ellynweisel@discoverwildcare.org
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Ellyn comes with considerable experience in the type of organizations WildCare appreciates and admires. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and American Studies from Colby College, Ellyn began her career as Vice President, Corporate Consulting with International Management Group (IMG) in the San Francisco Bay Area. She then served as a Development Consultant for the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco, and first as Director of Outreach and Philanthropy, then as Vice President of Development at Common Sense Media in San Francisco.

Ellyn was previously the Director of Development at WildCare and stepped in as Interim Executive Director for six months before taking the position of Executive Director in September 2019. Before her arrival at WildCare, she served as Chief Development Officer of 10,000 Degrees in San Rafael, California, a nonprofit helping disadvantaged students further their education, which led her to a post as Foundation Director of the DripDrop Foundation, an organization that works to prevent dehydration worldwide. Ellyn’s experience helping mission-driven organizations design and execute a comprehensive and sustainable fundraising strategy is precisely what is needed at WildCare. Her involvement and management in strategic planning, major gifts campaigns, board relations and development, budget creation, and oversight comprise her work at WildCare.

In 2023, Ellyn was nominated as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of San Francisco. Find her at #43 on thewomenweadmire.com.

bobkendall@discoverwildcare.org
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Robert Kendall, Chief Financial Officer, has worked with WildCare since January 2019 and ever since, he has been passionate about the new facility project. He was the CFO of The Armory Art Center, a not-for-profit art school in West Palm Beach, Florida, from 2009 to 2018 and was a Florida CPA for 35 years. Prior to working for The Armory he was CFO of several SEC reporting companies including a company with offices in New York City which was listed on the NASDAQ and a biotech company developing a $50 million processing plant. He was an auditor with the international CPA firm of Laventhol & Horwath.

He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Music and took accounting and business courses at Florida Atlantic University to become a CPA. He has played guitar since junior high school and has been in bands playing every kind of American popular music as well as in a French gypsy jazz band. He currently
sings and plays in a California folk-rock duo.

terirockas@discoverwildcare.org
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Teri Rockas brings a unique blend of operational expertise, community commitment, and deep organizational knowledge to her role as WildCare’s Senior Director of Operations. A longtime North Bay resident, Teri has spent over two decades in leadership positions across healthcare and public service, most recently retiring from Kaiser Permanente San Rafael, where she led complex capital projects, managed multi-site medical departments, and guided teams through major transitions and relocations. Her community work with the Marin County Department of Public Health and earlier roles in healthcare and law firm administration have further shaped her ability to manage teams, streamline operations, and foster collaborative, mission-driven environments.

Teri’s connection to WildCare runs deep-she has been a dedicated clinic and birdroom volunteer for over ten years, and has played a key role in staff and volunteer training, Her leadership is grounded in a passion for wildlife, a love of learning, and a commitment to making a positive impact in her community. Outside of work, Teri enjoys hiking, tending her pollinator garden in the high Sierras, and spending time with her husband Alex, their four children, and four grandchildren.

nicoletrautsch@discoverwildcare.org
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Nicole Trautsch is WildCare’s Director of Advancement, leading all fundraising and development efforts to support the organization’s vital work in wildlife medicine, nature education, and environmental advocacy. A passionate and strategic nonprofit professional, she brings a talent for advancing meaningful philanthropy through authentic relationships and innovative strategies. Nicole leads an exceptional team dedicated to building strong donor partnerships and external relationships. Her leadership in these efforts was recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate Chapter, which named her its Emerging Fundraising Leader in 2023.

Nicole holds an MBA in Design Strategy from California College of the Arts and is a lifelong animal lover. She has volunteered with organizations such as the Randall Museum, SFSPCA, and Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center. She grew up in San Francisco, where her love for wildlife was sparked during unforgettable school field trips with legendary nature educator and WildCare pioneer Mrs. Terwilliger. Nicole is a member of WildCare’s Squirrel Foster Care Team and the proud mother of her son Emmett, a fellow animal enthusiast.

zoe@discoverwildcare.org
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With a passion to inspire coexistence between humans and wildlife, Zoe is overjoyed to be a part of WildCare’s development team.

