OOOOPS!
Ruth Hayward
Project Wildlife Board Member

Our December 4 issue of Back to Nature had an article, "Why We Need to Grow," describing the population increase expected in San Diego County by the year 2020. We described how growth puts pressure on our native wildlife, ever increasing the need for Project Wildlife's assistance and the necessity for expanded care facilities. Unfortunately, we inserted the wrong figure with the text, which led to confusion. But, this error allows us to examine the topic in greater detail.

The regional planning group, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), projects San Diego County's population to be approximately 3,853,000 in the year 2020. This is an increase of 1,000,000 individuals from the year 2000. The increase is broken down as 60% from births, 40% from migration. SANDAG has divided the county into seven regions, (North County West, North County East, North City, Central, South Suburban, East Suburban and East County), along geographical and political boundaries.

Examining population projections can be discouraging, but Project Wildlife must do this to plan, and to accomplish our mission of protecting and aiding the region's wildlife. The North County West and East, plus the northern part the North City regions are predicted to add nearly 400,000 new residents by 2020. This growth will squeeze existing wildlife populations into ever decreasing habitat. These regions cover many square miles. They contain the highest population densities with the greatest driving distances from our existing care facility in San Diego

Twelve percent of our annual intake of 11,000 animals comes from the North County region. We believe the low number is because of the driving distance to Custer Street. North County is where Project Wildlife plans to build our second care facility. We estimate 5,000 wild creatures will be brought to this facility yearly. We are looking for a partnership agreement with another animal facility in North County; similar to the one we have with the San Diego Humane Society. Partnering with a domestic animal agency is beneficial to both and provides the public a well-known location to bring animals in distress. In the interim, we will equip a mobile care unit that will visit North County daily. We will accept and pickup orphaned and injured wildlife from the public, and local agencies, and return them to Custer Street at day's end. Education will be another goal, with the hope of stemming the tide of animal abuse occurring in the area.

To accomplish our mission of caring for wildlife and providing wildlife education, Project Wildlife must grow and establish a presence throughout the county. We are planning this growth in a prudent manner, ever aware of budget constraints. We need your moral support and financial aid to reach our goals.

Ways to Give:
Endowment Program
United Way Donations
Flowers for Wildlife
Protectors of Wildlife

Programs:
Education Department and Programs