Kinkajou: Chiquita’s Story
To the surprise of an animal shelter’s staff, a man walked in with welders gloves holding an unusual animal he claimed to have found in a water tower. It turned out to be a kinkajou – a tree-dwelling relative of the raccoon from Latin America. Ordinarily, animal shelter staff are not trained to care for exotic animals and therefore a facility was needed that could provide her with the proper care. Wildlife Learning Center has given her a home for life where she co-habitates with our sloths.
Eagle: Denali’s Story
Denali was found in North Carolina with an injured wing. She was taken to a rehabilitation center and was deemed non-released because of an arthritic wing. She spent over a year in a rehabilitation center, and now has a life-long home at Wildlife Learning Center.
Squirrel Monkey: Dr. Peeper’s Story
Dr. Peepers was born at a Florida Zoo but was abandoned by his mother during hurricane Katrina. Because the zoo staff was overwhelmed with facility repairs and animal care, they did not feel they had the time to give the necessary around the clock care to the tiny, orphaned squirrel monkey. WLC’s staff of caring biologists were more than willing to give him the constant care he required. Baby squirrel monkeys stay on their mother’s back, and Dr Peepers needed that same attention from his new human parents. To help him feel secure, Dr. Peeper stayed on a stuffed bear and fed from a bottle throughout the day.
Squirrel Monkey: Bella’s Story
Far too often people make the mistake of thinking a monkey can make a good pet. This was the case with Bella. A man kept Bella as a pet, confined to a small birdcage. Squirrel monkeys are highly intelligent and social animals that require the company of other monkeys and a stimulating environment. When this man was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he needed to find another home for his pet. Bella was moved to Wildlife Learning Center, where she enjoys the companionship of Dr. Peepers and Eddie in a large, enriching enclosure with trees and other climbing structures to play on.
Squirrel Monkey: Eddie’s Story
Eddie was born in an ophthalmology laboratory where he was destined to be a research specimen. Eddie’s mother abandoned him and lab personnel were not interested in the work required to raise a baby monkey. Because he was so young, he was not useful for research and the lab looked to place the baby monkey in another facility. The decision was made to send him to WLC, where he now enjoys an outdoor enclosure and the companionship of Dr. Peepers and Bella in a large environment with trees and other climbing structures to play on.
Scarlet Macaw: Catcher’s Story
Catcher came to WLC when her owners moved to Colorado. Because macaws originate from the warm rainforests of Latin America, they were concerned about Catcher’s well being during the cold Colorado winters. Catcher immediately bonded with Jake and the two have been inseparable since they first met.
American Alligator: Fluffy’s Story
It’s terribly unfortunate that some people make the mistake of illegally acquiring a dangerous wild animal as a pet. Fluffy was kept in someone’s bathtub until the novelty of owning an alligator wore off and he relinquished his pet to WLC.
Harlequin Macaw: Jake’s Story
Jake had a loving home for 19 years until his human parents had a baby. Fearing Jake’s potential to deliver a serious bite, they made the decision to find another home for their beloved bird. Jake moved to the Wildlife Learning Center and quickly bonded to staff members. Soon after Jake’s arrival, Catcher, a scarlet macaw, came to WLC where she bonded almost immediately to Jake. They have been an inseparable couple ever since and provide each other with constant companionship and enrichment.
Blue And Gold Macaw: Merlin’s Story
As with many macaws, Merlin turned aggressive towards his previous owner, who decided she could no longer safely care for him. People are attracted to macaws because of their stunning colors and ability to talk. Even though pet owners have good intentions, pet macaws simply don’t receive the kind of attention they require. Merlin is an extremely happy bird at WLC, where he now lives an enriching and stimulating life. He loves to greet visitors and the attention guests give him is an excellent source of enrichment.
Reticulated Python: Daisy Mae’s Story
Daisy Mae was kept as a pet, roaming freely in a young man’s apartment. Reticulated pythons are considered the longest species of snake in the world, easily reaching length over 20 feet. These pythons have a reputation for being aggressive and because of their large size, are extremely dangerous. When Daisy Mae first arrived at WLC, she was severely underfed. Once she received an appropriate diet, she started growing at a rapid rate. Daisy Mae is now 15 feet long and still growing!
Sugar Gliders
Sugar gliders are illegal to own as pets in California. Unfortunately, people are enamored with these “pocket pets” and illegally acquire them. Regardless of their small size and cute appearance, sugar gliders do not make good pets. These small marsupials have a pungent odor, and it is guaranteed that they will urinate and defecate when they are held. Furthermore, if sugar gliders were to escape into the wild, these Australian natives could disrupt California wildlife. Our three sugar gliders were surrendered to a sugar glider rescue facility. They were transferred to Wildlife Learning Center where they now receive the proper care they deserve.
Red-Tailed Hawk: Willow’s Story
Willow was hit by a car and sustained a severely broken wing that was beyond repair. Amputation was her veterinarian’s only option. Because Willow is unable to fly and hunt, she cannot survive in the wild. Willow was transferred to Wildlife Learning Center, where she will have a home for life. Willow is doing remarkably well despite her injury. She can easily hop from the ground to any one of her favorite perches.
Gray Fox: Kina’s Story
Kina was found orphaned in the Santa Monica Mountains and sent to a wildlife rehabilitator to be raised with the goal of releasing her back into the wild. When Kina was found she was still too young to eat on her own and should have been nursing from her mother. She was then fed from a bottle, and even though it was unintended, Kina imprinted on humans and lacked the skills to survive in the wild. Even though Kina does not live in the wild, her trust of humans has allowed her to be an excellent education animal who loves being around people and going to schools to teach children about California native wildlife.
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are illegal to keep as pets in California. Unfortunately, people still acquire hedgehogs for pets. The Wildlife Learning Center has taken in a number of hedgehogs over the years. Sometimes they are confiscated by California Department of Fish and Game and placed at the Wildlife Learning Center. Other times, owners will come to the Wildlife Learning Center and relinquish their pet hedgehog after the novelty of owning an unusual pet wears off.
Chinchillas
Chinchillas are sometimes successfully kept as pets, but unfortunately, they are often bought by impulsive owners who do not research the care they need. Chinchillas are extremely messy and produce a lot of waste, including spraying their urine to mark their territory. They are also quite delicate and easily parish if their ambient temperature gets over 83 degrees Fahrenheit. All of the chinchillas at Wildlife Learning Center to came to us from owners who no longer wanted them.
Please consider contributing to the care of these deserving animals. Some of these animals were confiscated from people who kept them as illegal pets; some owners relinquish a pet because they no longer can or want to care for their animal; and some are rehabilitated animals that are determined to be non-releasable, meaning they cannot survive in the wild. For these animals, Wildlife Learning Center becomes their permanent home, where they receive life-long care.
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