmont College with an emphasis in environmental studies. During her schooling she had the opportunity to study abroad in New Zealand and Western Samoa. Her experience in animal husbandry has come from both working and volunteering at such organizations as the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Ty Warner Sea Center, Santa Barbara Zoo, and the county animal shelter. Sophie also has substantial experience and education working with volunteer based organizations. She is excited to have joined the SBWCN staff, first becoming acquainted with the organization as a volunteer.

Tracie

Tracie Gephart Animal Care Specialist

Tracie Gephart, a native of Santa Barbara, graduated from Moorpark's Exotic Animal Training and Management program in 2005. Upon graduating she worked under a Master Falconer in pest abatement, then moving on to becoming the head bird trainer for Six Flags Magic Mountain's "Just Wing'n it" show.Since then she has had the pleasure of working, volunteering and interning for various zoo's, vetrinary clinics, and other animal facilities. Here at Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network she is one of the animal care specialists. Tracie is currently in the process of obtaining her vetrinary technician license and falconry license.

Pat Carter

I come from a long line of animal rescuers. My siblings and I think this might be genetic. As children, we brought home everything- the feathered, the furred, the lost and the occasional lonely human. Our home overflowed with twelve siblings, two adults, seven dogs, fourteen cats, a human-hating pony, a swaybacked horse and Henry the VIII, a duck who attempted to mate with everything, including our pet beagle. Oh, I almost forgot the goat that my brothers hid in the closet, until the smell gave it away. All of our adoptees were named for the disease they were found with: Rickets the lame dog, Mange the balding cat and One-Eyed Jack our mutt.After rescuing greyhounds in Florida and Missouri for thirteen years, I took an injured bird to the local wildlife rescue station and left a small donation along with my phone number. Two days later they requested my help, as they were constantly short of volunteers. Now, twenty years later, I am still hooked. Volunteering makes me feel good. It’s something I can do to help. I know it won’t change the world, but I can’t stand by and not help.
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Jackie Darbyshire

Jackie manages the satellite operation specializing in rehabilitation of skunks, badgers and weasels. In the 1960’s she gained invaluable experience while working as an employee of a local pet shop that sold and tamed exotic animals. Eventually she moved on to become a twenty-five year veteran Animal Control Officer where she polished her skills handling both wild and domestic animals on a daily basis. Her combined animal care and control experience spans nearly forty years working with some of natures most pungent mammals. She is an avid student of their behavioral peculiarities and their invaluable contribution to our local ecology.Each springtime she rehabilitates an average of fifty to a hundred orphaned, or sick, or injured skunks that need nurturing or a safe harbor long enough to be sufficiently suitable to be returned to the wild. In the off season she contributes her efforts to helping Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network and other local animal welfare organizations educate members of the community of the value and benefits of peaceful co-existence with these benign little creatures, specifically focusing on how they contribute positively to our environment. Because of their sole method of defense they have alienated countless potential admirers. Gaining a better understanding of what attracts them and what provokes them is sure to lead to better relations within the community. Jackie has been a tireless advocate for these misunderstood wild neighbors.

Dawn A. Summerlin

Dawn was born and raised in up state New York with a love of animals instilled in her by her parents. As a child they never knew what she was going to bring home next. While growing up she always wanted to be a vet, but at the time that wasn’t an option. Therefore, she became a nurse, graduating from Albany Medical Center School of Nursing. She continued nursing when she moved to California in the early ‘1970’s.For the last 10 years, Dawn has been specializing in rescuing and rehabilitating Opossums. She found that Opossums are generally misunderstood by the people who think they are rabid and fierce. (Possums are immune to rabies) Due to her love of the under dog, she has focused on these quiet, beneficial Marsupials. Today she is a satellite in the Santa Ynez Valley for the network. Besides nurturing and nursing them to the point of being released, she also does presentations at schools, boutique museums, retirement communities and anyone else that will listen! In addition she is invaluable advising other rehabbers about the care of Opossums.

