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.

03/27/2026

✨ Freedom Friday! ✨

These two Turkey Vultures are back where they belong! One vulture arrived from Morro Bay unable to fly and suffering from lead poisoning, with metal fragments in the digestive tract. After 35 days of intensive care, including fluids, medication, and supportive feeding to help flush the metal, this bird went from not being able to stand to strong, healthy flight.

The second vulture came to us not flying, likely grounded by a powerful storm. After 17 days of rest and rebuilding strength, this bird was also ready to return to the wild.

Released together in Morro Bay, these two took off side by side. 💛

Turkey Vultures play a critical role as nature’s cleanup crew. Their highly acidic stomachs allow them to safely consume carrion, even carcasses carrying dangerous diseases, helping keep ecosystems healthy. They do not kill prey and instead help prevent the spread of disease.

Lead poisoning remains a serious threat to vultures and other scavengers (like California Condors!) when they ingest fragments of lead ammunition in carcasses. California’s statewide ban on lead ammunition, fully in effect since 2019, has helped reduce lead in the environment. However, exposure still occurs and lead continues to impact wildlife across the landscape. Choosing non-lead alternatives is one of the most effective ways to help protect these birds.

📸 Morgan N.

‼️ Nesting season is here! Hold off on tree trimming until late fall to protect wildlife families!These Red-shouldered H...
03/25/2026

‼️ Nesting season is here! Hold off on tree trimming until late fall to protect wildlife families!

These Red-shouldered Hawk nestlings came to us after their nest tree was cut down. Thankfully, they were healthy, and just four days later our incredible volunteer Bob was able to re-nest them in a nearby tree, where their parents resumed care.

Every year, we admit baby birds and mammals who have been orphaned or injured due to tree trimming. Nests are often well hidden, so it’s best to delay major pruning until fall. If trimming is unavoidable, carefully check branches and cavities for nests first (they can be well camouflaged). The good news is young animals grow quickly. An animal’s best chance of success is with its parents, so help keep wildlife families together by waiting to trim!

🪺 Have questions? Call our hotline! 805-543-9453

🎶 Spring is in the air…and so is birdsong! 🎶 Unlike humans, who use their larynx to produce sound, songbirds use their s...
03/24/2026

🎶 Spring is in the air…and so is birdsong! 🎶

Unlike humans, who use their larynx to produce sound, songbirds use their syrinx, a specialized voice box, to perform incredible vocal feats — some can even sing two notes at once!

Why do birds sing? Research has shown that singing helps attract mates, defend territory, and signal overall health. In most temperate-zone species, the males sing the most complex songs, while females typically use shorter calls. However, in the tropics, females often join in, and some species even sing in duets!

Spectrograms are a tool used to visualize pitch, rhythm, and hidden details in bird songs, giving us a new way to appreciate nature’s musicians. 🎼

Not sure who’s singing? Try Merlin, the free app that can help you recognize and learn the bird calls around you!

Have you noticed birds singing lately? 🎶

If you find injured or orphaned wildlife, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Even the best in...
03/23/2026

If you find injured or orphaned wildlife, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Even the best intentions can be harmful and even kill without proper knowledge and training. We are open every day of the year, including weekends and holidays. Although we hope you contact us right away, we will take any wildlife no matter how long it has been in your care and we will do everything we can to see it successfully released.

📸 Western Gray Squirrel

Spring has sprung…and so has baby season! Small actions can make a BIG impact on wildlife. Here’s how you can help:🌳 Hol...
03/21/2026

Spring has sprung…and so has baby season! Small actions can make a BIG impact on wildlife. Here’s how you can help:

🌳 Hold off on tree trimming. Nesting birds and baby animals need safe, undisturbed homes. Wait until fall/winter for pruning.

🐈 Keep cats indoors or in a catio. Cats are responsible for billions of bird deaths each year in the US alone. Keeping them inside helps protect vulnerable baby wildlife.

🚫 Skip glue traps & rodenticides. These inhumane methods harm not just rodents but also songbirds, owls, reptiles, and other non-target wildlife.

🦝 Don’t trap and relocate wildlife. You could unknowingly separate a mother from her babies. Instead, remove food sources (like pet food left outside) and close-off access to buildings after wildlife has vacated to discourage unwanted visitors.

☎️ If you find an animal in need, call our hotline! Please do not give injured wildlife food or water, attempt to care for them yourself, or keep them as pets.

🤲 Support PWC! Caring for injured and orphaned wildlife takes time and resources. Donate, volunteer, or spread the word to help make a difference!

Thank you for being a friend to wildlife this spring! ❤️🌸

Last year, our clinic admitted the first Northern Pygmy-Owl in our organization’s history! These tiny owls occur in San ...
03/20/2026

Last year, our clinic admitted the first Northern Pygmy-Owl in our organization’s history! These tiny owls occur in San Luis Obispo County, but they’re not seen very often, so it was already an exciting and unusual moment for our team. At the time, we had no idea the story was just beginning…

The first owl arrived in July from Templeton with fractures to the right coracoid and clavicle, injuries consistent with a high-impact collision like hitting a car or window. After nearly 3 months in care, from cage rest to rebuilding strength in a flight aviary, the owl was ready to return to the wild.

