WILDLIFE PATIENT STORIES
GET TO KNOW WILDLIFE, One animal at a time
READ OUR WILDLIFE PATIENT STORIES!
See individual stories of rescue and healing — and how WildCare helps every animal improve their odds of survival.
Foster Care: A Vital Tetris Game During Baby Season
Photo Credit: Melanie PiazzaThis Eastern Gray Squirrel arrived at our hospital having survived a 30 foot fall from her nest, but suffering a fractured front leg. After two weeks of every 3 day splint changes, she is already climbing branches in her cage and enjoying...
A Rare visitor: First cocos booby in 10 years
Photo Credit: Julie LesznarIt has been ten years since a Cocos Booby last came through WildCare's doors. This month, that streak ended when a juvenile booby was found beached near McNears Beach, exhausted and making no attempt to fly away as people approached, a clear...
A Full House: Mama opossum and her 13 babies
After a month of care, a mama opossum and her 13 babies were released back into the wild.Photo Credits: Liz Thawley and Krissy LoftinWhen a Novato resident found a Virginia Opossum caught in a trap in their neighbor's yard, they knew something had to be done right...
Covered in Grime, Now Back in Flight: A Red-Tailed Hawk’s Recovery
When a Red-tailed Hawk arrived at WildCare's Wildlife Hospital on July 7, our team knew within seconds that this was not a typical intake. He was cold, soaking wet, and covered head to talon in sewage sludge, with a smell strong enough to clear a room. But underneath...
Why You Shouldn’t Raise Wildlife on Your Own
A young house finch was brought into WildCare after being cared for by a Marin neighbor for two days. It was covered in a homemade mash that was fed to the bird every few hours using an eye dropper. Every spring and summer, well-meaning people across Marin County find...
A Badger’s Road to Recovery: A WildCare First
Have you ever seen an American badger? Most people never have. Although they inhabit many areas around the San Francisco Bay, these remarkable animals are fierce, solitary, and almost entirely nocturnal — living in deep dens they dig with their powerful claws, rarely crossing paths with humans.
That’s what made it so alarming when rescuers in Point Reyes National Seashore spotted a young badger lying injured on the road.
Found on a doorstep. Three baby bats get a second chance
Some animals arrive at WildCare after long journeys. These three arrived after a very short one, from a doorstep in Tiburon. They were delivered with care by Marin Humane where the slow, careful work of saving their lives began. About the California Myotis The...
A SECOND CHANCE AND A POWERFUL REMINDER
High above the water, tangled in fishing line, a young Great Horned Owl struggled to free himself. When WildCare received the call, partners at Marin Humane responded immediately. The rescue was anything but simple. With heavy winds, and the owl suspended over open...
Black Squirrels?
BLACK SQUIRRELS? Is that a new species of jet-black squirrel? Nope! This striking youngster is actually an Eastern Gray Squirrel, the same species you probably see in your backyard or local park, just in a rare melanistic morph. Biologists believe that black morph...
Grounded American Kestrel
"Flight-delayed" American Kestrel This American Kestrel experienced the ultimate flight delay! This bird was found grounded at the San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) in San Jose, California early last month. She was successfully rescued and brought to...
Baby Skunk Caught in a Rat Trap
Imagine how much it would hurt to have your hand stuck in the jaws of a rat trap. That's exactly what happened to this young skunk. At this age, young skunks, foxes and raccoons are old enough to be out of the den, foraging with their mother, but they're still small...
Baby Salt Marsh Harvest Mice
Most people have never seen a Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, let alone a baby! These tiny and charismatic rodents are endemic to the marshes surrounding the San Francisco Bay. This means they can only be found here! They can also drink salt water and eat incredibly salty...