Zoe’s determination to become a wildlife conservationist and advocate began with her time as an Animal Biology major at the University of California, Davis. Her drive to learn about the natural world and its inhabitants grew exponentially with every species she studied: honey bees, dairy cattle-she even traveled across the globe to study the primates of Rwanda. Her experience with Wild Campus, a program dedicated to wildlife education and outreach, helped inspire her undergraduate research project focusing on the welfare of Japanese Macaques.

After graduating in 2019, Zoe found her voice for animal advocacy at the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a Veterinary Assistant. Zoe’s experiences with education outreach, research, and animal health deeply connects her to WildCare’s mission. She is grateful to be able to continue that mission as WildCare’s Development Manager.

joannegrantz@discoverwildcare.org
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Joanne has worked at WildCare since 2019. Joanne is a dedicated administrative professional with long-standing and diverse experience throughout multiple industries and capacities. In her role as Donor Services Manager, she is responsible for maintaining WildCare’s donor database and processing donations.

bethslatkin@discoverwildcare.org

Beth joined WildCare in October 2020 as its part-time grant writer. With nearly a decade of experience as a grant writer and institutional giving manager for Bay Area educational nonprofits like the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Berkeley Chess School, Beth is delighted to be in a place that values wildlife and nature education.

A longtime board member of International Bird Rescue, Beth became involved in wildlife rescue during the 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill, where she became a volunteer spotter for the City of Berkeley, looking for oiled water birds along the San Francisco Bay shoreline.

With a dual background in publishing (MJ, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism) and digital marketing for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, Beth has been Bay Nature Institute’s Director of Marketing and Outreach since 2011. In her spare time, Beth explores Northern California’s wild spaces, listening out for bird song and the occasional ribbit.

eileenjones@discoverwildcare.org
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Eileen has been in the environmental education world for the last 40 years. She has been a naturalist and outdoor leader on both coasts. These adventures include being a naturalist with Santa Clara County’s Outdoor Science School, an outdoor leader for inner New York City youth at the Manice Education Center and a State Park Interpretive Ranger in Massachusetts.

She was the Director of the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center in Point Reyes National Seashore and lived and worked at the Marin County Outdoor School for 9 years as the Naturalist Supervisor and then as the Interim Outdoor School Manager.

She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Environmental Science and is a nature geek at heart.

katelynch@discoverwildcare.org
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Kate grew up in Marin County and was a regular visitor to WildCare as a child. She began volunteering in 1998 when she was still in high school. When she went off to college, she had to discontinue her Saturday morning shift, but regularly used the skills and knowledge she had learned at WildCare when she went on to work as a Vet Assistant.

When the Costco Busan oil spill created a state of emergency in our bay, Kate was inspired to carve out time in her schedule to volunteer at WildCare again. She began volunteering in the hospital and with the Wildlife Ambassador Program in early 2009, and quickly started picking up as many extra shifts as she could manage. In 2011, Kate was hired to work as a Wildlife Services Representative at WildCare’s Front Desk. That same year, Kate began volunteering on the Opossum Foster Care Team. Kate grew to become one of WildCare’s primary opossum foster care providers, sometimes caring for almost a hundred orphaned or injured baby opossums in a year. In 2021, Kate was promoted to Education and Front Desk Manager.

When Kate isn’t busy caring for baby opossums, you can find her talking about opossums. When not totally consumed by her love for opossums, Kate enjoys cuddles with her rescue dogs, being outside in nature, and going to the movies and Giants games.

rachel@discoverwildcare.org

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Rachel is a Marin County–based educator and wildlife handler, with experience and expertise spanning over the course of two decades. She specializes in working with raptors and corvids in both educational and rehabilitation settings, and in creating inclusive, hands-on education for children (K-12) and adults alike.

Rachel is a lover of all animals big and small, and has extensive experience working with hawks, owls, falcons, vultures, ospreys, kites, ravens, and the occasional eagle. Growing up in California, Rachel explored the beauty of the forests, mountains, deserts, and coastlines, developing a deep and everlasting connection to the natural world. She has spent extended time in the Amazon Rainforest and on the islands of Hawai’i, further enriching her relationship with diverse ecosystems and wildlife.

