Project Wildlife operates two Wildlife Triage Centers that serve as the central “hubs” for patient intake. At both of these facilities, native wildlife is brought in by members of the general public for medical assessment and treatment.

The main Wildlife Triage Center cares for more than 7,000 wild patients each year.  Another 1,000 wild patients are brought to a satellite facility in North San Diego County, which is open for the four busiest months of the year (May-Aug).  The remaining 2,000 wild patients are brought directly to Satellite Care Wildlife Rehabilitators and processed into our system.  At the Wildlife Triage Centers, wildlife patients are examined and stabilized by the medical staff.  Radiographs, blood analysis, and other diagnostic labs are available at the main Wildlife Triage Center, with advanced testing taking just 24 hours to obtain through associated laboratories.  A Veterinarian oversees all medical protocols used by the on-site staff and Satellite Care Wildlife Rehabilitators.

Neonatal avian species (baby birds) are placed in one of the many nursery incubators at the main Wildlife Triage Center for 2-6 weeks based on species and in-take age.  Volunteers cover 12 hour shifts hand-feeding neonatal birds, some of which require feedings every 10-15 minutes.  Once fully-feathered, the birds are moved to small enclosures in a different section of the facility where they continue being hand-fed while they learn to eat on their own and begin to test their flight muscles.  Up to 150 neonatal birds may be in the nursery at one time and a total of 250 residing avian patients may be present at the main Wildlife Triage Center at any one time.

Neonatal mammalian species, as well as sensitive avian species, are transferred to a Satellite Care Wildlife Rehabilitator within 6 hours of stabilization as they require hand-feeding around the clock.  Satellite Care Wildlife Rehabilitators are volunteers who have completed basic training, as well as advanced training per the species of interest and have been set up to conduct long-term rehabilitation procedures at their Satellite or on their property.

Most animals are released within a three-mile radius of where they were originally found to keep naturally occurring populations in balance.  Depending on age, injury and species, patients may be processed from intake to release in just a few hours or up to six months.  On average, patients are in the rehab system for 12 weeks.

Project Wildlife provides an essential community service to San Diego County; without our help thousands of birds and mammals would assuredly perish.  Our established Wildlife Triage Centers and Satellite Care Rehabilitators provide San Diego County residents with an invaluable resource for the care of wildlife.

Housed near the Wildlife Care Center, the mobile clinic is equipped with a digital x-ray machine and surgical suite. It can be driven to Home Care Rehabilitation sites and provides on-site treatment to wildlife during natural disasters and other emergencies.

Volunteer Wildlife Rehabilitators provide treatments and therapy services to patients in their private homes. Patients are brought in from the Wildlife Care Centers, or directly from the public, for long-term rehabilitative care. Satellite Care Rehabilitators are responsible for evaluating patients and executing releases of animals to their native habitats.

Operated by volunteers, the Hotline fields over 20,000 calls annually from the public concerning sick, orphaned and injured wildlife. The Hotline also provides critical information to the community about living in harmony with wildlife and coordinates the transfer of wildlife patients to Project Wildlife for care.

The Transport team is also operated by volunteers and facilitates the movement of wildlife patients between the public, the Wildlife Care Center, the North County Care site, and Home Care Rehabilitators.

Project Wildlife’s Education and Outreach Program conducts a variety workshops and presentations providing conservation education to the San Diego community. In schools, classroom programs allow students to consider local wildlife conservation within a larger picture that includes personal service and stewardship. Assembly programs reach larger groups of students. Scout badge programs help young people fulfill conservation-based badge requirements while involving them in community action projects that will help the wildlife and people of San Diego County.
Learn more about our Education programs…

Project Wildlife has designed a non-profit subsidiary to provide wildlife removal services for homeowners and businesses. The wildlife removal services are accompanied by consumer education and wildlife entry prevention and damage repair services not offered by other wildlife removal companies. Wildlife Extraction Services resolves conflicts between humans and wildlife using humane methods and save the lives of thousands of wild animals.
Learn more about Wildlife Extraction...