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Poppy Festival 2012

Mon, 07 May 2012 23:47:00 GMT

Poppy Festival - April 21 and 22, 2012

One word that comes to mind when asked about this year's Poppy Festival: HOT After you get past that, I think of snow cones, baby pot bellied pigs, french fries, therapy dogs, a Cinereous vulture, kettle corn, and umm...did I mention it was hot?

Every year, the Wildlife Waystation looks forward to attending the Poppy Festival in Lancaster as one of their many attractions. This event is attended by over 60,000 people and has an international market, arts and crafts area, aviation and aerospace displays, food court, car show, carnival, and many stage presentations. Our booth is located in the Adventure Zone which mostly features animals and environmental displays.

On Saturday, the Wildlife Waystation was proud to feature Elmer the white designer skunk, Brutus and Kiki the ferrets, Temujin the golden eagle, and Barney the barn owl. On Sunday it was Baby the talkative amazon parrot, Banana the white and yellow burmese python, Drago the veiled chameleon, and four of our fantastic snakes.

Although we were about an hour away from home, we were thrilled with the number of people who were familiar with the Wildlife Waystation. For those who were unfaimilar, we were happy to tell them all about it! Being a non-profit organization (with no government funding) in hard economic times, it's important that we as an organization spread the news for those who can help in any way possible. We passed out information on cell phone recycling, wish list donation items, membership and animal sponsorship, volunteering, etc. Every donation, whether with time or money, really helps!

Check out our photos from this event and consider joining us next year. It's always a blast!

Moorpark Spring Spectacular

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:48:00 GMT

Moorpark Spring Spectacular - March 31 and April 1, 2012

The Wildlife Waystation loves Moorpark College. Every year we attend their awesome Spring Spectacular event. This event features stage presentations, animal exhibits, animal organization booths, and of course a close-up look at Moorpark Teaching Zoo's incredible animals.

This year, the Wildlife Waystation brought five of their own animals. On Saturday, our first stage presentation featured Rowdy the capuchin monkey. Rowdy, of course, lives up to his name, and entertained the crowd with his antics. He walked around playing with an interesting toy - a plastic bottle filled with raisins! He even stood up and showed the crowd one of his many trained behaviors. He's pretty darn adorable!

For our second presentation on Saturday, we brought out the big guns. That's right - it was Mungar the tiger. Mungar is fully grown and a beautiful boy. At times, he strutted around in front of the crowd looking like the powerful and majestic creature he is. At other times, he wrestled around with a red bouncy ball, looking like an oversized pussycat. He is truely entertaining and one of the sweetest cats you'll ever meet!

On Sunday, it was time for the impressive Birds of Prey. The presentation featured Barney the barn owl, Tumbleweed the great horned owl, and Hatari the golden eagle. Barney was his usual beautiful self. He was half-asleep the whole time, too (yes, owls are nocturnal, and if they feel comfortable enough they'll fall asleep on your glove)! Tumbleweed, on the other hand, was wide awake the whole time. This was one of his first events, so the whole thing was very stimulating for him. He was a very good boy!

Hatari the golden eagle, however, is another story. We love her to death, but she is not a bird you ever want to turn your back on. She has her sweet days and her not-so-sweet days, but you can't ever forget she's a powerful predator. During the presentation she was good. After the presentation, we set her on a perch that looked over the valley. You could tell she was LOVING the view.

Besides our "creature feature" presentations, we had information and merchandise tables set up. Where, might you ask? Right across from a spotted hyena whose brother, Kasani, happens to reside at the Wildlife Waystation! Volunteers and spectators enjoyed a day filled with rain, jamba juice, and good times for all.

Whale of a Day 2012

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:51:00 GMT

Saturday, March 3, 2012, the Wildlife Waystation attended the Whale of a Day Celebration in Rancho Palos Verdes. The event celebrates the migration of the Pacific Gray Whale from Alaska to Baja California. The weather was warm, the ocean air was refreshing, and we could almost TOUCH Catalina Island the air was so clear outside! Check out the view!

The event pretty much went off without a hitch. It’s always a scramble to set everything up in the morning before the attendees arrive, but we managed! We had some fantastic animals attend this year: Dakota the wolf, Hatari the golden eagle, Tequila and Chicha the llamas, Drago the veiled chameleon, Tank the tortoise, and a couple of snakes! The kids really loved all of the animals, and the adults did too.

