Clover

Clover is a Domestic Rabbit – don’t let his color fool you. However, he looked so much like a wild rabbit when he came into the Triage Center in early 2009 that we had to look at the structure of his back legs to know for sure. Since he was very friendly and curious from the beginning and due to his similarity to our native Desert Cottontails, we readily took Clover in to help us with our programs. He helps to represent all of his wild cousins that would be terrified of children, TV cameras, and other animals Clover might see at Project Wildlife events.

Dobby

Dobby, a Big Brown Bat, became part of Project Wildlife’s Ambassador program in 2008 along with the bat rescue organization he represented. Dobby was rescued in 2002 as a pup by some very well-meaning members of the public, but did not receive proper nutrition. Since he didn’t get enough calcium during this critical growth period, he developed metabolic bone disease, which means he has brittle bones that don’t allow him to fly. He is also missing most of his teeth, so he is hand-fed blended insects every day; he seems to enjoy this feeding so much that he will crawl right onto the hand of his feeder and try get the syringe-feeder as far as possible in his mouth!

Druk

Druk is a female Rosy Boa who came to Project Wildlife in early 2011. She was captive bred for the pet trade, but due to a spinal column deformity she was considered non-sellable and so she came to Project Wildlife instead. Druk’s deformity may hinder her ability to unhinge her jaw like a normal snake (she’s currently too young to eat on her own and is force-fed by her caregiver). Druk is being carefully monitored by a veterinarian to assess any health issues that may arise as a result. The Rosy Boa is native to Southern California and is very easy to spot in the wild due to its bright coloration. While most Rosy Boas are “rosy-colored,” Druk has a more rare grey and black striped coloration.

Gonzo

Gonzo is a Western Screech-Owl who came to Project Wildlife in 2000 with an injured right wing and left eye after being hit by a car. Unfortunately Gonzo’s injuries were severe enough that he wasn’t able to be released, however, his temperament was such that he was well-suited to becoming an Animal Ambassador. At the time he was brought in, Gonzo was estimated to be about five-years-old, which makes him one of the oldest Western Screech-Owls in captivity at his current age of 16. In addition to going out on education programs, Gonzo loves sitting at the front of his cage listening to the sounds of the night. Gonzo’s other favorite activity is bathing, which he does even in chilly weather!

Guinevere

Guinevere, the Merlin Falcon, joined us in 2005 as an adult with a wing injury that removed her ability to fly properly. After kestrels, Merlins are the smallest of the falcons in North America and are known for their speed and agility in flight. Merlins were also the species of falcon used by the ladies of the court in medival Europe. They are rare to see in a captive education program in Southern California because they are not present here year-round, but only migrate through the area as adult birds. Guinevere is a talkative bird who will often announce herself on programs with a Merlin’s typical territorial calls.

Kassie

Kassie, an American Kestrel, came to Project Wildlife in 2000 as a young bird with a broken shoulder. The injury healed but still prevented her from being able to fly very far. However, her fearless personality has made her a superstar Ambassador; she has attended some of the largest local events without even batting an eye. Kassie’s diet mostly consists of small mice, but she also enjoys insects.

KwaPai

KwaPai is a Red-shouldered Hawk who came to Project Wildlife as a hatchling in 2004. He was found on the ground underneath a nest, and it was soon discovered that he was blind in his right eye. With poor depth perception and the inability to see danger from one side, KwaPai was unable to be released into the wild. KwaPai’s vocalizations and regal bearing inspired his name, which means “chief” in a dialect of the Kumeyaay people. He actually has a very calm personality and loves the showers he gets in his enclosure on hot days, holding out his wings to get soaking wet underneath.

Loma

is a Lilac-crowned Amazon Parrot. Although these are not native to San Diego, there are some feral colonies in the County formed by pet birds who either became lost or were deliberately released. Project Wildlife doesn’t usually receive in animal species that are considered pets. However, Loma was brought in as a nestling who was found underneath a nest in the wild Point Loma colony in 2008. Since she is not a native animal, she could not be released, however, she was young enough to join our Education program. Loma is very smart and learns new things every day. She also enjoys listening to music, often “singing” along!