June Taylor

Making a transition to a unified facility is critical to SBWCN’s efficient use of its resources and its future financial health. A major first step is to bring all seabird care to the McCaw Seabird Ponds opened in 2011 at 1460 N. Fairview Avenue. A key to the success of this transition is the assistance being given by June Taylor and her Seabird Pond volunteers.Many people in the Tricounties area first learned about June Taylor through news media pictures of her gathering up wandering or wounded pelicans and other seabirds. June has been a volunteer since the early 1990s, initially working with Maureen Lance to care for songbirds and responding to calls received on our Help Line. Her focus changed in 1996 when the seabird facility operated by Gabriele Drozdowski was closed. That closure left no place along this part of the coast where sick or injured seabirds could be brought for care. June stepped up and offered her backyard to meet this need. After digging a pool and constructing housing for injured seabirds, June enlisted and trained volunteers and coordinated their activities in rescuing, transporting and giving emergency care to pelicans and other seabirds. Until 2011, all injured seabirds were taken to her facility, a formal "satellite" of the SBWCN.Now June is working with the SBWCN staff and volunteers to instill in others her knowledge about assessing and treating birds needing critical emergency care. Ultimately all seabirds can be brought directly to the McCaw Seabird Ponds. June’s assistance and guidance are essential to a smooth transition. She remains an important part of the SBWCN team as we seek support complete the construction of the McCaw Rehabilitation Center and serve our communities in the years ahead.

Julia
Sophie
Tracie
Pat Carter
Jackie Darbyshire
Dawn A. Summerlin
June Taylor

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Co-PresidentSue BurrowsCo-PresidentLessie Nixon SchontzlerTreasurerLisa Frey, CPASecretaryVicki StevensonV.P. of Animal AffairsChristine Sellers DVMDirectorsElse BlumenthalMindy DensonMarc A. FegarskyTina HanderhanChris O’ ConnorKatherine McCurdyJudy McGrathShelby G. CheverezHonorary DirectorsBud BottomsKaren BridgersJoan LentzRuss MishMichi WhiteAdvisory BoardJohn BaumPenelope BianchiJon ClarkMichael EdwardsPatti JacquemainDon NultyJack Overall

Facilites

FACILITIES:

Fairview Drop Off Center

Permanent Rehabilitation Facility

Sattellites & Home Rehabbers

139 North Fairview Ave., GoletaLocated in the Fairview Shopping Center, Goleta, CA.Hours of OperationVaries depending on SeasonFall & Winter:10am - 4pm Spring & Summer:9am - 7pm Helpline: (805) 681-1080After HoursTo help injured wildlife After Hours, listen to the SBWCN Helpline message at 805-681-1080 and leave a message. Our Helpline is continually monitored by volunteers. Or you can call one of the other referral numbers provided below. These agencies will contact the on-call Animal Control Officer.For injured wildlife on roads or the freeway, call:California Highway Patrol: 805 967-1234For injured wildlife in the county call:Police Dispatch:805 477-4174Police Non-Emergency:805 681-4100 Non-Emergency Sheriff Office:805 688-2724For wildlife in the city, call Police Dispatch at 805 956-5151.
Our Permanent Rehabilitation Facility is progressing nicely.The Seabird Care Building has been completed, the driveway is paved and the parking lot and walkways are ADA compliant.We need your help now! Donors and those interested in volunteering with the organization are encouraged to arrange for a private tour of the Permanent Rehabilitation Center on our North Fairview property. HistoryFor many years, the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network sought a donated site to serve as a permanent wildlife care center. By 2002 we had seen several “perfect” properties fall by the wayside. The Board of Directors determined that we could be most effective in protecting and preserving local wildlife if we owned and controlled the property on which we operated. We needed a site that was zoned appropriately, was close enough to our volunteer base to ensure that caregivers would be available, and was large enough to accommodate the varied needs of the seabirds, songbirds, and mammals we serve.In September 2003 we approached long-time supporter Walter Thomson for help. Walter made a $100,000 challenge grant to help get us started. We had until December 31, 2003 to match that amount and launch a full-scale campaign to purchase an agriculture-zoned 1.5 acre property located in the Goleta foothills. By mid December, we had matched Walter’s gift and then went “over the top” with a $1 million grant from the Wendy P. McCaw Foundation that allowed us to purchase our property.Our escrow closed in June, 2004, and we spent the next five-plus years raising enough money to pay for construction of a facility that would include: a Seabird Compound for native and migratory shore birds and pelagics; a Songbird Compound for juvenile and adult birds being readied for release; a Mammal Compound to accommodate maturing young mammals being readied to live on their own as adults, as well as adults recovering from illness and injury; and even a Raptor Compound to allow us to provide care for injured and orphaned birds of prey. The logistics of designing such an unusual project were challenging. Even more so was getting approvals and permits from the County for what is a unique animal facility in our area. Each step has been demanding, exhausting, and very expensive, but we have prevailed!By early September 2009, with the support of many private foundations, individual philanthropists, and supportive animal lovers we finally had sufficient cash and all the necessary approvals to break ground for our facility. By February 2010, when the West Coast was struck by an unprecedented emergency affecting thousands of brown pelicans and other seabirds, we were able to receive our first seabirds at the site. In March of 2010 we were allowed to temporarily house 20 pelicans at the new Seabird Care Center. Those birds were released a few weeks later after they had gained weight and were sufficiently waterproof.
Extra care is occasionally provided by qualified volunteers.