Rachel holds a B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in Environmental Art and Conservation from San Francisco State University. She is passionate about sparking wonder, nurturing compassion, and inspiring people of all ages to be stewards of the Earth through meaningful and memorable interactions with wildlife and the world around them. She is excited and honored to be a part of the team at WildCare.

caseypearce@discoverwildcare.org

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Since she was a child, Casey’s dream has been to create a world where humans and wildlife cohabitate peacefully. She grew up exploring the Metroparks in and around her home city of Cleveland, Ohio.

In college, Casey earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Denison University. She pursued a variety of teaching opportunities during college including being a Teaching Assistant for physiology labs, a Summer Camp Counselor, an Assistant Teacher of an afterschool program, and even a Kayak Tour Guide on Lake Michigan.

In the summer of 2019, Casey did an internship with the New Mexico Wildlife Center to learn more about wildlife rehabilitation and public education. Having the chance to educate the public on how to help injured or orphaned wildlife inspired Casey to pursue a career in wildlife and nature education.

After college, Casey spent time at NatureBridge as an Environmental Science Educator where she fell in love with the outdoor landscapes of Marin County! For fun Casey likes to hike, read, do art, and swim. She is ready to use her diverse experiences in education to teach students about wildlife and help them fall in love with our beautiful world!

carlypucci@discoverwildcare.org

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Text: (415) 463-4624

She/her/hers

Carly grew up backpacking and scuba diving with her dad. These experiences ignited her passion for the outdoors, and her love for wildlife, which has only deepened with the passing years. She hopes to share her excitement for learning with other curious minds.

Having dabbled in many areas of education, Carly has seen a variety of approaches. Some of her experiences include: teaching English in Mexico and Guatemala; working at her
former Waldorf inspired charter school; Working with LandPath’s IOOBY, outdoor education program; and most recently working at Ocean Alternative, in Santa Cruz. She understands the
value of hands on, experiential learning, project based approaches, and peer led activities.

Carly studied literature, with a concentration in Latin American and Spanish literature, at California University of Santa Cruz, as well as at La Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. She has a love for learning languages and for travel.Thus far she has been to 21 countries, and enjoys learning about the endless intricacies of planet earth. In her free time you can still find her in the waves or in the mountains, surfing, foraging or making art.

cecilialedesma@discoverwildcare.org

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Text: 415-463-4624

Cecilia was born and raised in Mexico, between the chaparral desert to the northeast, and the rainforest to the south. Her love for nature and animals started at a young age, while attending summer camps in the local Zoo in Chiapas, Mexico, and traveling all over the country with her family. Her childhood was full of animals and a shared passion with her parents and siblings for adventure and learning.

Cecilia studied the International Baccalaureate Program, and pursued a Certificate in Bilingual Education. In 2014, she moved to California to attend Humboldt State University, where she graduated with a B.S with a double-major in Zoology and Biology (Ecology and Biodiversity emphasis). During her time in Humboldt county, she found her passion for marine science while supporting a study on Northern Elephant seals. She is also passionate about animal behavior, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

She also volunteered at the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, and for a summer with ARCAS, a wildlife rescue center in Guatemala that rescues animals taken from their habitat due to the illegal-pet trade. In 2019, she returned to Guatemala to spend 6-months as a biology intern, where she had the unique opportunity to monitor spider monkeys in the wild, collaborate in a behavioral study with scarlet macaws, and care for many other central american wildlife such as howler monkeys, parrots, parakeets, hawks, opossums, tamanduas, ocelots, and many more. Here she also found her passion for environmental education, while guiding tours and leading presentations for visitors (local and international) about the native wildlife, wildlife conservation, biodiversity and human-wildlife coexistence.

She joined Wildcare in 2021 working as an Animal Hospital intern, where she fell in love with songbirds, pigeons and raptors. Since then she’s been an avid birder, taking her binoculars wherever she can. She also volunteers and works at the Marine Mammal Center as a Marine Science Educator, to continue working with her favorite animal, elephant seals, and sharing her love and passion for marine science.

Cecilia enjoys sharing her enthusiasm, curiosity and love for nature and animals with others, especially kids that are eager to share every fun-fact about animals they know. She strongly believes that the younger generations are our hope, and works towards increasing diversity and inclusion in the STEM fields by advocating for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), with an emphasis on girls and women of underrepresented groups.

