LA to seek potential locations for wildlife rehabilitation center

Los Angeles will explore potential locations for a Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center following a vote Wednesday by the City Council.

The motion, which was introduced by Councilman John Lee and Councilwoman Nithya Raman, passed 12-0. It aims to find a space to accommodate the nonprofit L.A. Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation -- known as L.A. Wild - - which rehabilitates animals and releases them back into the wild. The nonprofit also provides the public with educational programs on how wildlife and people can coexist.

The motion notes that Los Angeles Animal Services and Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control had more than 12,000 wildlife intakes from 2019 to 2020, with about 7,000 animals coming from within the city. However, neither agency is equipped to care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, and the majority of them were euthanized, according to the motion.

The proposed center would include a hospital complex with an intake desk, intake exam and treatment room with an X-ray machine, animal care rooms, treatment and surgery room, kitchen for animal food preparation, animal care laundry facility and outdoor wildlife rehabilitation enclosures. There would also be an administration space for the executive director and staff offices, outdoor patio and a volunteer training and education room.

The Department of General Services, the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Los Angeles Zoo will report to the City Council within 60 days on potential locations to fit the requirements. L.A. Wild is seeking a one- or two- acre site zoned appropriately for wildlife rehabilitation with access to water, power and sewage.

"The city's wildlife is an essential portion of the overall environment, and it is critical to protect the wildlife within the city's boundaries, especially in the urban metropolitan areas," states the motion, which was seconded by Councilmen Mitch O'Farrell and Paul Koretz.