Pacific Wildlife Care

Pacific Wildlife Care Pacific Wildlife Care is a non-profit organization on the Central Coast of California.
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We rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured or orphaned wildlife throughout San Luis Obispo County.

Check it out! An exciting construction update from our new facility, the Kim and Derrel Ridenour Wildlife Rehabilitation...
01/30/2026

Check it out! An exciting construction update from our new facility, the Kim and Derrel Ridenour Wildlife Rehabilitation Center — our aquatic flight pools were craned into place last Friday! Huge thanks to Tenji Aquarium Design + Build for designing the pool pump and water filtration system, and to Hydro Composite LLC for building these pools.

💧 Pools like these are essential for rehabilitating pelicans, cormorants, gulls, and other wildlife that spend much of their lives around water, allowing them to regain strength, practice natural behaviors, and fully recover before returning to the wild. 🌊

Thanks to generous donations, this project has become a reality. Construction is on track for completion by the end of 2026, but we still need your support to help us finish this incredible new facility for wildlife. 💚

You can support our mission here: pacificwildlifecare.org/give

🥇 Virginia opossums were our top-admitted species in 2025, with 361 admitted! Common reasons for admission include being...
01/28/2026

🥇 Virginia opossums were our top-admitted species in 2025, with 361 admitted! Common reasons for admission include being found orphaned, caught by a cat or dog, or hit by a vehicle.

Despite their sometimes menacing appearance, opossums mean no harm! These marsupials play a vital role in our ecosystem by eating pests and carrion. Due to their low body temperature and strong immune system, it is very rare for opossums to carry rabies or distemper and they have resistance to snake venom!

You can help opossums and other wildlife by keeping wildlife wild! Avoid feeding wildlife, even unintentionally, by securing trash and bringing pet food indoors overnight. If you find a deceased opossum and it is safe to do so, you can check for babies in the pouch. If you find babies who are alive, please do not attempt to remove them but instead bring the whole specimen into our clinic. Remember, while opossums are amazing creatures, it’s illegal to keep them as pets in most states (California included) without the proper permits.

Opossibly some of the most misunderstood critters, these marsupials deserve a second chance!

01/23/2026

🐿️ Happy Freedom Friday! These western gray squirrels were part of a late wave of orphaned squirrels brought into our clinic last fall: one caught by a cat, one with crusty wounds and fleas, and one found next to a deceased sibling. After 10-14 weeks of rehabilitation, they were healthy, strong, and ready to return to the wild.

The trio was released together near our Executive Director Kristin’s home in San Luis Obispo using a soft-release approach, with nest boxes left in place for a few weeks to help them acclimate. Kristin has already spotted them exploring and settling into their new neighborhood!

Mammal nesting season is just around the corner! You can help wildlife by delaying major tree trimming through the summer, keeping cats indoors, and contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before intervening if you find a young animal. Small choices like these make a big difference for wildlife 💛

✨ 2025 was a record-breaking year for Pacific Wildlife Care!We admitted 3,144 animals—the highest annual total in our hi...
01/23/2026

✨ 2025 was a record-breaking year for Pacific Wildlife Care!

We admitted 3,144 animals—the highest annual total in our history. We cared for hundreds of species, our wildlife hotline handled more calls than ever, and our Education Team delivered 110+ presentations across San Luis Obispo County, helping people coexist more peacefully with local wildlife. After years of planning, we also broke ground on our new facility!

💚 We are so grateful to our volunteers, donors, and supporters who make every rescue, release, and educational moment possible. Thank you for being part of our work!

We were honored to be part of this weekend’s Morro Bay Bird Festival Keynote, with the premiere screening of Flight Feat...
01/21/2026

We were honored to be part of this weekend’s Morro Bay Bird Festival Keynote, with the premiere screening of Flight Feathers by Emmet Arries.

The short film tells the remarkable story of a Red-tailed Hawk nestling raised in a Bald Eagle nest, capturing extraordinary moments through stunning footage.

🎉 A huge congratulations to Emmet on a beautiful film! We’re also grateful to Executive Director Kristin, Rehab Technician Sophie, Volunteer and PWC Founding Member Kelly, and Director of Animal Care Dr. Shannon Riggs for representing PWC and answering questions during the post-screening Q&A.

Flight Feathers is not yet publicly available as it is being submitted to film festivals. To receive updates on the film, sign up here:
emmetarries.com/flight

Curious to revisit the story in the meantime? You can read more about this incredible case in our 2024 blog post:
pacificwildlifecare.org/red-tailed-hawk-final-chapter

✨ We’re still glowing after an unforgettable weekend at the Morro Bay Bird Festival! Huge thanks to the Morro Bay Bird F...
01/20/2026

✨ We’re still glowing after an unforgettable weekend at the Morro Bay Bird Festival! Huge thanks to the Morro Bay Bird Festival team, our dedicated staff and volunteers, and all the attendees who joined us. Your enthusiasm and support made the weekend so special.