When not talking about animals or ecosystems, you can find her playing at the nearest dog park with her two little dogs, birding or riding bikes with her husband.

melaniepiazza@@discoverwildcare.org
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Licensed by both the U.S. and California Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Melanie Piazza has served as the Director of Animal Care of WildCare’s Wildlife Hospital since 2002. Frustrated by the number of orphans brought into the hospital because of the actions of trappers and also discouraged by the number of wildlife patients that were the victims of entanglement with fishing line and hooks, Melanie founded both WildCare’s Wildlife Solutions program and Marin Municipal Water District’s fishing line recycling program. She is currently also the foster care team co-lead for the squirrel team and manages after-hours intake of critical patients.

Prior to her arrival at WildCare she was the manager of the Animal Protection Society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Mebane, NC for four years. She is a graduate of Elon University. Melanie’s other passion is animal rescue during times of disaster. She is an active member of Oiled Wildlife Care Network, San Francisco’s Disaster Animal Response Team and Marin County’s Community Emergency Response Team, and most recently, an Evac Volunteer with North Valley Animal Disaster Group (NVADG). 

Melanie was a volunteer at the Marine Mammal Center for nine years and currently fosters kittens for various rescue groups. Any free time is spent running.

julianasorem@discoverwildcare.org
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Dr. Juliana Sorem started her association with WildCare as a Hospital Volunteer in 1997 and completed WildCare’s internship program in 2000, before leaving for veterinary school. After graduating from U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine she completed an internship at the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center of Marin, and then spent eleven years working in companion animal medicine and surgery in Oakland.

Dr. Sorem returned to WildCare as a Hospital Volunteer from 2012 to 2017 and was hired as WildCare’s first ever full-time veterinarian in 2017 for both our Hospital patients and our resident Ambassador animals. She is also foster care team lead for the raccoon team.

In her free time, Dr. J enjoys hiking, gardening, caring for her animals, cooking, eating, drinking and sleeping. She is a member of the California Veterinary Emergency Medical Corps and assisted in disaster response following the Camp Fire in 2018. She is in charge of WildCare’s raccoon foster care team and can be frequently found wrestling tiny raccoons.

vanessapotter@discoverwildcare.org
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My animal care journey kicked off a few decades ago in Southern California, working at an underage kitten nursery, where “sleeping through the night” became a distant memory. One day, I received an email from the local wildlife center asking for help caring for baby squirrels, so I decided to give it a try, joining the team and specializing in neonatal care.

After having mastered the delicate art of bottle-feeding hangry kittens and squirrels, I became eager to expand my skill set in animal care. I quickly realized my passion for helping the wild ones, and I jumped on the opportunity to continue my education and training at Project Wildlife in San Diego. From 2009-2014 I was their Small Mammal & Corvid Lead, and then from 2014-2018, their Wildlife Technician.

To me, one of the best parts of working in this field is working alongside people who light up just as much as I do when a patient finally starts eating, or when that tricky wound case finally turns the corner. There’s something special about a team that knows exactly why we do this work – even on the tough days.

Eventually I moved to a little island in Washington. As Animal Care Manager at Hookbill, LLC,I I worked with various exotic birds, focusing on husbandry, enrichment, and training parrots to free-fly, which is precisely as chaotic and amazing as it sounds. Imagine trying to convince a bird with the attitude of a teenager and the intelligence of a toddler to actually listen to you. It was a fantastic experience during which I learned valuable lessons.

From 2021-2022 I was Assistant Clinic Manager at Santa Barbara Humane. But then in 2022, when my husband, an NPS Park Ranger, was offered a station  in Pt. Reyes, we didn’t hesitate at the opportunity to put down roots in such a beautiful place! I got a job as an Animal Technician III at Marin Humane, where I was until accepting the Assistant DIrector of Animal Care here at WildCare in February, 2025.

In my spare time, I enjoy tending to my (extensive) houseplant collection, kayaking around West Marin, and hiking with my dogs, Charlotte and Rick. I might be new to the area, but I am eternally at home wherever there are animals to help. With a career that’s been quite literally for the birds (and kittens, and squirrels, and pretty much anything with fur, feathers, or scales), I’m excited to bring my passion for animal welfare to WildCare!

chantalbedard@discoverwildcare.org

Chantal is originally from Canada and first started working with wildlife as a volunteer in 2018 at Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation and Education Centre back home. She has since graduated with a BSc in Biology, focusing on animal sciences, from the University of Winnipeg.

