How Project Wildlife gears up to assist local wildlife every spring
Each day this spring, roughly 100 baby animals will cross the threshold of the Project Wildlife care center on the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) campus, all in need of the extra-special care required of vulnerable newborns. From songbirds and squirrels to rabbits and raccoons, our county’s wide array of wildlife faces the challenge of coexisting alongside the ever-growing population of people moving into their natural habitat. Project Wildlife, a program of SDHS, works to improve the quality of life for San Diego’s wildlife population and serves as the county’s primary resource for animal rehabilitation and conservation education.
“Wildlife is one of the many things that make San Diego America’s Finest City,” says Jessica Des Lauriers, SDHS’s Senior Director-San Diego Campus, overseeing Project Wildlife, which joined SDHS in 2014 in order to increase its ability to provide for animals in need. “As our human population continues to rise, so do our chances of encountering wildlife. We owe it to our native species to ensure their safety and act responsibly.”
Adds Trish Jackman, director of wildlife rehabilitation, “We carry a heavy burden, because we are the only agency that takes in so many thousands of these animals and we want to make sure we can care for all of them. We are the only organization that takes in songbirds, and there are more than 300 species of them in San Diego.”
Songbirds and seabirds may comprise the greatest volume of animals seen by Project Wildlife, but the program also cares for a large number of mammals, including nearly 1,000 opossums, each year, as well as squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. During baby season, which runs from March to September, Project Wildlife can see as many as 400 animals each week, mostly brought in by concerned citizens.
“We rely on the community to bring these animals to us,” says Jackman, adding that animals must be rehabilitated 100 percent in order to be returned to their environment. Those that can’t return to the wild may end up at education centers and wildlife sanctuaries located throughout Southern California.
Project Wildlife is licensed to care only for sick, injured, or abandoned wildlife; healthy animals must be returned to their natural habitat—even if that’s your backyard. It’s illegal to relocate wild animals, even if they’re a nuisance. It’s for this reason that Jackman urges coexistence and tolerance. She also reminds us that companies who say they’ll trap and release unwanted animals are not legally authorized to do so, and therefore, their methods of removing them are likely less than humane.
“Our wish is for people to learn to coexist with wildlife, but when they see something out of the ordinary, we want them to partner with us to take care of animals that need help,” Jackman says. “By law, you can hold wildlife for 48 hours—no longer—but sometimes, even that 48 hours without proper care can be detrimental, so we urge people to get to us sooner rather than later.” —Christina Orlovsky Page
For more info, visit sdhumane.org/project-wildlife or call 619-225-9453
Wildlife Dos and Don’ts
DO NOT feed an animal or give it water, as its digestive system may be too distressed to
process it.
DO keep any injured or abandoned wildlife in a warm, dark, quiet place until they can be transferred to Project Wildlife’s care center as soon as possible. A 24-hour drop-off window provides safe shelter for animals after hours.
DO NOT attempt to raise a wild animal as a pet. “These animals have special requirements,” Jackman says. “You may have the best intentions, but it will not be what’s best for that animal.”
DO NOT trim your trees between now and October; it is illegal to disturb nests.
DO watch and wait. Many baby animals that appear orphaned may not be. Keep an eye out for the mother, who may be watching from afar.