Swipe through to see some of our amazing volunteers and Animal Ambassadors in action 🦉🦅🐍

💚 We’re so grateful to share our mission with this incredible community.

🌼 Baby season is right around the corner! As warm weather arrives, wildlife begin reproducing, and soon our clinic will ...
01/19/2026

🌼 Baby season is right around the corner! As warm weather arrives, wildlife begin reproducing, and soon our clinic will be caring for orphaned baby squirrels, bunnies, and more. You can help us restock for the busy season ahead by supporting our wishlists!
Amazon: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y158U67U1M83?
Chewy: chewy.com/g/pacific-wildlife-care_b106316776

Top needs right now include heating pads, walnuts in the shell, miracle ni***es, and soft-sided crates — all items we use every day to give young wildlife the best possible start.

Not an Amazon or Chewy fan? No problem! Our wishlists offer a snapshot of the supplies we rely on most. Items can always be purchased elsewhere, or you can donate directly through our website: pacificwildlifecare.org/give

Thank you for being part of this life-saving work. Your generosity helps us be ready for anything 💛

👀 Here’s a bird you don’t see every day – a Virginia Rail! Not your typical parking-lot visitor, this secretive marsh bi...
01/16/2026

👀 Here’s a bird you don’t see every day – a Virginia Rail! Not your typical parking-lot visitor, this secretive marsh bird somehow ended up hiding under a car instead of in the reeds. After an exam at our clinic confirmed no injuries, the rail spent a couple of days under close observation before being safely released back to a nearby marsh in San Luis Obispo.

Virginia Rails are masters at staying hidden. Found across much of North America, they live in dense wetlands and are rarely seen. Their laterally compressed bodies, long toes, and flexible vertebrae make them well-adapted for slipping through thick reeds and grasses.

Like many wetland-dependent birds, Virginia Rails are vulnerable to habitat loss from wetland draining and development, as well as climate change impacts like sea-level rise, flooding, and increased storm runoff. Protecting wetlands helps protect species like this elusive rail 💙

❗ Did you clean your owl boxes? It’s important to clean owl boxes annually! Every year, we treat nestling Barn Owls wit...
01/13/2026

❗ Did you clean your owl boxes? It’s important to clean owl boxes annually! Every year, we treat nestling Barn Owls with dirty feathers and burned feet caused by dirty nest boxes with years of accumulated f***s and pellets.

‼️ Clean your owl boxes during the non-breeding season by sweeping out the old debris while wearing gloves and a mask (no soap required). October through December is usually a good time to do this, but it may not be too late NOW, just don’t disturb if owls are actively using your box.

Natural tree cavities have become scarce, so installing nest boxes can attract families of owls to your property. Barn Owls, common cavity-nesters in San Luis Obispo County, are great to have around – a family of barn owls can eat 4,000 rodents in a year!

Installing owl boxes is a great way to observe wildlife and control rodents on your property. Don’t have one? Consider installing a box on your property or share this message with a friend! It is important these boxes be properly built and positioned; learn more about owl boxes at ojairaptorcenter.org/barn-owl-box-guide

❌ Do not use rat poisons – poison kills owls (and is also a danger to pets and children!). If you have a rodent problem, learn safer methods of control at raptorsarethesolution.org

Thank you for providing a safe, clean box for these helpful inhabitants to start their next family!

📸 1: Barn Owl fledgling with crusty foot sores due to a dirty nest box.
📸 2: Sores are treated with many warm soaks, creams, and bandages. It can be a long road to recovery—this Barn Owl’s feet took about 2 months to heal.

Meet the Raptors next weekend at the Morro Bay Bird Festival! 🦅Pacific Wildlife Care’s Animal Ambassadors will be hostin...
01/10/2026

Meet the Raptors next weekend at the Morro Bay Bird Festival! 🦅

Pacific Wildlife Care’s Animal Ambassadors will be hosting two shows next Saturday, Jan 17, where you can learn more about fascinating raptors like owls, hawks, and falcons. It’s a fun, family-friendly program and open to the public at the Morro Bay Veterans Memorial Building.

Want to make a day of it? The festival’s Community Family Day has even more free activities for all ages to enjoy.

👉 Details on the Morro Bay Bird Festival website! morrobaybirdfestival.org/community-family-day/

01/10/2026

Happy Freedom Friday!

This Barn Owl arrived as a baby after falling from the nest: cold, emaciated, and showing signs of possible rodenticide poisoning. With warmth, IV fluids, and an easy-to-digest diet, she made it through a very critical first week and began gaining healthy weight.

The owl then spent 70 days in care, including time in a large aviary at a homecare volunteer’s house, getting strong and learning to survive on its own. Finally, she was released back into the wild in Arroyo Grande!

🚫 Reminder to never use rodenticide! These poisons don’t just kill rodents, they can kill owls, hawks, bobcats, and other wildlife that eat contaminated prey. Even small exposures can be dangerous. Choosing safer alternatives, like sealing entry points and removing food attractants, protect wildlife and keep ecosystems healthy. Every choice counts!

Address

1387 Main Street
Morro Bay, CA
93442

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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