Though I personally did not see any whales this time, we DID see a gigantic pod of dolphins, right off the coast! There were hundreds, if not thousands of dolphins, all chasing a speed boat and stretching on for miles. I was so amazed at the sight that of course I forgot to take a picture. Next year you can come see it all in person!

Again, this is a beautiful event and we look forward to it every year – we hope to see you there next time!

Los Angeles Environmental Education Fair

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:59:00 GMT

Saturday, March 10, 2012, the Wildlife Waystation attended the 33rd Annual Los Angeles Environmental Education Fair at the Arboretum. The event promoted building a greener tomorrow, and our setup theme was learning how to co-exist peacefully with native wildlife.

Many of our native animal ambassadors attended this event, including: Sedona the coyote, Barny the barn owl, Elmer the skunk, Mr. O the opossum, and a few of our snakes! We hope that by teaching the public that co-existence is extremely important, we can help preserve the future of our world.

The event location was in the beautiful city of Arcadia, in the middle of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. There were trees, fountains, and peacocks galore! Being a very popular place for weddings and receptions, I highly recommend visiting next time you’re in the area. In the meantime, keep an ear out for our next special event, so you can come learn about our amazing animals and facility!

Wildlife Waystation at the Scientology Center in Hollywood

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:19:00 GMT

Feb6

Beating Murphy’s Law

Posted on February 6, 2012 by lifeasacollegevegan

Beating Murphy’s Law

You know Murphy’s Law? The saying that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong? Well, that just about sums up yesterday. Wildlife Waystation was the highlight of a HUGE event at Celebrity Centre International, a Scientology center in Hollywood. We brought the largest number of animals to an event, possibly in our entire history, but because of strict rules, also had the fewest number of volunteers accompanying them. Talk about hectic.

The day began with me sleeping through my ringing alarm for FORTY MINUTES. I might need a better alarm, y’all. Waking up late meant I had no time to shower, no time for breakfast, not even time to pick up coffee. I had to book it.

When I finally arrived at the Waystation, a whole new slew of problems ensued. People were late, there was a problem with the goat-and-llama-transporting horse trailer, there was a problem with plan B for the horse trailer, there was a problem with the van key (i.e. we couldn’t find it), there was a problem with the van (i.e. it wouldn’t start), there was another problem with the van (i.e. it stalled and wouldn’t start AGAIN) – and on and on!

Yup. That's right. I travelled in the pig van. Oreo probably had the most room.

Yesterday could be summed up as problem after problem. However, it could also be summed up as solution after solution. People’s strengths came out in full force. Shorthanded and having little to work with, volunteers didn’t discriminate in how they helped. Phone calls were made, errands were run, stepping in was facilitated. Which team you were on, what department you worked with – categories like that stopped mattering and all that did matter was that if you could do it, you did do it.

The astounding show of teamwork pulled it off! And then I handled goats for the next six hours

Adrian chillin' with Pepper the goat

Oh! There, um, was also that moment when I was looking for a waste bin to throw away trash for someone and thought that oh hey, this big grey trash bin next to the reptiles is probably for waste, right? So I just opened up the lid and OH MY GOODNESS NOT A TRASH CAN!

Turns out the boa constrictor was inside. That lid got shoved back on pretty darn quickly. Banana’s gorgeous but, uh, not quite what I was expecting. At least Murphy’s Law has a sense of humor.

Though might I mention that Katie Holmes and her daughter Suri came through on a VIP tour? THAT was pretty cool! But no, I decided to NOT be one of the gagillion annoying people the two have to put up with who take pictures of every waking moment of their lives. Sorry, guys.

I did take lots of pictures of our animals, though! Be on the lookout for upcoming pics of ME with the goats

Mungar the tiger. Or "the handsome boy"

Wendy with Dakota the wolf

Need Funds To Survive - Please Help

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:23:00 GMT

The Wildlife Waystatinon is in need of donations to stay afloat. We are reaching out and have been featured on the news and media. Here are a few. Please help yourself if you can and spread the word. Thanks!

2010 Ride for the Wild

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:26:00 GMT

Ride for the Wild 2010

PIRU - The stars were supposed to be the several hundred bikers and specialty car drivers who on Sunday helped raise money for the nonprofit animal sanctuary Wildlife Waystation.

But it was the animals who stole the thunder.

Animals like Drifter, a 13-year-old Siberian tiger who was on display at Phil Smith's Movie Animals facility in Piru which marked the finish line of the 45-mile fundraising Ride for the Wild Run from Glendale.