Then, just a couple months after our historic patient was admitted, a SECOND Northern Pygmy-Owl patient arrived at our clinic!

This second owl arrived after being hit by a car along Highway 1 near Gorda and had fractures in the radius and ulna in the right wing. This required surgery to repair the wing fractures, followed by months of recovery and conditioning before release back in Gorda.

For about two weeks, the two owls shared an aviary while their stays overlapped.

For Pacific Wildlife Care, caring for two Northern Pygmy-Owls in one year was both an unexpected and a special experience. Seeing both birds return to the wild made it even more rewarding.

We couldn’t do this work without our incredible team of staff, volunteers, and community supporters. If you’d like to help make stories like this possible, you can support our work at pacificwildlifecare.org/give.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 2! In partnership with the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, we’ll be presenting...
03/20/2026

Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 2! In partnership with the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, we’ll be presenting Wildlife Babies: When to Help and When to Leave Them Be. This informative talk will cover local ecology, wildlife rehabilitation, common myths, and practical tips. After the program, meet one of our PWC Animal Ambassadors! This talk is great for older children through adults.

Doors open at 5:30, talk begins at 6pm. This talk is free and open to the public, please register through the Garden’s website to save your seat:
https://slobg.org/event/pacific-wildlife-care-presents-wildlife-babies-when-to-help-and-when-to-leave-them-be/

It’s tax season! If you’re a California taxpayer, did you know you can support wildlife rehabilitation right when you fi...
03/18/2026

It’s tax season!

If you’re a California taxpayer, did you know you can support wildlife rehabilitation right when you file? By selecting the ‘Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund’ (Line 439) on your state return, you’ll help support licensed wildlife rehabilitation organizations across the state, including Pacific Wildlife Care!

It’s an easy way to make a meaningful impact when you file. Every contribution helps rescue, rehabilitate, and return wildlife to the wild across our biodiverse state.

🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Celebrate with some of our local ‘green’ birds! Swipe through to learn more about the Green H...
03/17/2026

🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Celebrate with some of our local ‘green’ birds! Swipe through to learn more about the Green Heron, Violet-green Swallow, Green-winged Teal, and Green-tailed Towhee!

Fun fact: Most birds don’t actually produce green pigment! Their feathers appear green due to a mix of yellow pigments and blue-reflecting structures. The only birds that create a true green pigment are turacos, a unique family found in Africa 💚

😅 Even though we do our best for our patients, not all of them appreciate our efforts.Our current patient, a Great Horne...
03/16/2026

😅 Even though we do our best for our patients, not all of them appreciate our efforts.

Our current patient, a Great Horned Owl, is recovering from an injury to the third digit on his left foot. The toe is held in extension, giving him the unmistakable look of sharing a strong opinion about his care. It’s given the staff a chuckle but his attitude is actually a great sign.

In wildlife rehabilitation, our goal is to keep wild animals wild. When a patient hisses, clacks their beak, or “flips us off,” it means they still see humans as something to avoid, which is exactly what they’ll need to survive after release.

🦉 If you find injured wildlife, please don’t attempt to treat them yourself. We use specialized training, equipment, and veterinary guidance to ensure the best outcome for the animal. We’re happy to help, even if our patients aren’t always happy with us!

03/13/2026

✨ Freedom Friday! ✨

This Swainson’s Thrush arrived at our clinic as a suspected window strike victim. On intake, the little bird was open-mouth breathing and drooping both wings. Radiographs revealed fractures to the right coracoid and scapula, so our team expertly stabilized the fractures, provided fluids, oxygen, and medication, and monitored the bird closely.

Over the next 29 days, the thrush progressed from cage rest to rebuilding strength in a large aviary. After nearly a month of care, the bird was released back into Los Osos, ready to continue its journey in the wild 🎉

Window strikes are a leading cause of bird deaths. In North America alone, more than 1 billion birds die each year from collisions with glass. Birds can’t see windows, so making them visible can save lives! Start with any “problem” window at your home by applying decals or markers (spaced no more than 2” apart on the exterior) or adding screens. Learn more at featherfriendly.com.

🚨 If a bird hits a window, take it to your local licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Injuries like broken beaks, internal bleeding, and brain swelling may not show right away. In SLO County, call us at (805) 543-9453.

Small changes at home can save lives!

⏳ Final days to apply to our Summer Internship Program! During this hands-on opportunity, you will build skills, learn f...
03/12/2026

⏳ Final days to apply to our Summer Internship Program! During this hands-on opportunity, you will build skills, learn from experienced staff, and get an inside look at wildlife rehabilitation.

A minimum commitment of 400 hours between April and September 2026 is required (at least three eight-hour shifts per week). Learn more and apply here: pacificwildlifecare.org/internship-program

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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