For several months I have passed by a large and intriguing sign for Saturday tours of Sonoma County's Wildlife Rescue facility, posted on the corner of Stony Point and Mecham Roads en-route from Petaluma to Sebastopol, RP or Santa Rosa via the region's back roads.
Weekends have flown by without giving the rescue center barely a second thought until my youngest, all-things-nature-enthusiast son called me on my promise to take him on a tour, this past weekend.
It's imperative to call ahead (at least an hour or more ahead of time) to let volunteers know that you'll be heading up the one-track hill to tour the scenic, rural center at 303 Mecham Road, Petaluma (707) 992 0274. Due to the very nature of wild animal rescue, it's not a great idea to show up unannounced! Half hour-or so Saturday tours take place at 10 am, 12 noon and 2 pm.
Rescued animals are allocated to one of two designated areas at this rustic, though remarkably efficient center, straddling a Eucalyptus-studded hillside terrain with soaring, panoramic views across the south county.
Wildlife that has none to little chance of survival if returned to nature after rehabilitation is relegated to the permanent enclosures that have evolved around a bark path tour route for visitors and prospective volunteers.
"These animals, that have become too domesticated due to the serious nature of their recovery from injury are our ambassadors," explained our volunteer tour guide, Andrew. Making the most of the current lull in the construction industry, Andrew shared his call to action story in brief. Turns out a rescued raccoon that he brought into the center several months ago provided a captivating introduction to the rural hospital, medical and feeding facility that had him hooked.
"I've more time on my hands than I would prefer," said Andrew, who has returned to studies at Santa Rosa JC. "Volunteering with the wildlife has been a fantastic experience."
Animals that have been rescued and only require a brief rehabilitation period are isolated so that they don't become accustomed to human interaction.
Take a Saturday tour and you will meet Cleo the Coyote and her pal Wiley. Wiley was transferred to the facility from outside of the area (due to the excellent environment that had been built here for Coyote care), after being mistakenly raised as a dog from a young pup. It is illegal to keep coyotes in captivity in California, but relatively easy (temporarily) to confuse a small, abandoned newborn as a dog.
Though wild coyotes attacked Wiley from outside of his wired encampment here in Sonoma County, an amputated limb has not prevented him from hopping around his environment and keeping an eye on visitors.
Mason, the gray fox is another permanent resident along with a red fox, a docile opossum, rascally raccoons, an acrobatic squirrel, sweet Sheila - super shy part wolf, part dog, two (partially amputated) resident female red tail hawks and most famously, a magnificent two-year-old brother and sister pair of mountain lions, brought up from the south bay by Fish and Game.
"We encourage hunting and foraging in how we hide food for the majority of the animals," said Andrew: "thinking up new and original enrichment ideas for their habitats on a regular basis."
The pair are owned by the State of California (it would have been illegal to release them back into the wild following a high profile court case surrounding the poaching death of their mother - a third sibling died). Fed with roadkill deer, the pair will live out their likely 20-year lifespan in captivity at the center, helping to provide cougar education within the state.
The center has been around since 1981, though only at this location for the past six years. Serving over 1,400 animals each year (highest volumes in the summer baby season), hundreds of volunteers commit to a four hour a month minimum.
New volunteer orientation takes place every second Saturday of the month from 10 am to 2 pm, offering opportunities for many different ways to help wildlife in our community, including becoming a wildlife paramedic, a member of the center's foster care team, helping out with admin and computers, rescue, special projects , wildlife educating and a great junior program. Call the center for a volunteer packer prior to registering for a volunteer orientation session.
Executive Director Doris Duncan reports on rescue operations at the Gulf Spill. Unfortunately, the center's scheduled summer wildlife rescue camp program has had to be postponed due to the call of the wild on the Gulf and Duncan's expertise being so imperative cross-country. Look out for camps to resume for young wildlife enthusiasts in the summer of 2011.
Tour basics: $5 donation requested. No Dogs, no eating or drinking, no smoking and no cell phones. Donations are welcomed.
