Oiled Wildlife Care Network

06/25/2024

NEW BLOG POST: "My First 4 Months as the Wildlife Operations Specialist at OWCN" written by J.J. Cruz

We've been keeping J.J. busy since he joined our team! Check out his account of the last four months here: owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/blog/my-first-4-months-wildlife-operations-specialist-owcn

06/21/2024

We are hiring our next Director!

Are you experienced in wildlife conservation and emergency response? Join us in leading rescue and rehabilitation efforts during oil spills.

Responsibilities:
💧Coordinate wildlife rescue operations
💧Ensure compliance with safety standards
💧Develop training programs
💧Represent OWCN in public forums

Apply by July 6, 2024 at:
careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucdavis/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=7&JobOpeningId=70068&PostingSeq=1

06/14/2024

NEW BLOG POST: "Incorporating Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into Oil Spill Response Activities" written by the Office of Spill Prevention and Response - OSPR JEDI Group

The OWCN and CDFW-OSPR work collaboratively during California spill responses involving oiled wildlife. We have a shared interest in protecting our State’s natural resources and wildlife and also have a genuine interest and commitment to each respective organizations’ diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

Read more: owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/blog/incorporating-justice-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-oil-spill-response-activities

06/11/2024

NEW BLOG POST: "A Bird Called GREG" written by OWCN wildlife rehabilitator Sam Christie

On October 4, GREG 23-843 was one of eight patients admitted to our hospital during the 2023 avian botulism outbreak response on Tulare Lake. The OWCN is not in the habit of naming wildlife patients. In fact, CDFW, who issues our state wildlife rehabilitation permit, specifically recommends against publicly referring to rehabilitation animals by anything other than their case number, common name, or scientific name. So what makes GREG an exception? Find out in the full blog post here: owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/bird-called-greg

06/07/2024

NOW HIRING: Are you a dedicated and passionate leader in oiled wildlife response? Do you have the expertise to manage multi-million dollar budgets while driving impactful change? We are seeking an exceptional individual to lead our team and further our mission of excellence. Application deadline: July 7, 2024

Apply online at owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu

06/05/2024

National Zoo and Aquarium Month is celebrated annually in June to honor the role that zoos and aquariums play in the conservation and research of animal and fish species. This month, we wanted to highlight the many zoos and aquaria in our statewide Network, starting with California Academy of Sciences!

A member org since December 2013, California Academy of Sciences is an immense asset to our Network for the wide range of expertise at their fingertips. While we do not use their facility during activations, they have several trained responders ready to deploy in the event of an oil spill in their region.

Learn more: calacademy.org

05/31/2024

OWCN member orgs along the coast have been dealing with a massive influx of emaciated and dehydrated brown pelicans.

Yesterday, OWCN's Kyra Mills and Sam Christie headed down south to assist with banding brown pelicans who have been rehabilitated and are ready for release. Their first stop was at Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center where they banded 24 pelicans; second stop was at Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network where they banded 12.

Several of the pelicans were also fitted with an electronic leg band with cellular tracking technology leg band as part of a project led by Pacific Eco Logic to monitor their movement and survival.

Wildlife caretakers will release a flock of brown pelicans weeks after dozens of them turned up on Southern California coasts. Scientists hope they can track...

05/30/2024

NEW BLOG POST: IOA Season Recap by OWCN veterinarian Dr. Jamie Sherman

"For our avid readers, you may recall last year’s blog about the OWCN’s Individual Oiled Animal (IOA) Program and the influx of patients admitted to our member organizations during the winter months. If you do not have the memory of an albatross, much like me, here’s a quick refresher."

For the full blog (and quick refresher): owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/blog/ioa-season-recap

05/29/2024

Citizen scientist Karen Richardson has been diligently monitoring the Canada geese at San Juan Reservoir Park, a population that includes several of our former patients from the . Yesterday, Karen photographed Canada goose 815 with his partner and four goslings, bringing the confirmed total of banded geese with goslings to SIX!

05/28/2024

NEW BLOG POST: "Training Center Update - A Final Farewell and a New Beginning" written by our logistics specialist Danny Vickers: owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/blog/sfbowcec-training-center-update-final-farewell-and-new-beginning

05/23/2024

A Unified Command with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response and the City of Stockton has been formed to respond to a sinking vessel in Little Potato Slough near Stockton.

