Wildlife Rescue Sonoma County - Summer Quarterly Gathering July 11, 2026

About 35 attendees gathered in the Lions Grove area of Ragle Ranch Park on July 11 to hear our featured speaker, Doris Duncan, Executive Director of Wildlife Rescue Sonoma County. 

Part philosophical discourse on the relationship between humans and non-human animals, and part ABCs of what to do when you find a wounded or orphaned animal, the presentation sparked a robust Q&A session.

“Things don’t usually go well when a human in fear, clashes with an animal in fear,” she said. “We hope to diminish any fear of wildlife and encourage wildlife appreciation through knowledge of native species and how they contribute to our local ecosystem.”

Wildlife Rescue Sonoma County is first and foremost dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. They also emphasize the promotion, understanding, appreciation, protection, and conservation of wildlife through their educational outreach programs and advocacy efforts. They are among a small handful of organizations in California licensed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife under the Large Carnivore Specialty Rehabilitation program to house and care for Mountain Lions and Black Bears.

One of their programs is the BOMP – Barn Owl Maintenance Program. On display at the Gathering was one of the well-designed and constructed Barn Owl boxes that are available for purchase from Wildlife Rescue. Barn Owls are beautiful raptors that naturally aid in the control of rodents, reducing or eliminating the need for rodenticides, and advancing the aspiration of living in partnership with wildlife.

Wildlife Rescue also offers tours of their facilities. The tours focus on native wildlife species and their natural instincts including diet, behavior and habitat. Visitors will meet animal “education ambassadors,” which are all native wildlife that are non-releasable to the wild. Species include: Swainson's Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Coyote, Northern Raccoon, Mountain Lion, Bobcat, and Striped Skunk. There is also a predator prevention educational barnyard where you can meet goats, chickens, and cats, and learn about the structures that keep them safe from predators. 

Thank you Doris and all at Wildlife Rescue, and thank you to all who attended our Summer gathering. See you in the fall for Quarterly Gathering on October 24. Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)3 California nonprofit organization. Please consider donating to the rescued animal's care here.

Woody Hastings
Board Member

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