What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

Pacific Wildlife Care

Home
United States
Morro Bay, CA
Pacific Wildlife Care

Directions Website Contact the organization

Pacific Wildlife Care is a non-profit organization on the Central Coast of California.
(1)

We rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured or orphaned wildlife throughout San Luis Obispo County.

11/04/2026

🗳️ It's Election Day! These two Green Herons may not have a vote, but they count on a community that cares. Whether it's helping wildlife, volunteering, or making your voice heard, showing up for your community makes a difference!

10/31/2026

🎃 Happy Halloween! Rocky our Rock Pigeon Ambassador is here to wish you a spooky, fun, and wildlife-friendly Halloween! 👻

As you enjoy the festivities, here are a few ways to keep our wild neighbors safe:
🍬 Don't leave treats behind! Pick up candy wrappers and other trash, and keep candy out of reach of wildlife.
🎃 Properly dispose of carved pumpkins – in SLO County, you can toss them in your green waste bin for composting.
🕸️ Ditch the fake spider webs! These fibers can trap wildlife.
🌙 Keep an eye out for wildlife while you’re out at night, especially on the roads.

Rocky and all of us at PWC wish you a happy Halloween! Thanks for helping keep it safe for wildlife, too! 🧡

10/31/2026

✨🐿️ Freedom Friday! This Western gray squirrel came to Pacific Wildlife Care in August at just four weeks old, weighing only 111 grams with her eyes still closed!

Over the next several weeks, she received specialized care, including formula feedings, treatment for a wound near the base of her tail, and plenty of time to grow big and strong. Before long, she was opening her eyes, nibbling on walnuts, and getting ready for life in the wild!

After 67 days in care, this little squirrel was ready for her next adventure and was released back into the wild on October 12! 🎉

10/29/2026

We were excited to welcome Senator John Laird and District Director & Senior Policy Advisor Kara Woodruff to check out progress on our new facility last week! PWC Executive Director Kristin and Board Member & New Facility Lead Kathleen showed them around and shared a look at how far the project has come. Senator Laird helped secure $166,000 in state funding to support this project, and we’re so grateful for his support.

We’re in the final weeks of construction on the Kim and Derrel Ridenour Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on Buckley Road in San Luis Obispo! This new facility represents a huge community effort, made possible by the generosity, hard work, and support of so many individuals, businesses, and community partners who believe in the future of local wildlife care.

We can’t wait to share more updates soon as we prepare to open our doors and begin this exciting new chapter for Pacific Wildlife Care!

Thank you, Senator Laird and Kara, for being part of this effort and supporting PWC and local wildlife 💙

10/29/2026

Did you know California has an official State Bat? Meet the pallid bat!

Weighing less than 25 grams, about the weight of 5 nickels, pallid bats have a wingspan of 16 inches. During the day, pallid bats roost in cracks, like rocky crevices, tree bark ,or roof tiles. At night, pallid bats forage for insects, often catching prey from the ground or on low vegetation. Pallid bats are one of the few bat species known to primarily forage on the ground. Although they use echolocation to navigate, they also use their giant ears to listen for prey. Where they occur together, pallid bats even eat Arizona bark scorpions, the most venomous scorpions in North America (their stings can be fatal to humans)! Because they rely on hearing, a 2015 study showed that anthropogenic noise pollution, like traffic noise, is making it much harder for pallid bats to find their prey.

Pallid bats can be found from western Canada through the west and central U.S., down to Baja, Central Mexico, and Cuba. We have them here in SLO County! They especially like open grasslands, woodlands, and mixed conifer forests. Pallid bats mate in the late fall/early winter, hibernate through the winter, and pups are born in late spring through summer. Females generally give birth to one or two pups and care for them for about two months until they can fly on their own.

Help your local bats:
✅ Do not disturb bats
✅ Keep cats indoors
✅ Skip the pesticides
✅ Learn about the wonders of bats (and their many misconceptions!)
✅ Promote the conservation of natural bat habitats

Keep your eyes out at night for these flying friends and thank them for controlling insect populations! If you find an injured or orphaned bat (or need advice with a bat-related issue), do not handle the bat and give our hotline a call (805) 543-WILD!

10/27/2026

October is bat appreciation month and WE APPRECIATE OUR BATS! Did you know California’s Central Coast is home to 19 species of bats, including 7 species of special concern?

All bats on the Central Coast are insectivorous, eating mosquitoes, moths, beetles, crickets, spiders, and more! Bats can consume their body weight in insects every night. As nature’s pest controllers, bats help protect our crops from pests and prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Bats in other places eat fruit, pollen, fish, and birds (and blood, but we don’t have any vampire bat species in the U.S.). Bats are well-known for their echolocation skills to navigate and forage in the dark, emitting high-frequency sounds and listening to the echoes that bounce back. Bats are not blind! They have sensitive eyesight tuned to low-light conditions.

Bats are the only truly flying mammals – and some can fly really fast! A 2016 study found Mexican free-tailed bats (which we see here in SLO County) flew over 100 mph, making them the fastest mammals on earth! When it gets cold in the winter, some bat species hibernate and other bat species migrate to warmer areas. Bats usually give birth to one or two pups and, like other mammals, the pups are nursed by mom. Like cats, bats spend a lot of time grooming. Bats can have surprisingly long lives, some species have been documented to live more than 30 years in the wild!

You can look for bats from dusk to dawn, especially where insects are abundant. If you’re lucky, you may spot the western mastiff bat, North America’s largest bat with a wingspan of 22 inches! If you find an injured or orphaned bat, or need advice with a bat-related issue, do not handle the bat and give our hotline a call (805) 543-WILD!

