The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center is a non-profit facility that survives on generous donations. It was established to care for native wildlife and educate the general public about wildlife and its habitat. The non-governmental organization is located along the coast and Pacific flyway, on the Corner of Newland and Pacific Coast Highway at 21900 PCH in Huntington Beach, California, telephone 714 374-5587. It is staffed with licensed volunteer veterinarians, trained wildlife technicians, and volunteers who can care for 400 birds and mammals at a time with an emergency capacity of 1,000.
Additionally, the center is among the only two permitted hummingbird rehabilitation facilities in all of Orange County, CA. The facility’s executive director, Debbie McGuire, shares, “More than 600 hummingbirds come in annually with a release rate higher than the national average. With intensive training and oversight by our species specialists, qualified volunteers provide home care for hummingbirds. Through telephone counseling, we educate the public about trying first to re-nest or reunite fledglings rather than rescuing them when they might not need to be rescued.”
The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center’s history dates back to 1990 when 400,000 gallons of Alaskan crude oil were spilled off the coast of Huntington Beach, harming over 1,200 birds. Only 15% of affected birds survived treatment at a makeshift facility. Consequently, the Alliance for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education and the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy began taking steps to provide a permanent facility capable of responding to wildlife injured in daily encounters with humans and future toxic spills. Eight years later, their efforts paid off when The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center opened on March 31, 1998.
The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center is excited to be celebrating 50 years as a licensed Southern California wildlife rehabilitator at their largest fundraiser of the year. The “Groovin’ with the Gulls Gala” event will take place on Saturday, November 12, 2022, from six to nine in the evening at American Legion, Post 291, 215 15th Street, in beautiful Newport Beach, CA, 92663.
The entire Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center team is excited to present you with a fun-filled evening of live music, food, cocktails, and silent auction opportunities. “All proceeds go towards our efforts for rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned native wildlife,” reveals Debbie.
Moreover, they will feature some of their unique birds that have been rescued, rehabilitated, and successfully released by the facility. “It has been incredible to see these beautiful animals cared for by such a dedicated team of staff, technicians, and volunteers. I have been so inspired that I decided to paint and feature some of these special wildlife species as a part of the FashWand Wildlife Jewels® Collection. I will be revealing sneak peeks from this new collection at our upcoming Gala and will be sharing their stories, art, and fashion designs inspired by them. We will also be sharing the causes of their injuries and what each of us can do to help protect our wildlife neighbors,” Gala Committee Chairperson Azi Sharif stated.
The cost of operation at The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center is approximately $60,000 per month, and they can only stay open through generous donations from the public. They depend on their partnerships with organizations, businesses, and different individuals.
Please contact the Gala Committee Chairperson, Azi Sharif, to support their fundraising endeavors and sponsorship opportunities at wwccgala@gmail.com. Also, feel free to follow this link to get more details on gala tickets and sponsorship.