OUR HISTORY

Our story began in 1979 with a small group of people who saw a need to care for injured birds. Since then it has grown to over 400 Volunteers, who care for over 4000 animals each year.1984 - Twelve similar minded poeple decided to network, and share resources to care for injured wildlife.1988 - Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network incorporated as a California 501(c)(3) non-profit orgainziation.1990 - Our telephone hotline was established to field calls from concerned local residents.- This was also the year that we started our public education program.1992 - First Seabird pond established in volunteers home.1997 - Established the Wildlife Sanctuary Awards. Honoring those who go out of their way to help wildlife in need.1999 - Small Downtown center is opened to house songbirds and recieve small mammals.2004 - The cpnstuction of our 1.8 acre Wildlife Rehabilitation Center begins. 2006 - Drop off center and triage clinic opened in a former vetrinary office in Fariview Shopping Center in Goleta.Today - We are a thriving network of caring individuals each doing their part to take care of animals in need.

PARTNERS

PARTNERS - LINKS: Click on any logo to go to their site.

HOW WE HELP
MEET THE TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Facilites
OUR HISTORY
PARTNERS

News & Events

NEWS

NEWS AND EVENTS

NEWS
FIRST WED
Sanctuary
Past Events

Click on any of the Icons on to get more information.Or Click the link directly below to see our newsletters.

NEWSLETTERS

FIRST WED

SBWCN First Wednesdays

Would you like to know more about the Santa Barbara Wildlife

Care Network?

Would you like to consider helping with the daily

care of the animals and birds, the on-going needs of the

organization itself, its Web site, fund-raising, and the transport of

wildlife?

Here’s your chance to see a video and have your

questions answered about how to do it!

The Wildlife Care Network will be presenting a first orientation

for prospective volunteers on Wednesday, September 7. It will

take place at the Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church, 820 N.

Fairview Avenue, in the Cottage — follow the balloons or signs. It

will start at 6:00 p.m., ending by 7:30 p.m. If you can’t make this

meeting, we expect to have subsequent orientations on the first

Wednesday of each month, same time, same place.

Licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game, the

nonprofit SBWCN has been operating since 1988, rescuing and

rehabilitating injured, orphaned or oiled wild birds and small

mammals. We depend upon volunteers! Operating a wildlife care

center at 139 N. Fairview, where the public can bring injured or

at risk animals, the Network has completed the first phase of a

comprehensive wildlife rehabilitation center at 1460 N. Fairview.

All interested are invited to attend the informational meeting.

Anyone who would like to attend may contact Barbara Pies at

967-6082 or call the Center’s helpline at 681-1080 for further

information.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS

For those interested in becoming part of the team, or just have questions about what we do.

Sanctuary

Wildlife Sanctuary Awards & Silent Auction

At the Biltmore Hotel.Sunday April 15th, 2012More details to come as we get closer to the event date.

Past Events

PAST EVENTS: Thank you all for your help and contributions.