We have been notified and are available to respond but no observations of oiled wildlife have been reported. Report oiled wildlife to 1-877-UCD-OWCN (1-877-823-6926). This is not an informational or volunteer hotline.

 SAN FRANCISCO — A Unified Command with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response and the City of Stockton has

05/22/2024

OWCN director Michael Ziccardi was part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee behind the 4th issue of "Oil in the Sea". At the 2024 International Oil Spill Conference, they presented on this report and their recommendations for reducing inputs of oil into the seas, as well as for improving understanding of the fates and effects of oil in the marine environment, and for reducing the more harmful environmental effects.

Full report here:
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26410/oil-in-the-sea-iv-inputs-fates-and-effects

Report highlights here:
nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/26410/Oil_in_the_Sea_IV-Highlights.pdf

05/20/2024

The Global Oiled Wildlife Response System (GOWRS) is a group of wildlife emergency response organizations who represent a unified voice for preparedness and response activities. Earlier this month, representatives from the 10 member institutions met in New Orleans to discuss the group's main focus areas and best practices in preparedness and response for oiled wildlife.

Michael Ziccardi and Danene Birtell represented the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at this meeting, as well as participated in a field exercise simulating an accident on the Mississippi River where the GOWRS assessment team was activated, assessing access, local facilities, and local wildlife identification.

05/15/2024

Congrats to our Management Team on their accomplishments at the 2024 International Oil Spill Conference (IOSC) in New Orleans:

☑️ 2 paper-based presentations
☑️ 2 posters
☑️ 2 special sessions

"IOSC provides a vital forum for professionals from the international spill response community, private sector, government, and non-governmental organizations to come together to tackle the greatest challenges facing us with sound science, practical innovation, social engineering, global research, and imagination."

05/15/2024

OWCN’s Sam Christie, Lorraine Barbosa, and Danene Birtell, and CDFW-OSPR’s Greg McGowan representing and giving presentations during the Wildlife Session at the International Oil Spill Conference 2024 in New Orleans.

05/14/2024

First ever Mental Health talk on a center stage at the International Oil Spill Conference (IOSC). Awareness is key and reducing stigma is everyone’s job.

05/11/2024

: Did you know that the OWCN holds a Migratory Bird Rehabilitation Permit as well as a Scientific Collecting permit that allows for our personnel (including our volunteers) to collect birds during oil spills? This includes dead birds and live oiled birds, as well as live un-oiled birds that may be captured “for the purpose of removing them from imminent danger.”

If you'd like to get involved with helping migratory birds and other wildlife impacted by oil spills, you can join one of our member orgs as a volunteer and start the responder training program!

05/10/2024

NEW BLOG: "Keeping our Skills Sharp" by OWCN Wildlife Biologist Kyra Mills

"Earlier this week, JJ [Cruz] and I spent the day in Rancho Cordova at the Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area for an All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV) training. JJ has had practice driving ATVs in Guatemala with his uncle, but had never had formal training, and I took this training many years ago when I had just started at OWCN."

Full blog post: owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/blog/keeping-our-skills-sharp

05/01/2024

We celebrated the contributions of eight oiled wildlife responders from our Network for ! And in case you missed it, our wildlife planning specialist Frankie Lill posted a roundup of all of our featured responders in our latest OWCN blog post - check it out: owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/blog/owcn-appreciates-you

04/29/2024

We have another happy patient update! In December 2022, 34 oiled Canada geese were collected from the spill site. Once they were cleaned and rehabilitated, they were released back into the wild with bands on their legs so that we could identify them in future sightings.

Citizen scientist Karen Richardson shared this photo update of banded goose 807 and her partner with their goslings this past Friday! We love to see our formerly oiled patients thriving after receiving life-saving care from our trained responders.

04/28/2024

Since joining our team last year, Frankie Lill has been steadily ramping up activities fulfilling our 4th 'R' - Reaching Out. Check out her recent OWCN blog post to learn about everything she's been up to on that front: owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/blog/weve-been-busy

04/26/2024

Kevin Valenzuela is another one of our rockstar new responders, a San Diego Humane Society volunteer who was driven to join last September for the opportunity to help rescue wildlife and contribute to the 2023 Avian Botulism response in Tulare Lake.

