New wildlife care facility opens in the hills above Saratoga
A sprawling, brand-new wildlife rehabilitation facility opened offering help for injured animals in the hills above Saratoga, near untouched forest.
"It's just amazing what we have to work with now," said Nicole Weger, wildlife director of operations.
When she began working as a wildlife vet tech seven years ago, Weger had no idea she would end up in charge of a facility like the new Wildlife Care Center, which was a joint effort of the Peninsula Humane Society, SPCA, and the Larry Ellison Foundation
"You know, if you asked me this before it all started, I would never have guessed," she said. "But I've been in the right place, and it's just been wonderful."
The modern building has floor to ceiling windows to keep the focus on the natural setting outside. But what's so different about the Wildlife Care Center is its size. It sits on 197 acres of untouched forest.
"This whole mountainside is us," said Weger. "And we actually have enclosures going all the way up the mountain. They're very spread out so the animals can be in the woods and finish their recovery.
Next to the hospital is an enclosure for songbirds, farther up the road are walk-in aviaries for doves and pigeons, and behind the trees at the top of the hill is where the raptors will recover.
"We had a beautiful facility before, but we were in the city. They were listening to cars and traffic and people. And so here they can just be out in the wild, she said. "In different areas and different enclosures, there's going to be trees and nature between them. So, these animals get to finish out in the woods."
The objective is to return injured animals to nature, but some need more help than that. So, Dr. Regina Spranger is heading up a captive breeding program for imperiled species like the giant garter snake and the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander.
"And eventually we're hoping we can actually release some of these animals," Dr. Spranger said. "To restart historic populations where there once were species, but there are no longer."
When people bring in injured wildlife, they will drop them off in a small intake building on the lower parking lot. Behind that is an educational walking trail for the public, but the majority of the hospital facility will be for staff only.
"This will be all off-limits to the public just for the safety of the animals," said Lisa Van Buskirk, community engagement V.P. "But we do have docent tours, so if they want a guided tour, then they would sign up with a docent."
The hospital is now open and expects to care for up to 10,000 injured or orphaned animals each year.
"Every day I come here, I'm amazed," Weger said. "It's a dream."
For more information about dropping off an injured animal or booking a tour visit the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA website.