Here’s what you can do to help your local bats:
✅ Do not disturb bats
✅ Keep cats indoors
✅ Skip the pesticides
✅ Learn about the wonders of bats
✅ Promote the conservation of natural bat habitats

10/24/2026

✨ RT Appreciation Week: A Special Spotlight on Marie! ✨

Some wildlife emergencies call for extra hands, and we’re incredibly grateful to have had Marie back at Pacific Wildlife Care helping with this year’s Common Murre influx!

Marie has been supporting PWC during major seabird response efforts since 2015, including that year’s Common Murre influx. With more than 25 years of wildlife rehabilitation experience, she specializes in aquatic bird care and oiled wildlife response, bringing valuable expertise from wildlife emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.

She’s also a co-founder of Bird Ally X and co-author of An Introduction to Aquatic Bird Rehabilitation. Since 2018, she has co-managed the Bird Ally X Avian Botulism Project at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge, where thousands of birds have received care.

Marie is a longtime advocate for science-based, compassionate rehabilitation, with a special focus on understanding and reducing stress in wildlife patients. Her knowledge and experience are a tremendous resource for our team as we care for the many murres arriving at our clinic.

Thank you, Marie, for supporting these seabirds and for sharing your expertise with our team when it matters so much! 💛🌊

10/23/2026

✨ RT Appreciation Week: meet our part-time staff! ✨

Wildlife rehabilitation takes a team, and especially during this year’s very busy summer months and recent murre influx, we’ve been especially grateful for the additional hands stepping in to help care for the many animals arriving at PWC.

Virginia has been part of PWC since 2003, back before we had our Morro Bay facility, when her home bathtub doubled as a seabird rehab space for injured loons, grebes, and pelicans! Today, Virginia helps fill in as a part-time Rehab Tech and is part of our Education Team. Outside of PWC, Virginia co-owns Central Coast Outdoors and you can find her guiding kayak trips in Morro Bay.

Melinda began rehabilitating wildlife with PWC in the late 1980s, after a gray fox kit sparked a lifelong passion. Back then, wildlife patients came home with her, and her whole family got involved, whether they planned to or not! After nearly four decades (and two retirements!), Melinda is still finding joy in wildlife rehabilitation. She’s our resident bat expert, a member of our Education Team, and excited to help PWC transition to our new facility. Outside of PWC, she co-owns the food truck Plant Ivy with her daughter, Ivy.

Alex first joined PWC as a volunteer before gaining additional wildlife and animal care experience at the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, LA Zoo, and Disneyland. After serving as our Baby Bird Program Technician last season, she returned as a Seasonal Rehab Tech this summer and has stayed on to help during the murre influx.

Lydia joined PWC as a volunteer in late 2025 and interned with our team this summer before continuing as a Rehab Tech. She graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in environmental management and discovered her passion for animal care while working at an animal sanctuary. Now taking prerequisites for veterinary school, Lydia is excited to keep building her skills in wildlife medicine and helping local wildlife return to the wild!

Thank you Virginia, Melinda, Alex, and Lydia – your time, expertise, and dedication make a difference for the animals in our care! 💛

10/22/2026

✨ RT Appreciation Week: Meet Kathy! ✨

Kathy has been part of Pacific Wildlife Care since 1999! From the early days of home-based rehabilitation to serving on our Board of Directors and leading our education programs, Kathy has worn many PWC hats, each one reflecting her deep commitment to wildlife!

As a Rehab Tech since our Morro Bay facility opened in 2007, Kathy brings decades of knowledge and care to every patient. “I have learned so much throughout the years, and continue to learn and grow due to the skills of our veterinarian, Dr. Shannon Riggs.” Kathy specializes in caring for small mammals like western gray squirrels, woodrats, and her favorite, the Virginia opossum.

As our longtime Education Coordinator, she also inspires people to live in harmony with the wild world around them. She loves seeing those “aha!” moments that spark a lasting connection between people and wildlife.

“Being a part of PWC is a way that I feel I can do my small part to help mitigate the damage to our wild neighbors that is often caused by humans. It has also given me the opportunity to make valuable friendships with others that share a common bond.”

Thank you, Kathy, for 25+ years of compassion and dedication to wildlife and people alike!

🩺 It’s Rehabilitation Technician Appreciation Week, and we’re celebrating our incredible RTs! From medical exams and treatment plans to volunteer supervision and food prep, they do it all to keep our clinic running smoothly 💛

10/21/2026

✨ RT Appreciation Week: Meet Danielle! ✨

Danielle joined PWC as an intern in 2025 with a background in marine science from Cal Poly, and was excited to learn more about terrestrial wildlife. When her summer internship ended, Danielle continued volunteering because, as she put it, “I didn’t want to leave!” She loved being surrounded by knowledgeable, passionate people and having so many opportunities to learn. In spring 2026, Danielle joined our team as a full-time Rehab Tech!

Danielle has always been passionate about protecting our oceans and marine environments. She’s loved being able to witness how closely connected marine and terrestrial ecosystems are while at PWC. She’s also found it fascinating to see firsthand how human activities affect wildlife and the environment.

Now, Danielle is continuing to grow her skills in wildlife medicine and conservation. As she shared, “I’m so grateful to continue to learn here alongside our veterinarian and fellow RTs.”

Thank you, Danielle, for bringing your curiosity and passion for conservation to our patients and team!

🩺 It’s Rehabilitation Technician Appreciation Week, and we’re celebrating our incredible RTs! From medical exams and treatment plans to volunteer supervision and food prep, they do it all to keep our clinic running smoothly 💛

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

Website

https://www.pacificwildlifecare.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pacific Wildlife Care posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.