WILDLIFE CARE ASSOCIATION
GIVING WILDLIFE A SECOND CHANCE
Destruction of habitat, use of poisons, domestic animal attacks, and so much more have caused an enormous decline in wildlife worldwide. Each year it continues to get worse. At Wildlife Care Association (WCA), we are committed to helping as many sick, orphaned, and/or injured wild animals as possible. Our number one goal is to rehabilitate then release those wild victims back into the wild.
Did you know that members of the public and animal control agencies brought 9,189 sick, orphaned, and/or injured wild animals to WCA in 2025? Or that the animal intake numbers have increased at least 20% year-over-year for the past three years?
Although habitat destruction continues to be on an upward trend, Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, and many other adjoining counties still have plenty of green and aquatic spaces to sustain healthy wildlife populations. We feel it is our duty to help maintain the quality of life for humans as well as wild animals; maintaining a healthy local ecosystem while helping sustain wild populations by returning animals back into the wild where they belong.
“Thank you for the amazing & wonderful work you do.”
K.D., Sacramento area
Since 1975, WCA has been entrusted to care for wild animals in-need, but it has not been an easy plight. As a grassroots organization, the early days consisted of a few volunteers, most of which were home rehabilitators, taking care of animals at their individual homes. In the early years, some of the prominent naturalists in the Sacramento area such as M.B. Goodier, Effie Yeaw, and William B. Pond were very active and worked hard to establish Wildlife Care Association as an important community service organization. We have now grown to be the second largest wildlife rehabilitation center in the state of California. As animal numbers increased, the need to centralize and hire staff became a necessity and imminent. For the past 50+ years, WCA has helped well over 300,000 animals. In 2025, WCA serviced animals brought to us from 124 different zip codes in northern California.
“Thankful for this organization in our community!”
Pamela V., Sacramento
URGENT REQUEST! The large increase in the number of animals obviously caused a substantial increase in our annual budget. More animals mean more food, more medication, more caging, more supplies, and more staff to care for the wildlife brought to us, and that’s not even taking inflation into account. Our budget has now surpassed $600,000 with no way of knowing for certain what 2026 will bring; we can only analyze the trends and try to predict our budgetary needs. URGENT REQUEST! Only 14% of our annual operating expenses were funded with government funding. We were just informed that we have been cut from the budget and will no longer be receiving this funding. This leaves an $80,000+ budget shortfall. This means ALL of our expenses will have to be paid for with generous donations from the public and a few small grants. It is our primary goal to give the best possible care to every wild patient brought to WCA.
“Thank you for all you do for wildlife.”
Shawn B., Fair Oaks
Wildlife Care Association, Inc. is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of local wildlife. WCA is committed to educating and instructing the community in the respect, appreciation, and care of local wildlife. WCA is pledged to the management and preservation of wildlife habitat.
A few stats from 2025:
WCA took in 113 species of birds for a total of 5615 birds.
- 5 species of ducks for a total of 863 birds. - 4 species of owls for a total of 158 birds.
- 7 species of corvids for a total of 615 birds. - 6 species of herons & egrets for a total of 446 birds.
- 24 species of songbirds for a total of 3205 birds. - 9 species of other raptors for a total of 186 birds.
WCA took in 29 species of mammals for a total of 3503 animals.
- Most common species was the Virginia Opossum for a total of 1701 marsupials.
- 4 species of squirrels for a total of 1189 animals. - 101 Northern Raccoons
WCA took in 16 species of reptiles totaling 71 animals.
With our current intake numbers in 2026 so far, we are on track to care for over 10,000 patients by year-end.
Your participation in Big Day of Giving will help ensure WCA can complete our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release as many wild victims brought to us as possible.
Please consider a donation in the following amounts:
$1,000 - paves the way to feeding hundreds of mammal infants for up to four months by aiding in the purchase of species-specific, high grade animal formula.
$500 - secures a portable, brooder incubator for thousands of nestlings and small mammals providing necessary, critical heat support.
$250 - provides a week's worth of fresh food to the growing, young animals in care such as apples, yogurt, spring mix, melons, eggs, raw nuts, avocados, bananas, grapes and raw goat's milk.
$150 - pays for one 100ml bottle of a life-saving antibiotic (Enrofloxacin) which treats common respiratory and bacterial infections in the animals that arrive with open wounds, saving hundreds of animals.
$100 - supplies 600 syringes used to feed and medicate hundreds of nestlings for about two weeks.
$100 - provides twenty specialized, natural feeding nipples for our formula-fed baby mammals in care.
$50 - pays for pays for six heat-adjustable, waterproof, electric heating pads utilized for our newborn/critical animals.
$50 - provides two 40lb bags of gamebird chow to feed our baby waterfowl for one month.
At Wildlife Care Association, we believe that a healthy environment and support for a thriving, wildlife population belongs to everyone. We are committed to building a community where staff, volunteers, and the public -- regardless of background, identity, or experience -- feel valued, respected, and empowered to make a difference. We believe in building a truly inclusive and equitable organization where everyone is welcomed and encouraged to participate fully in our mission. Our mission to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife and to care for our environment relies on our ability to support the diverse perspectives of our team and the community we serve. Our staff, Board and volunteers actively work to break down barriers to participation through education and fostering of an inclusive environment. Only through active participation can we ensure that the vital work of protecting our local ecosystems is a shared journey.
View our current participation opportunities.
In-Person Volunteering
Board of Directors Member-at-Large
Zoom and in-person at various meeting places
Organization name
Wildlife Care Association
other names
WCA
1975
Mission Category
Animal Related
Operating Budget
$500,001-$1 million
Organization Need
Funding: Unrestricted, Volunteers
Demographics Served
General population
Local Counties Served
Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
5211 Patrol RdSacramento County, CA, US
Yolo County, CA, US
Placer County, CA, US
San Joaquin County, CA, US