Why?
In the past several years our communities have undergone significant change and challenges: extreme weather events, emergent disease, along with rapid development of natural resources due to an influx of people moving from cities or other areas of our country due to loss of habitable or desirable property.  While we experience these challenges, alongside us are the wild animals that balance insect populations, bring us immense joy and wonder, plant our trees and keep diseases at bay.  We are proud to have been treating injured and orphaned wildlife since 1986, and a leader in our field transitioning from wildlife rehabilitation to systemic change through the practice of conservation medicine.  Since our inception, we have provided care to over 73,000 local wildlife representing 190 different species.  Each animal that comes to us provides a window into the health of their species, habitat, local populations, nesting and migration patterns, and so much more.

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When?
We are in the last phase of our multi-year and multi-million dollar capital campaign.  This ambitious campaign was a necessity, as we could no longer operate and fund ourselves out of a donated ranch house and older outbuildings.  We began with our most immediate need:  indoor and appropriate space for wildlife medical treatment, nature center and immersive environmental education, intern housing and earned income opportunities.  Next up we transitioned our beloved ambassadors to our new campus, planted pollinator and native species, and added food and pollinator gardens.  We have most recently been working to create trails and boardwalks accessible to all, remove the former building from the York Water District property, and install new utilities in preparation for the final phase of the campaign.  We are proud to say, we are finally here and ready to kick off the final phase, and the timing is right as we need to completely vacate the York Water District property by May 2025.  

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What?
This last phase of the campaign will design, permit, and build state-of-the-art wildlife rehabilitation enclosures to replace the 20-30 year old existing enclosures on the former York Water District property, and completely restore our former and leased property back to natural habitat.  These enclosures are the last step that an injured or orphaned wild animal needs in order to return back to the wild.  Just like we need to rebuild muscle, wake up digestive systems, or recover in a safe environment from fractures, head or eye trauma, or other medical issues, wild animals need the same.  Once they have moved through exam, diagnostics, medical treatment and supportive care, hand-feeding, and proper nutrition depending on their reason for admission, they need to go through assessment and care in an outdoor enclosure that mimics their natural environments. 

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By a peregrine falcon flying freely in a 75-foot flight enclosure, our Wildlife Specialists can see if they have stamina, can avoid obstacles, and hunt for themselves in order to survive once released back to the wild.  Or a Virginia opossum mother hit by a car can raise her joeys in a natural environment and we can see that she maintains a fear response to predators and that her head trauma is not impacting motor skills or cognitive function.  Gannets, loons, dovekies and so many other waterbirds and seabirds can dive, preen, avoid pressure sores and more from being in a properly filtrated pool before returning to their ocean or lake.  And turtles, snakes and amphibians which are some of our most threatened and endangered species will have a dedicated space outside of the indoor rooms to recover and return to contribute to their critical populations.