His takeaway from his first OWCN response: "It's important to be able to adapt quickly and collaboratively with a group of people with such diverse backgrounds. The response team shows a level of compassion and impact that I can strongly align with."

04/26/2024

: Francesca Batac first became an OWCN responder when she started out with the Office of Spill Prevention and Response - OSPR back in 2005. An innate dedication to the care of oiled wildlife is what prompted Francesca to become a responder, but what makes her stay involved all these years is the opportunity to work alongside others who share the same passion.

Francesca's tip for getting involved: "Look at the 45+ OWCN member organizations throughout California and depending on what species you may want to work with, start volunteering!": If you're already involved with OWCN: "Take advantage of the trainings and online webinars provided by the OWCN - we never want an oil spill to occur but it's important to be prepared and trained if it does."

04/25/2024

: Val Rodriguez is a freshly minted OWCN responder, first entering our database in September 2023 to help with our Avian Botulism response in Kern County. They joined in order to help animals in extreme situations as well as to meet others in the field to exchange knowledge with fellow responders. The success of the 2023 Avian Botulism response was largely due to the contributions from enthusiastic and capable responders like Val!

Val’s advice to prospective responders: “It may seem daunting, but the knowledge and skills acquired are so worth it - get started!”

04/25/2024

: When Liz Montenegro started out at OWCN member org International Bird Rescue in 2018, she also took it upon herself to get trained up as a responder. While she finds fulfillment in rehabilitating waterbirds on a regular basis, Liz finds a different level of fulfillment from being able to step in and help wildlife when there are environmental disasters like oil spills. She also enjoys the camaraderie that comes from working in the spill response environment, even when everyone starts out as strangers from different backgrounds - everyone rallies together with the shared desire to help!

We are lucky to have someone as skilled as Liz on our OWCN responder roster!

04/24/2024

: Rusty Rosenberg first started volunteering with OWCN member org The Marine Mammal Center in 2009, alongside his wife Sue Hawley, both having been inspired after witnessing a marine wildlife rescue in action while on an evening beach stroll.

Rusty’s favorite oiled wildlife response to date is the Tanzanite Incident in Natomas because it was different from past spill responses he’d been on and he had the opportunity to work closely with the OWCN Management Team members. His advice for budding oiled wildlife responders: “Bring your adaptability, patience, knowledge, and a spare pair of boots.”

04/24/2024

: OWCN newcomer Samantha Lewis has been involved with wildlife rehabilitation since May 2022 and officially as a trained OWCN responder since July 2023. She first decided to undergo the training in order to help oiled wildlife in a safe and knowledgeable manner, something which felt personally relevant due to her home’s proximity to many natural seeps.

Despite being relatively new, Samantha has hit the ground running by participating not only in our Basic Responder Training but also all three of our DEIA trainings as well as working on a research proposal for our Mentored Research Program!

04/23/2024

: Kim Peterson’s love for helping wildlife started in childhood through grandmother’s efforts rehabbing baby birds. This love continued into adulthood, working with seabirds at SeaWorld since 1999 and then becoming an OWCN responder in 2003 when she attended her first training session.

Kim’s reasons for sticking with the OWCN: “The primary thing that keeps me coming back is seeing animals that would have no hope for survival get the help they need and then return to the wild, strong and healthy. Secondly, is experiencing the passion everyone involved has for the animals. The teamwork, the selflessness, and willingness to teach others under very stressful conditions.”

04/23/2024

: Sue Hawley has been volunteering with OWCN member org The Marine Mammal Center since 2009, coming up on her 15th service anniversary this year! Over the last six years, Sue has expanded her wildlife handling experience at Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA Wildlife and International Bird Rescue. She became an OWCN responder in January 2011 and has been an amazing asset to the OWCN response team ever since.

Her favorite oiled wildlife response to date: Refugio oil spill in 2015, where Sue had the opportunity to restrain and treat sea lions in the field! “With OWCN, we are always given the tools to get it done one way or another under the most interesting of circumstances.”