Desert Wildlife Center

03/03/2025

It’s World Wildlife Day! Did you know that the average size of the world’s wildlife population has decreased by 73 percent over the past 50 years, according to the World Wildlife Fund? This makes preserving habitat and helping wildlife in need even more important.

These images, by photographer Scott Collins, are a reminder of the amazing beauty and diversity of our wildlife in the Coachella Valley. Thank you for caring for desert animals and birds!

02/28/2025

Do you have questions about coyotes or other wildlife? As a reminder, you can now reach the Desert Wildlife Center at our
helpline: 760-203-5500.

We are still working on getting our facility ready for wildlife but our team is already here to offer guidance and, when possible, arrange transport to rehabilitation centers that can provide care until we officially open.

Thank you for caring about our desert wildlife. We look forward to talking to you!

📷 : Unsplash/Chris Stenger

02/12/2025

Discover how the soon-to-open Desert Wildlife Center will transform the lives of injured and orphaned wildlife in our region! Join us for an engaging presentation with Tracy Dawson, Director of the Desert Wildlife Center, as we dive into the causes of wildlife injuries, the Center’s mission to provide care, and how YOU can get involved in protecting our local wildlife.

📅 When: Saturday, February 15, 2025
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
📍 Where: Mizell Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA
✨ RSVP to David Paisley: [email protected]

Let’s come together to create a brighter future for our desert wildlife. 🌵❤️

01/30/2025

Great information here. The event is at 4 pm PT today.

Coyote Watch Canada
Canid Connections Speaker Series is hosting : "Poison-Free Rodent Control"

Join us for this compelling presentation about poison-free rodent control. Back by popular demand, Rebecca Dmytryk from Humane Wildlife Control Inc.
will share her years of experience and great "DIY" tips. Humane and preventative solutions that work!

WHEN: Thursday, January 30th at 7:00PM ET/4 pm Pacific

Preregistration required sign up here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/0mkjgTsNSomneFcx5cLE_w

Our speaker series are FREE to register and attend but a suggested donation of $10 can help to keep our series availble for everyone.

01/28/2025

Exciting news! You can now reach the Desert Wildlife Center at our
helpline: 760-203-5500.

Got questions about living alongside coyotes and other wildlife? Need advice on keeping your pets safe? Or maybe you’ve found an injured wild animal that needs help? While we’re still waiting on permit approvals for renovations, our team is here to offer guidance and, when possible, arrange transport to rehabilitation centers that can provide care until we officially open. (We are not accepting injured wildlife at this time)

Thank you for caring about our desert wildlife. Give us a call, we’re here to help!

01/17/2025

Some helpful information about Coyote mating season. Take practical steps to protect pets and coexist!

01/14/2025

We regret to announce that the upcoming lecture has been postponed indefinitely, as our speakers, who live in Los Angeles, are directly impacted by the ongoing fires.

Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this crisis, and we’re sending strength and support to those affected. We’ll provide updates on rescheduling soon. Thank you for your understanding and compassion during this time.

01/06/2025

The Desert Wildlife Center is partnering with Oswit Land Trust to welcome Kian and Joel Schulman of Poison Free Malibu to Palm Springs! These dedicated advocates have worked tirelessly at the city, county, and state levels to restrict harmful pesticides that threaten families, pets, and wildlife.

Event Details:
📅 Date: January 16, 2025
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
📍 Location: Mizell Center, 480 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
📧 RSVP/Info: [email protected]

Discover how their impactful work in Malibu, the Santa Monica Mountains, and beyond has transformed communities into safer, poison-free environments. Learn how these innovative strategies can protect our local ecosystems and create sustainable, toxin-free practices right here in the Coachella Valley.

01/01/2025

Friends of Desert Wildlife,

Some good news! The Poison-Free Wildlife Act will take effect in California tomorrow Jan. 1.

The new law bans the use of first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. These restricted chemicals are blood-thinning rat poisons that cause animals to die from internal bleeding. Owls, hawks, roadrunners, snakes, coyotes and bobcats who consume the infected rodents are also poisoned.

The law allows the poisons to be used in agricultural settings and public health emergencies only.

We thank everyone who advocated for this bill on behalf of our desert wildlife!

Photo: Eddie Black/Unsplash

12/25/2024

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season from all of us at the Desert Wildlife Center! Whether your family walks, flies, or purrs, may this season bring warmth, love, and togetherness. Thank you for your continued support of our mission to protect and care for Coachella Valley’s wildlife. Here’s to a bright and hopeful new year ahead. 🦉🌵

12/17/2024

Some great information from our friends at Project Coyote — and the LA Times.

L.A. County is full of coyotes. Knowing what to do when you see one will better keep you, your pets and the coyote safe from harm.

12/13/2024

There is still time to RSVP to learn about desert tortoises from two brilliant experts at this FREE lecture brought to you by DWC and Oswit Land Trust!