She has also obtained her certificate as a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and is working towards her Certified Veterinary Technician degree.

Before moving to the US in 2023, Chantal worked her way up from volunteer to supervisor at Wildlife Haven, and was also a veterinary assistant at an animal emergency hospital. Once in Oregon, Chantal worked as a wildlife rehabilitator and ambassador animal keeper before accepting the job as Songbird Hospital Manager here at WildCare.

In her wildlife career, Chantal has had the opportunity to work with all sorts of animals from the tiniest of hummingbirds to very large eagles, as well as many different mammal species both big and small. She looks forward to managing the Songbird Hospital and learning from everyone around her, as well as sharing her knowledge of the array of species WildCare receives.

In her spare time, Chantal enjoys gardening, painting and building things (mostly with wood), as well as being outdoors and exploring. She is looking forward to a new adventure in California with her husband and cat.

julielesznar@discoverwildcare.org

I always had an affinity for animals, which ultimately led to a lifelong passion for wildlife care and conservation. Born and raised around Baltimore, Maryland, I did not exactly grow up in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary, but my love for animals was strong. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a marine biologist, and would spend hours reading books about dolphins. This eventually expanded to a broader interest in wildlife and lead me to pursue a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Delaware.

During college, I was eager to get any hands-on experience with animals that I could. I took a job as a daycare attendant at a local doggie daycare, and eventually worked my way up to a manager. During this time, I also completed an internship with the Brandywine Zoo, where I got my first taste of wildlife husbandry.

After graduating college in 2019, I traded city life for the Gulf Coast, and moved to Orange Beach, Alabama to complete an internship at the Orange Beach Wildlife Center. Little did I know that this little facility would change my life and ultimately turn into a full-time job! I absolutely loved my experiences as an intern, whether it was capturing entangled herons on the beach, feeding baby opossums, or watching hatchling sea turtles make their way into the Gulf for the first time.  After completing my internship, I was promoted to a permanent part-time position at the wildlife center. Eventually, in 2022, I became Orange Beach Wildlife Center’s first full-time Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist!

Throughout my five years at the Orange Beach Wildlife Center, I was lucky enough to be involved with numerous local agencies. I worked closely with the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, as well as the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network (the childhood dream!) I also attended multiple courses throughout my time, including the IWRC basics course, multiple NWRA symposiums, and even a venomous snake handling course.

When I’m not wrangling animals, I enjoy weightlifting, running, yoga, and treasure hunting at thrift stores. I am beyond excited to be moving to the West coast, and to join the incredible team at WildCare just in time for the 2025 baby season!

nancygroom@discoverwildcare.org

Nancy began volunteering in the Clinic at WildCare in 2019.  When volunteers were welcomed back in a limited capacity in late 2020, she was the sole volunteer in the clinic on Monday mornings, which gave her the opportunity to be exposed to more advanced handling and care techniques – out of necessity!

She signed up to be an intern in 2021 – and completed a six month/ 40-hour per week internship while also working her other full time job, running an auto repair shop with her husband in Oakland, CA.

After her internship, she was hired on as a part-time, seasonal employee as a Wildlife Assistant, and then promoted to Wildlife Technician in 2023.

Previously, Nancy has volunteered at Lindsay Wildlife Experience as an ambassador husbandry volunteer, has fostered countless kittens, over 45 dogs (mostly Pit Bulls), and has a lifetime of experience caring for her personal cats, dogs, rabbits, parrots, frogs, and lizards.

In her spare time, Nancy enjoys camping, looking at rocks, rescuing Pit Bull type dogs, and tending her vegetable garden in the East Bay.

kristienguyenhoag@discoverwildcare.org

Kristie is a new member of the WildCare family, taking on the role of part-time Wildlife Assistant II for the 2024 baby season.

She began her wildlife rehabilitation experience in Costa Rica where she worked as a vet assistant and nursery animal caretaker at a wildlife rescue. Upon returning to the United States, she got involved at Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, starting as a volunteer, then intern, and then got hired as a vet assistant and animal care assistant for mammals for their 2023 baby season. However, her passion for animal care started long before, as she has been working with farms, animal shelters and pet clinics since she was young.

