What We Do

Native Animal Rescue (NAR) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife in Santa Cruz County.

Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release

  • We are a community of expert rehabilitators trained to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate, and release wild animals back to the wild in accordance with California Department of Fish and Wildlife standards.
  • We receive and care for distressed wild animals brought to us by concerned citizens. Anyone who finds a distressed wild animal in Santa Cruz County can bring the animal to us at 1855 17th Ave., Santa Cruz, where we receive animals between 8 am and 8 pm.
  • We give care and rescue instructions on this website and at 831-462-0726 to help the caller safely handle and transport the animal to our facility where trained staff and volunteers examine it, give first aid, and determine its further needs.
  • We work closely with veterinarians to medically treat and rehabilitate orphaned, injured, sick, and oiled wildlife. The animals are cared for until they can be safely released back into the wild.
  • We keep exact records on each animal to help wildlife management professionals understand local migration, breeding and habitat needs.

Protect and Educate

  • We work to increase human understanding and respect for wildlife and their habitats.
  • We work to educate our human neighbors on the benefits of coexisting with our wild neighbors, and we even tell you how to do it.

 

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Small Wild

Small Wild

By Marilyn DuHamel I am surrounded by many wild creatures, mostly small, mostly young. This is why I volunteer for Native Animal Rescue where I get to tend these injured or orphaned animals until they can be released back into their natural habitat. Warblers, finches,...

Ghost

Ghost

By Marilyn DuHamel There’s a ghost in my house who only comes out at night – that’s when I can catch a glimpse of his silvery form. For now, this ghost lives in a cage. I’ve only touched him once – when I transferred him at Native Animal Rescue (NAR) into a large...