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.

Meet one of our first baby patients of the 2026 season!This Anna’s Hummingbird arrived in late February after falling fr...
05/05/2026

Meet one of our first baby patients of the 2026 season!

This Anna’s Hummingbird arrived in late February after falling from its nest. Its sibling had died and ants were taking over the nest. Weighing just under 3 grams (about the weight of a penny), our team gave this patient a full exam and began frequent, specialized feedings. As the tiny patient grew stronger, it gradually transitioned to feeding on its own and was moved into larger enclosures, and eventually graduated to one of our outdoor aviaries to build flight strength. After two months in care, this hummingbird was successfully released back into the wild just a few days ago 💛

You can help make more stories like this possible by supporting our Baby Season Campaign! Whether $5, $50, or $500, every dollar makes a difference. And right now, your gift will go TWICE as far thanks to a matching opportunity.

Give today: pacificwildlifecare.org/baby-season-give

💛 Thank you!

📷 1: February 24, 2026
📷 2: March 5, 2026

Baby season arrived early, and right now at Pacific Wildlife Care we are caring for TWICE as many animals as this time l...
05/04/2026

Baby season arrived early, and right now at Pacific Wildlife Care we are caring for TWICE as many animals as this time last year. Tiny songbirds, squirrels, opossums, and more are coming in every day, each needing specialized nutrition, medical treatment, and expert care to grow up healthy and wild.

This is what we are here for, but we can’t do it alone.

Thanks to a matching grant from the Avila Beach Community Foundation, your gift today will go TWICE as far to support wildlife in need. Every gift helps provide food, treatment, and safe recovery space for animals who depend on us to make it back to the wild.

Will you help us meet the surge in baby wildlife care? Every dollar makes a difference!
👉 pacificwildlifecare.networkforgood.com/projects/299112-baby-season-2026

Thank you for being someone wildlife can count on ♥️

05/01/2026

✨ Happy Freedom Friday!

This Red-tailed Hawk was found unable to fly and brought to our clinic by a caring community member. At intake, the bird was emaciated, dehydrated, and weak.

With fluids, a carefully managed diet, and supportive care, this raptor slowly regained strength. Over the following weeks, he progressed from a warm indoor space to an outdoor aviary with creance sessions to gain flight strength and stamina.

After 55 days in care, this bird was ready to return to the wild and was released back near where he was found.

Every second chance starts with someone noticing and choosing to help 💛

📸 Linda C.

Did you lose your domestic rabbit? We have a rabbit that was found in the Heritage Ranch area that was brought to our cl...
04/30/2026

Did you lose your domestic rabbit? We have a rabbit that was found in the Heritage Ranch area that was brought to our clinic. If you think this bunny might be your pet, please call our hotline— 805-543-WILD (9453), or message us on Facebook to identify. We want to get this animal back to its owner so please spread the word!

This American Kestrel came to us from Templeton unable to stand after likely suffering an impact injury, like hitting a ...
04/29/2026

This American Kestrel came to us from Templeton unable to stand after likely suffering an impact injury, like hitting a window or a moving car. On exam, the bird had a serious shoulder injury affecting the wing, along with other signs of trauma. With stabilizing care, medications, and a supportive wing wrap, this tiny falcon slowly began to heal. Once standing again, the kestrel moved to a larger outdoor aviary to rebuild flight muscles and prepare for release.

After 34 days in care, this fierce little hunter was returned home to Templeton 💛

Did you know American Kestrels are North America’s smallest falcon? Despite their size, they are expert predators, hunting rodents, other birds, reptiles, and insects. You might spot them perched on power lines or hovering over open fields as they search for their next meal.

👀 Check your boats, trailers, and campers before you move them! It’s nesting season which means bird families are trying...
04/29/2026

👀 Check your boats, trailers, and campers before you move them! It’s nesting season which means bird families are trying to find the best spot to raise their babies. Unfortunately, those spots might not be the most convenient for us. If you won’t be moving your trailer... then great! Baby birds grow quickly so they won’t be there long. If you’d rather not have bird stowaways then the best action is prevention! Check your trailer weekly for nest building during the spring and summer and block off appealing areas with tarps or stuffing something around that area. Some favorite nesting locations are the tongue, kingpin box, and even the wheel wells.

If an active nest is already in place… please call your local wildlife rehab before interfering with the nest! Did you know that native birds, their eggs, chicks, and active nests are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act? This federal law makes it illegal to harm, harass, possess, or kill a native bird, its eggs, chicks, or active nest. It was enacted because our national wildlife face serious threats to their survival. Often, we can find a solution that protects our wildlife and works for you, too.

🐍 Snake season is here! As temperatures warm up, snakes become more active. A common case of mistaken identity in our ar...
04/28/2026

🐍 Snake season is here! As temperatures warm up, snakes become more active. A common case of mistaken identity in our area? Gopher snakes vs. rattlesnakes.

Gopher snakes are nonvenomous and can be identified by their narrow head, slender body, and pointed tail. They’re often mistaken for rattlesnakes because of their similar blotched patterns. When threatened, they may flatten their heads, coil up, and even vibrate their tails to mimic a rattlesnake.

Rattlesnakes are venomous and have a broad, triangular head, a thicker body, and a tail that ends in a rattle (although young rattlesnakes only have a small “button” instead of a full rattle).

Snakes are often misunderstood, but they are generally shy and prefer to avoid people. Both species help control rodent populations and play an important role in our local ecosystem. While rattlesnake bites can be serious, they are rare and almost always preventable by giving snakes space and using common sense outdoors.