Aces for Animals Casino Night

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:01:00 GMT

Aces for Animals Casino Night Raises over $50,000 for the Wildlife Waystation

Saturday, June 13th was an evening of Celebratory Drinks, Lounge Music, Gourmet Food and a very exciting Casino Night.

Event Co-Chairs Libby Everhart and Peggy Summers put on a memorable evening along with "Drifter" who was happy to greet our arriving guests.

The Courtyard of the Beautiful Hamilton Estate in Pasadena was transformed into a high energy casino. Merchandise and Silent Auction Items were displayed throughout Ann and Bob Hamiltons lovely home. Actress Kim Ulrich pictured below with Development Director Mitchell Willis, Casting Director Robert Ulrich and Hostess extraordinaire Alyce Easton were just a few of the many wonderful guests who came out to support the Waystation and help raise the money needed to keep our more than 400 animals fed and taken care of.

Rescue Services Out of Idaho

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:27:00 GMT

Rescue Services
Out of Idaho

by Beverly Setlowe

News helicopters circled from above. The throng of reporters, photographers and Wildlife Waystation volunteers and staff waited in anticipation while truckloads of heavy duty chain link and other caging materials were unloaded into the midst of the gathering crowd. Everyone stood by braced for one of the largest rescue operations ever undertaken by the Wildlife Waystation in its 26-year history. Suddenly, cheers of excitement arose in the fast-fading daylight. The expressions of concern were touched with tears of joy, relief and pride as they witnessed the first truck of the five-vehicle convoy with Martine Colette at the wheel. It was the end of a long journey.

The previous Friday, September 22, 1995 four trucks left the Waystation on an emergency rescue, each pulling a trailer and equipped with cages and equipment needed to safely transport an unknown number of large felines. The escape of several lions and ligers from an Idaho compound the previous Wednesday had made national news after eighteen of the free-roaming animals were destroyed by authorities. The big cats had mauled the owners of the Ligertown Game Farm near Lava Hot Springs, some 28-miles southeast of Pocatello. Although the owners survived the attack they did not reveal how many animals they had been keeping in their facility.

According to TV reports, fifty Sheriff’s Deputies and SWAT sniper teams “terminated” the escaped lions when they threatened the officers and the general safety of the area. No supplies or personnel were available to dart the animals with tranquilizers in this semi-rural region. Video coverage showed a ramshackle facility with enclosures constructed of chicken wire and plywood.

After USDA officials from Sacramento contacted Martine Colette on Thursday, the Waystation personnel went on alert as vehicles and other equipment were put into readiness for immediate departure - if the call for aid should come. The call came on Friday morning and within two hours, eight Waystation staff including Martine and Veterinarian Silvio Santinelli, were on their way to Idaho. Details were still sketchy as the rescuers embarked on their journey, unsure of what they might encounter when they reached their destination, more than 800 miles away. What they did know was that an unknown number of large exotic cats might need a new home

By Saturday, after the rescuers reached Ligertown, it was determined that twenty-four lions, one of which was only six days old, and three ligers would be making the trip to California. An additional truck was dispatched to Idaho to join the other four. On Sunday morning, a call went out to volunteers asking for help in preparing for the animals expected arrival, some time Monday after an all-night journey.

A large group of hardworking volunteers and staff began to clear out an area large enough to build the substantial enclosures needed for the big cats. Volunteers heeded the call and started construction the following day. They were standing by when masses of media people converged on the site to record the unique and moving homecoming of dedicated animal lovers and their frightened charges.

The exotic cats rescued from the squalid Idaho game farm were finally safe. The transfer cages were unloaded from the trucks and trailers amid the bright lights of TV cameras as construction continued, long into the night. The seven-day old bottle-fed female received ’round-the-clock care, while four, older cubs were placed in a ready enclosure for careful observation. The adult lions were introduced to their new enclosures a few days later. Though indiscriminate in-breeding and deplorable conditions had left the animals with some deformities and health problems, Martine stated that she believed, with proper diet and care, they should emerge OK from their ordeal.

“This is but one of the many situations the Wildlife Waystation has been called to handle,” said Martine. “I’m very grateful that we can help in situations of this magnitude. We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the generous support of our members and sponsors, who continue to make it possible for us to fulfill our mission: to never refuse help to any wild or exotic animal in need.