Machado

Machado is a perfectly healthy California Ground Squirrel, which would normally mean that he would have released back into the wild. However, Machado was raised by someone who decided to make him their pet. Since he was raised in someone’s home, he is not afraid of people, dogs, cats, cars, or anything that would get him into trouble if he lived in the wild. As it is illegal in California for the public to keep wildlife as a pet, Machado was confiscated and turned over to Project Wildlife. Since he’s habituated to people, he can never be released, but he can represent squirrels and other wild animals in our Education programs. Machado’s favorite treats are seeds and nuts and, just like any squirrel, he will sometimes stash them away for later.

Margarita

Margarita, an American Crow, came to Project Wildlife in 2002 after spending two years at the Chula Vista Nature Center where she came in as a healthy, orphaned nestling. Unfortunately she had imprinted on her rehabilitator and therefore wasn’t able to be released. She now enjoys bathing in hot weather and then drying off in front of her fan. Curious and intelligent, Margarita also loves to complete bird puzzles in order to get her favorite treats, pistachios and meal worms. Margarita is fully flighted and enjoys chasing away ‘intruder’ crows from her enclosure by ringing a cowbell.

Moki

Moki (Hawaiian for “Rascal”) is a Common Raven brought to Project Wildlife in 2000 as a hatchling with a broken wing. His injury did not heal completely enough for him to be able to survive on his own in the wild. As a result, we brought him into our Education program and habituated him to humans and human behavior. Like all ravens, Moki is excellent at imitating sounds that he hears regularly, including the voice of his regular caregiver.

Ollie

Ollie, a Northern Raccoon, is a star among raccoons! He was brought to Project Wildlife in 2006 after being run over by a car and sustaining a head injury. As a result, Ollie has an extraordinarily “laid back” personality for a raccoon which allows him to be very comfortable around strangers. Although he does not always act like a normal raccoon, he is curious and playful. Most recently one of his favorite behaviors has been to hide food in the pockets of old jeans hung in his enclosure. Ollie, like all raccoons, is an opportunistic omnivore and eats a variety of vegetables, fruits, cat food, rodents, and insects.

Ortha

Ortha, a Virginia Opossum, is a healthy, normal animal that has become far too habituated to humans. She joined Project Wildlife in 2010, still young and healthy but already unafraid of human activity and pets due to being raised by a member of the public. This would almost certainly mean death in the wild. However, it also means she doesn’t mind a classroom of kids staring right at her. Her typical diet includes vegetables, cat food, and mice, but she is especially fond of grapes and mushrooms!

Pepper

Pepper, an Acorn Woodpecker arrived as a young bird to the Project Wildlife Triage Center in 2009. Due to her poor health and an unfortunate series of events, she lost the upper part of her beak, breaking it off so close to her face that it will not re-grow. Pepper needs to be on a modified diet and cannot be released into the wild. Despite having half a beak, she still happily pecks at wood and forages in her enclosure for her favorite acorns, cleverly hidden by her caregiver to keep her active and challenged.

Sierra

RETIRED - Sierra is a California Ground Squirrel who came to us in November 2007. She was found on a local high school campus emaciated and following the edges of buildings when she was about eight-months-old. It was determined that Sierra is blind in at least one eye, which may have been caused by a head injury, especially since she tends to be slower and more lethargic than a healthy adult California Ground Squirrel. Or, her blindness could also have been caused by a birth defect as one of Sierra's eyes is distinctly smaller than the other. Sierra has retired from Animal Ambassador service and currently lives in Poway with her caregiver where she enjoys making hay nests, eating fresh flowers and of course, filling her cheeks with as many nuts as she can carry!

Ugs

Ugs (Uguku – Cherokee for “Story Teller”) is a Barn Owl who was found on the ground as a hatchling in May 2004. His left wing was broken in three places, and he also had left leg and foot damage. These injuries may have been caused by a traumatic fall or could be the result of a type of brittle bone disease. Regardless, though he survived his injuries, his condition will not allow him to survive effectively in the wild. At present Ugs is currently only available for smaller, indoor programs.