After graduating from University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.S. in Zoology in 2023, she moved back to her hometown in Orange County for a few months before embarking on a new adventure in the Bay Area. Kristie is exceptionally thrilled to be part of the WildCare team!

During her freetime, she enjoys ceramics, rock climbing, cooking and exploring both the outdoors and the new city. She dreams to travel the world helping with wildlife conservation wherever she goes.

laurascaparro@discoverwildcare.org

Laura is a 4th generation native of California who was raised in the Central Valley, equidistant to both the Pacific Ocean and the Sierras, where camping with her family fostered her love for nature and wildlife. In 1991 she moved to Oakland where she currently resides.

Her life in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation started in 2007 during the Cosco Busan oil spill when she was compelled to help any way she could. This led her to volunteering at International Bird Rescue in Cordelia, working with aquatic birds. After a long hiatus to raise her daughter, she came back into the life as a volunteer with WildCare.

Laura started at WildCare in 2019 as a Birdroom Volunteer, and in 2020 during Covid restrictions was given the opportunity to work more closely with Med Staff taking care of a broader range of patients.

In 2021 she did a 6 month, 40 hr/week internship and was then hired as a part-time seasonal Wildlife Assistant. She is now currently at WildCare year- round as a part-time Wildlife Assistant II.

When not at WildCare, Laura enjoys tending to her native plant garden, hiking the many wonderful trails in the Bay Area, foraging for wild mushrooms, bird watching and attending rock shoes at small venues. She also works part time in the restaurant industry, serving at fine dining establishments that focus on sustainable farm to table dining.

rebeccalamotte@discoverwildcare.org

Rebecca first started at WildCare as a Hospital Intern in 2022. After completing her 6-month internship she continued to volunteer in the Birdroom, and was later hired on as a part-time Wildlife Assistant II.

Having grown up in the East Bay, she spent much of her time volunteering at Tony La Russa’s ARF (now Joybound People and Pets) and the Oakland Zoo. In 2017 she went off to Washington to study Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, and upon completion of her degree she participated in a number of wildlife-related internships at various facilities in Florida and California.

Currently, Rebecca is back in school doing an RVT program through Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. In her free time she enjoys crocheting, reading, aquascaping, movie nights with her friends and family, and very recently…running!

shaylabaird@discoverwildcare.org

Shayla joined the WildCare family in 2023 as a Hospital Volunteer in the Clinic, and was hired as a Wildlife Assistant I for the 2024 Baby Season. Prior to her time at WildCare, she volunteered at the Alabama Wildlife Center, working primarily in the Songbird Nursery. In addition, she has previously volunteered at the Bama Bully Rescue, the Cahaba River Society, The Jimmy Hale Mission, Bread and Roses, as well as other civic and environmental groups. She has also recently been added as a new member of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN).

In addition, Shayla has previously volunteered at the Bama Bully Rescue and the Cahaba River Society. She also graduated with a BS in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She fell in love with the outdoors early on and continues to camp, hike and backpack.

madelineogden@discoverwildcare.org

Maddie’s love for nature started as a kid, with some of her fondest memories from childhood being her family’s summer camping trips. In high school, she volunteered at the Humane Society of the North Bay as a dog walker, as well as at her hometown’s (Vallejo) local urban farm, Loma Vista.

She joined the WildCare family as an intern in the summer of 2023, leading into her senior year of college. During that year, she became involved in several research projects through her school, including a study on the ectoparasitism of bats in Costa Rica and the impact of outdoor cats on Western fence lizard populations in Los Angeles.

After getting her B.S. in Ecology, Behavior, & Evolution from the University of California, Los Angeles, she returned to WildCare as a part-time Wildlife Assistant. She also works as a Relief Technician for the International Bird Rescue in Cordelia.

In her free time, Maddie enjoys swimming, drawing, cooking, yoga, and being in the great outdoors. Like a true Sagittarius, she also loves to travel and explore new places.

jessicajacobson@discoverwildcare.org

Jessica has been involved with WildCare since high school when she was a student volunteer!

