Oiled Wildlife Care Network

Oiled Wildlife Care Network
Name	Oiled Wildlife Care Network
Formation	1991
Founder	California Department of Fish and Wildlife; The Marine Mammal Center
Type	Consortium
Headquarters	Santa Cruz, California
Region served	California
Parent organization	University of California, Davis

Oiled Wildlife Care Network

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network is a California-based consortium established to coordinate wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and research following oil spills and other contamination incidents affecting marine mammals, seabirds, and other wildlife along the Pacific Coast of the United States. It integrates expertise from veterinary medicine, wildlife biology, and environmental law to provide rapid-response capacity across coastal and inland regions, linking agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and academic partners like University of California, Davis and The Marine Mammal Center. The network operates under statutory frameworks including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and collaborates with federal, state, and nongovernmental organizations during incidents like the Cosco Busan oil spill and other notable spill responses.

History and formation

Established in 1991 after increased awareness generated by events such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill and advocacy from agencies including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and International Bird Rescue Research Center, the consortium was formed to remedy fragmented wildlife response efforts in California. Founding partners included University of California, Davis, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, The Marine Mammal Center, and regional rehabilitation groups that had responded to incidents like the SS Jacob Luckenbach spill and the 1990s Santa Barbara oil spill. Early efforts emphasized building statewide capacity comparable to programs used in Prince William Sound and coordinated with legal frameworks such as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and international agreements like the Marine Mammal Protection Act to ensure readiness and liability clarity.

Mission and organization

The mission links wildlife rescue, veterinary care, and scientific research to protect affected species such as California brown pelican, common murre, western gull, and Harbor seal following contamination events. Organizationally it is administered through University of California, Davis with operational nodes at facilities like The Marine Mammal Center and partnerships with wildlife centers across San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey Bay, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County. Governance includes advisory roles for stakeholders such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, California Natural Resources Agency, and regional NGOs like International Bird Rescue and Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network to coordinate legal, logistical, and scientific responses.

Response operations and protocols

Response operations use incident command systems similar to those in Federal Emergency Management Agency protocols and integrate with Unified Command (incident management) structures during spills like the Cosco Busan oil spill and other maritime incidents. Protocols cover hotline activation, field capture techniques used for sea duck and cormorant species, triage and stabilization under veterinary oversight from institutions like California Veterinary Medical Association affiliates, and transport to designated rehabilitation centers complying with guidelines from National Marine Fisheries Service and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The network deploys trained responders, equipment caches, and mobile triage units, coordinating with partners such as Coast Guard District 11, regional ports including Port of Oakland, and spill-response contractors when necessary.

Rehabilitation facilities and techniques

Rehabilitation facilities range from small local centers to large-scale facilities at University of California, Davis and The Marine Mammal Center, equipped for cleaning, fluid therapy, thermoregulation, and behavioral conditioning prior to release. Techniques include approved cleaning agents and protocols refined after incidents like the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Cosco Busan oil spill, specialized enclosures for pelagic species such as brown pelican and common murre, and veterinary interventions for hypothermia and ingestion-related toxicosis. Facilities collaborate with academic laboratories at institutions including Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Stanford University for diagnostic imaging, pathology, and longitudinal post-release monitoring using methods developed by SeaWorld researchers and independent marine ecology groups.

Research, training, and outreach

The network conducts applied research on oiled wildlife physiology, toxicology, and rehabilitation outcomes with partners like University of California, Davis, California Academy of Sciences, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Training programs for responders draw on curricula from National Veterinary Response Team initiatives, workshops with International Bird Rescue, and exercises that simulate incidents at locations such as San Francisco International Airport coastal sites and Channel Islands National Park. Outreach includes public education campaigns coordinating with local governments like City of Los Angeles, conservation NGOs such as Audubon Society chapters, and volunteer networks built with support from institutions like Stanford School of Medicine and regional community colleges.

Funding and partnerships

Funding is a mix of state appropriations, contingency funding under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 liability framework, grants from federal agencies including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and philanthropic support from foundations such as Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Partnerships extend to international bodies like the International Bird Rescue network, corporate responders engaged in the oil spill response industry, and legal partners ensuring compliance with statutes such as the Clean Water Act during incident response. Collaborative memoranda of understanding exist with entities including California Department of Parks and Recreation, regional zoos, and academic centers to sustain readiness and expand scientific capacity.

Category:Wildlife rehabilitation organizations in the United States