Saturday, December 14
9AM to 11AM
Mizell Center
480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs
RSVP and questions to David Paisley at [email protected]

The presentation will discuss the history of the Mojave Desert Tortoise; how its population in the deserts of California has been decimated, and how it will recover. The talk will describe exciting desert tortoise conservation progress resulting from using the latest technology combined with an understanding of animal behavior, as well as the conservation challenges confronting the tortoise’s recovery. Presented by Ron Berger of The Desert Tortoise Conservancy and Tim Shields of Hardshell Labs, Inc.

12/12/2024

Join us TODAY from 4–7 PM on NBC Palm Springs for the Tail-A-Thon presented by Silvercrest, benefiting the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and Desert Wildlife Center! Learn more or donate anytime at tailathon.org. Plus, keep an eye out for a special celebrity guest helping us make a big impact for the animals in our care!

📞 Phone lines open at 4 PM—call 760-278-7709 to donate!

Hockey fans, we’re teaming up with the Coachella Valley Firebirds tonight at Acrisure Arena! Stop by during the game to meet adorable puppies available for adoption, connect with our team, or make a donation to support local animal welfare. 🏒🐶

📺 Watch the Tail-A-Thon on NBC Palm Springs, then cheer on the Firebirds and join the fun. Let’s score big for the animals tonight!

12/07/2024

We’re here at the Indio International Tamale Festival today and tomorrow! Stop by the Desert Wildlife Center booth to say hello, learn about our mission, and discover how you can support local wildlife. 🦉🐢

Come chat with us and enjoy one of the most delicious events of the year! See you soon!

12/04/2024

The Desert Wildlife Center and Oswit Land Trust have teamed up to offer a fascinating FREE lecture focused on the Desert Tortoise and YOU are invited!

Saturday, December 14
9AM to 11AM
Mizell Center
480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs
RSVP and questions to David Paisley at [email protected]

The presentation will discuss the history of the Mojave Desert Tortoise; how its population in the deserts of California has been decimated, and how it will recover. The talk will describe exciting desert tortoise conservation progress resulting from using the latest technology combined with an understanding of animal behavior, as well as the conservation challenges confronting the tortoise’s recovery. Presented by Ron Berger of The Desert Tortoise Conservancy and Tim Shields of Hardshell Labs, Inc.

The Mojave Desert Tortoise is California’s State Reptile. It and its ancestors roamed these lands even before the Jurassic Era, surviving the dinosaurs, asteroids, ice ages, and all manner of climate events. And yet, their populations in much of their range here in our state have declined by upwards of 90% in recent years. Why? And what are we going to do about it? Ron will illuminate this sordid tale for us, capping his remarks with the work being done to turn it around, much of it right here in the Coachella Valley.

Tim Shields will review the last 50 years of desert tortoise research, with an emphasis on the population monitoring work spearheaded by Dr. Kristin Berry. This will set the stage for a discussion of the application of emerging technology to previously unsolvable conservation challenges. Tim will share, in detail, several success stories concerning raven management for tortoise conservation as examples of how new gizmos can keep these ancient desert dwellers among us. He will conclude with a look ahead and how the successes with raven management offer hope for tackling another, subtler threat to tortoises: the loss of native annual plant diversity to a takeover by invasive grasses.

We hope to see you there!

12/03/2024

This GivingTuesday, Support Wildlife in Need! The Desert Wildlife Center is building a brighter future for the amazing creatures that call our desert home. Your support helps us create a sanctuary where injured and displaced wildlife can recover and thrive.

📲 Make a difference today: https://psas.givecloud.co/product/GIVINGTUESDAYDWC2024/giving-tuesday-dwc-2024

With your donation, you’re helping to:
🌵 Renovate our facility to meet California’s wildlife care standards
🌵 Provide critical care for injured animals
🌵 Educate the community on protecting and coexisting with desert wildlife

Every act of generosity makes a ripple of change, join us in protecting our desert’s wildest residents.

11/28/2024

Whooo are we grateful for this Thanksgiving? All of you who are making the dream of the Desert Wildlife Center a reality! Thank you to all our supporters, staff and volunteers!


Photo by James Toose/Unsplash

11/26/2024

This week seems like the perfect time to learn some facts about wild turkeys. Did you know that turkeys can see better than humans, AND can see color? Or that only males gobble? Wild turkeys can fly up to 55 miles an hour in short bursts. They like to roost in trees at night to avoid predators. Male wild turkeys provide no parental care. Newly hatched chicks follow the female, who feeds them for a few days until they learn to find food on their own. As the chicks grow, they band into groups composed of several hens and their broods. Winter groups sometimes exceed 200 turkeys.Turkeys enjoy tight-knit families—not only do broods remain together for up to five months, but male siblings form lifelong social units. Young turkeys spend a lot of time playing, and adults still enjoy short flights, dust bathing, and roosting. And weird fact, you can tell a turkey’s gender by their p**p. Males p**p in a J shape and females in spirals. And the bigger the p**p, the older the bird. Fun facts to share about this majestic and beautiful bird.