Previously a social worker, Jessica has been able to turn her passion for working with animals into a new career path. She has been a volunteer at The Marine Mammal Center for 3 years,  as well as having worked as a veterinary assistant/technician at two different companion animal veterinary clinics here in Marin County.

She is currently enrolled in the Registered Veterinary Technician program at Santa Rosa Junior College. In January, Jessica accepted a position at WildCare as a Wildlife Services Representative, answering our Hotline calls at the front desk. Not long after, she also joined the Hospital staff as a Wildlife Assistant I!

When not working at WildCare, or seal wrangling at The Marine Mammal Center, she is fostering senior dogs for Muttville in San Francisco, snuggling her own foster fail cat and dog, or paddleboarding around the Bay Area with an eye out for wildlife in need of rescue.

angiepanich@discoverwildcare.org

I have always been super drawn to animals and interested in learning about animal care for as long as I can remember. Since I was a kid, I did everything I could to get my foot in the door by doing things like putting flyers for my dog walking and pet sitting services on every single door in my area. I always found myself the most happy when I could provide care and enrich an animal’s life in any way.

My first experience working with animals was at the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter, where I was a volunteer in charge of providing basic care for the little kittens and bunnies, and facilitating interactions between our animals and visitors.

I continued on my path when I began school in Hawaii, attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a major in animal science. Here, I began working as a veterinary receptionist at a cat and dog clinic where I learned a lot about how a domestic animal’ clinic operates. I had a strong inclination to work with wildlife but unfortunately there were no wildlife centers on the island. My favorite activity in Hawaii was observing the sea turtles in their natural habitats.

From there, I moved back to the Bay area and was accepted as an intern at WildCare! My internship completely turned my life around, and further solidified my choice to work in wildlife rehabilitation. Upon completion of my internship I was hired on as a Wildlife Assistant I and I could not be happier! One of my favorite parts about WildCare has been spending time with people who share the same passion and excitement when it comes to watching an animal progress and grow.

Now I’m continuing my education at San Francisco State University, where I major in Biology with a focus in Conservation, Evolution, and Ecology. My overall goal is to attend veterinary school and become a wildlife veterinarian.

In my free time I enjoy going on hikes and spending time in nature where I can observe animals and learn about their behaviors in their habitats. I also love snowboarding in Lake Tahoe when Winter comes around. I’m a musician and I like playing piano, guitar, and singing when I have some spare time. I enjoy painting and have been trying to learn how to crochet recently too. My favorite activity though, is spending time with my two amazing little grey cats who bring me all the joy in the world!

gregneal@@discoverwildcare.org
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briannabjarnson@discoverwildcare.org

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As a lifelong nature and animal lover, Brianna is thrilled to be part of the WildCare team.

Brianna holds a master’s degree in English and has a long, diverse background in education from preschool and K-8 to college. As a former educator and grant-funded program coordinator at Sonoma State University, she brings her experience in outreach and communications to WildCare’s stewardship program.

A North Bay native and nature enthusiast, Brianna began studying animals as a young child and has helped rescue wildlife. She loves all animals and her favorite place to be is out in the forest enjoying the beautiful landscape among the wildlife.

jessicabrezzo@discoverwildcare.org

barbarapritchard@discoverwildcare.org
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andreao’dell@discoverwildcare.org

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Andrea grew up on the Indian River lagoon system in Florida with a love and respect for wildlife, especially manatees and ospreys.   She holds a master’s degree in social work and spent many years working with troubled teenagers and their families in Florida and Baltimore.  She started volunteering at WildCare in 2016 and became a Wildlife Services Representative in 2020.  She lives in Larkspur with her husband, two sons, dog and three cats.

catemason@discoverwildcare.org

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Cate is an avid lover of all things wildlife, animal or plant, and comes to us by way of the restaurant industry. Seeking to help wildlife that are unable to help themselves, Cate brings her compassion, empathy and many skills to WildCare.

cathleenvickers@discoverwildcare.org

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As a native Californian, Cathleen has had a lifelong love of wildlife and nature. Living in West Marin, she and her husband enjoy plenty of both with mountain biking and hiking as favorite pastimes. She started volunteering in the hospital at WildCare in 2016 and, in addition, became a Wildlife Services Representative in 2025.