Protecting Our Native Wildlife Together

For more than two decades, I’ve dedicated my life to caring for animals—23 years in the zoo industry, working behind the scenes to ensure wildlife are protected, respected, and understood. That work shaped who I am. But stepping into my new role as Executive Director of Gold Country Wildlife Rescue feels like coming home in an entirely new way.

This is more than a career shift—it’s a calling.

For the first time, I have the privilege of leading a mission-driven organization rooted in something deeply personal to me: giving injured, orphaned, and displaced wild animals a second chance at life—and more often than not, returning them to the wild where they belong.

Every day here, I’m reminded why this work matters. A tiny orphaned squirrel learning to climb again. A hawk regaining strength after injury. A fawn reunited with its natural instincts. These moments are quiet victories, but they represent something much bigger—hope, resilience, and the power of community coming together to protect the wildlife that makes California so extraordinary.

Gold Country Wildlife Rescue exists because our wild neighbors need us. As human development expands, wildlife face increasing challenges—loss of habitat, human-wildlife conflict, and environmental pressures that they cannot navigate alone. That’s where we step in: to rescue, rehabilitate, and release.

But we can’t do it without you.

This campaign is about more than raising funds—it’s about building a community of people who care deeply about the place we call home and the animals we share it with. It’s about education, compassion, and stewardship. It’s about ensuring that future generations will still be able to see these incredible native species thriving in the wild.

Personally, this work is a dream come true. After years in structured zoological settings, I now get to be part of something that directly impacts the wild ecosystems around us. I get to see animals not just cared for—but set free. And I get to help create meaningful change in the very community I live in.

I’m incredibly excited for what lies ahead—for expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and inspiring more people to connect with and protect California’s wildlife. But none of it happens alone.

Your support makes every rescue possible. Every treatment. Every release back into the wild.

Together, we can give these animals the second chance they deserve—and protect the natural beauty that makes our region so special.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me.