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NEWS
FIRST WED
Sanctuary
Past Events

Support

Support Us:

Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network (SBWCN) helps over 4,000 animals each year. Your gifts are essential to our work.Your gifts help pay for food, vetrinary care, and medication.There are several ways you can help. You can Donate, Become a Member, Sponsor an Animal, or give of yourself and Volunteer.You may also give in the memory of a loved one with Special Giving.You can consult with your estate lawyer for Planned Giving.

How you can help:

Volunteer

Click here to learn about Volunteering at SBWCN.

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Donate

Click here to make a tax deductable donation.

Special Giving

Give in the memory of a loved one.

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Become A Member

Click here to learn about the special priveleges of becoming a member of SBWCN

Planned Giving

Learn how you can get Tax Benefitsby gifting to SBWCN.

Sponsor An Animal

Click here to learn how you can sponsor an animal.

MEMBERS

BECOME A MEMBER

BECOME A MEMBER:

AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS ONLY:An exclusive opportunity to watch seabirds as they recover at our Seabird Rescue Compound - via our newly installed web cam. Members will have exclusive access to our "beta-testing" link, where they may view a live transmission from the site.E-newsletters! We will have stories from our Intake Center, as well as from our Seabird Rescue Compound, and photos of recent releases. Look for an upcoming issue that will include tips for proofing your home to prevent unwanted wildlife encounters.Member Appreciation Event. In January of 2012 we will host a "Members Only" reception at the McCaw Wildlife Center, to show you our long-awaited facility, with the Seabird Rescue Compound in full-scale operation. Attendance will be limited so please respond early to indicate your interest.Please fill out the Membership Application to get started.
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2011 Membership Form.pdf

MEMBER APPLICATION

Membership Application:

2011 Membership Form.pdf

Sponsors??

MEMBERS SIGN IN

BECOME A MEMBER
MEMBER APPLICATION

PHOTOS

Birds
Mammals
Others
Staff

Birds

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Mammals

Others

Staff

FOR FULL SIZE VIEWING CLICK ON THE MAIN IMAGE IN THE CENTER

VIDEOS

VIDEOS:

Click on a link below to see the video:

Be sure to check out our other videos on Vimeo or Facebook:

EDUCATION

SPONSOR

SPONSOR AN ANIMAL
Your generous gifts allow us to rescue, feed, medicate, and house an injured or orphaned animal for four weeks. With your help, we can return “your” beautiful animal to live free in the wild! With a donation of $1000 or more, you can even attend the wild release of an animal of your choice!$1,000RESCUE A RAPTOR$500SAVE A SEABIRD$250MENTOR A MAMMAL$150SALVAGE A SONGBIRDplease call us at 805-681-1019 or send an e-mail to: info_sbwcn.orgFor information on Sponsoring an animal.

Special Giving

Special Giving
When we lose someone we love, it can be helpful to remember them in a positive way, to keep their spirit alive while creating hope for the future.Many people prefer to ask for donations at their loved one's funeral in lieu of flowers or to make a donation on what would have been a signifigant day for them.We appreciate these gifts, and recognise that each of these cases requires independant attention.For more information, or to discuss making a planned gift, please call us at:805-681-1019 or send an e-mail to: info_sbwcn.org