⚠️ The safest rule: never approach or handle a wild snake, even if you believe it is harmless. Most snakes want nothing to do with people. The best way to help is to respect their space.

🐍 Have snake questions? We are lucky to have Dr. Emily Taylor and her Central Coast Snake Services team serving the central coast – they provide FREE snake ID and humane rattlesnake removal/relocation! Learn more at centralcoastsnakeservices.com

Not on the central coast? Check out freesnakerelocation.com to find a humane relocation service near you.

If you see an injured snake or reptile in need in SLO County, give us a call at (805) 543-WILD!

04/24/2026

✨ Freedom Friday!

At 9:10am on a Saturday morning, a call came in about a bird in trouble in Morro Bay. The caller, John Flaherty of Central Coast Outdoors, was preparing to lead a kayak tour when he noticed something was wrong. An American White Pelican stood on the shoreline, dirty, lethargic, and not moving. Recognizing the urgency, John called our team before heading out on the water. He knew who to call thanks to a long-time connection with PWC (and Virginia Flaherty, co-owner of Central Coast Outdoors, is a member of our rehabilitation and education team!).

A crew of our Rescue and Transport volunteers quickly mobilized. When they arrived, the pelican was still grounded. With patience, teamwork, and help from a nearby paddle-boarder, they safely contained the bird and brought it into care.

At intake, the pelican was severely underweight. We don’t always know what leads to an animal’s condition…illness, injury, food scarcity, and environmental stressors can all play a role. What we can do is provide a safe space, proper nutrition, and expert care to set the animal up for a successful second chance.

Over the next 30 days, the pelican slowly regained strength (and ate more than 4 pounds of fish per day!). It began in a quiet indoor space, then moved to a large outdoor aviary with access to a pool. Once strong enough, our volunteers, with help from the Kayak Shack, returned the bird to Morro Bay. Soon after release, the pelican was feeding alongside a small group of other white pelicans. Success!

Read the full story on our blog to learn more about white pelicans: pacificwildlifecare.org/a-second-chance-for-a-soaring-giant/

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and this rescue reflects what our volunteers make possible every day. Working alongside our staff, their dedication helps give this pelican (and many other animals) a second chance in the wild 🎉

Did you lose your Amazon Parrot? We have a parrot that was found in Arroyo Grande that was brought to our clinic. If you...
04/24/2026

Did you lose your Amazon Parrot? We have a parrot that was found in Arroyo Grande that was brought to our clinic. If you think this bird might be your pet, please call our hotline— 805-543-WILD (9453), or message us on Facebook to identify. We want to get this animal back to its owner so please spread the word!

📚 Don’t miss our final SLO County Library visits this spring!Pacific Wildlife Care is partnering with SLO County Librari...
04/22/2026

📚 Don’t miss our final SLO County Library visits this spring!

Pacific Wildlife Care is partnering with SLO County Libraries to bring our Animal Ambassadors into the community. Join us to learn about local wildlife, the work of wildlife rehabilitation, and simple ways you can help protect animals in our area.

The programs feature different ambassadors, so each visit is a little different!

📍 Upcoming events:
April 22, Creston Library – 2:00 PM (corrected time)
April 22, Shandon Library – 3:30 PM
April 25, Cayucos Library – 10:30 AM
April 29, Morro Bay Library – 3:30 PM

These programs are free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

🌍 Happy Earth Day from PWC! Today, we reflect on connection… Every organism plays a role in keeping ecosystems balanced ...
04/22/2026

🌍 Happy Earth Day from PWC! Today, we reflect on connection… Every organism plays a role in keeping ecosystems balanced and every act of care makes a difference.

At our wildlife rehab center, we see firsthand how human activity affects wild lives. Many of the animals we care for are injured or orphaned because of it. That’s why we believe wildlife rehabilitation is environmental stewardship in action, a way to give back to the natural world.

It’s not always easy to live sustainably, and it’s rarely perfect. But every effort counts. What matters most is that you care, and you keep trying.

So today, we hope you’ll:
🌱 Appreciate the plants and animals around you
💚 Stay curious
🌎 And be kind to this world we all share

Thank you for being someone who shows up for wildlife. We’re so glad you’re part of this work.

🌟 This Volunteer Appreciation Month, we celebrate the incredible people who make our work possible! Every day, our volun...
04/21/2026

🌟 This Volunteer Appreciation Month, we celebrate the incredible people who make our work possible! Every day, our volunteers show up with energy and dedication, and the wildlife in our care thrive because of it. We are so grateful for every volunteer helping across all our programs: Hotline, Rescue & Transport, Rehab Center, Baby Bird Program, Homecare, Front Desk, Creance, Events & Outreach, Education, Facilities, Grant Writing, our Board and more!

You are the heart of our operations and because of you, wildlife get a second chance. Thank you all for ALL that you do! 💚

Here are just a few of the MANY wonderful faces who’ve been helping this month:

📸1 – Mackenzie handling a Great Horned Owl for RT Sophie
📸2 – Larry, one of our facilities extraordinaires
📸3 – Kat, ready to respond to hotline calls
📸4 – Craig, keeping things running smoothly and always with a smile
📸5 – Jack, on his Rescue & Transport shift
📸6 – Marcelle, Eric, Kathleen, and Kim, a few of our incredible Board members
📸7 – Claudia and Donna, long-time volunteers and familiar faces around the clinic
📸8 – Kelly, a founding member of PWC and Education Team volunteer, with Denali, our Red-tailed Hawk Ambassador

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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