Planned Giving

Planned Giving Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network gives you the opportunity to make tax-wise gifts to help the wildlife in our County.
Planned gifts provide the resources we need to succeed, and enable us to prepare future programs and strategies. You don’t have to be wealthy to make a planned gift. People of every age and income level can make a planned gift to ensure that wildlife in Santa Barbara County have a secure future.What kinds of gifts can I leave to Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network?Following are the types of planned gifts members can make to SBWCN, our 501c(3) tax-exempt organization. Many gifts have attractive tax benefits.Gifts of cash(the easiest and most common gift)BequestsReduce the size of your taxable estate while helping our native wildlife. Bequests can be made in a variety of ways:Specific bequest: You decide now exactly how much money, what assets, or what percentage of your estate will pass to Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network after your death.The following is a suggested form for such a bequest: “I hereby give and bequeath [amount in dollars or percentage amount] to Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization having the federal tax identification number 77-0201505, to be used for the accomplishment of its general purposes.”If you prefer, you may designate a specific purpose for our use of your bequest. If a restricted gift is your preference, please contact us before finalizing arrangements so that we can be sure we’ll be able to fulfill your wishes.Residuary bequest: You can specify the portion of your estate that will pass to Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network after other designated beneficiaries receive their specified gifts, and after expenses are paid. Contingent bequest: All or a portion of your estate will pass to Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network only if the named beneficiaries do not survive you. Gifts of publicly traded securities:These are easy to give and offer great tax advantages. Stock can be transferred electronically and donors can receive substantial relief from capital gains taxes.Naming Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network a beneficiary of your life insurance plan, retirement account or bank accountHow to add Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network to your willCall your lawyer. He or she can help you draft a new will, or help you add a codicil to your existing will naming SBWCN as a beneficiary.Our official name and address is:Santa Barbara Wildlife Care NetworkP.O. Box 6594Santa Barbara, CA 93160Our Federal Identification Number is 77-0201505AcknowledgmentWe would be honored to thank you publicly for your generous support of Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. We understand, however, that some donors prefer to remain anonymous. When making your gift, please let us know your preference regarding acknowledgment.NoteIt is important to fully discuss the implications of your gift with your tax or estate specialist. Gifts will have differing tax implications depending on the size of your estate, other charitable gifts you plan to make, etc.For more information or to discuss making a planned gift, please call us at 805-681-1019 or send an e-mail to: info_sbwcn.org.

Contact

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Volunteer page

Volunteer

Volunteer with SBWCN
Volunteers are the foundation of Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. –Their efforts keep SBWCN and the many animals that we care for alive! Whatever way that you choose to participate, your contribution of time makes a big difference and gives wildlife a second chance. Please join with us to help our local wildlife in need.If you live in Santa Barbara County, are able to dedicate two to four hours per week to help wildlife in need, and are 18 or older there are many volunteer opportunities for you. Volunteers assist at the Care Center in various ways: interacting with the public when they arrive with injured and orphaned animals, feeding and caring for songbirds, and monitoring the telephone Helpline. Others monitor the Helpline after hours from their homes.Experienced wildlife rehabbers treat animals at their homes. Those unable to commit to a fixed time can assist periodically with the rescue and transport of injured animals, or with the release of healthy wildlife back into nature.Some volunteers also assist at our Seabird Satellite Facility and more people will be needed to work in this capacity at our new Permanent Center.Volunteer help is also needed to assist with various Board committees, plan fund raising events, give educational presentations to school and after-school groups, provide outreach at community events such as Earth Day, help keep our website updated, help with basic office administration, assemble mailings and various other related tasks and projects.For more information on how you can become more involved, call:(805) 681-1080, or contact Julia Parker at jparker_sbwcn.org.

Donate

DONATIONS:

Cleaning Oiled Birds

Treating Oiled Birds:
There are more than 1600 naturally ocurring oil seeps bubbling up from the ocean floor off the California coast. – The seepage is the equivalent of a large year-round oil spill. Local birds seem to stay away from these seeps, but migrating loons and grebes often get trapped in them. And if they are lucky, they are brought to our Center for help and treatment.Cleaning oil-soaked animals is a very labor intensive process requiring many hours of work per animal. Many do not survive, either dying from hypothermia, or toxicity from ingesting crude oil while attempting to clean the substance off their bodies.Oiled birds brought to the Network are given medication to combat the toxicity of ingested oil.Next they are fed and kept warm under a heat lamp. When they have been stabilized, they are bathed in warm mineral oil to loosen the crude oil.Then they undergo several detergent washes and fresh water rinses until all traces of crude oil, mineral oil, and detergent are gone.A bird may undergo many washings over the course of several days until the waterproofing in their feathers is restored.

Newsletters

NEWSLETTERS:
Click on any of the newsletters below for viewing:

DIRECTIONS

SBWCN: Intake Center 139 N.Fairview Ave. Santa Barbara, CA

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SBWCN rescues over 4,000 animals a year. Your donations help provide food, veterinary care, and medicine for the wildlife.
Enjoy special privileges as a member of SBWCN. You can have access to our webcams, or even come on a release.
Volunteers are the foundation of Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network - – they keep SBWCN and the many animals that we care for alive!
There are several ways to get in touch with us. We are always happy to hear from you.