Oiled Wildlife Care Network
The Oiled Wildlife Care Network is a nonprofit program at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine that coordinates a statewide California network of 40+ member organizations, 1,300+ trained responders, and 12 specialized facilities to rescue, rehabilitate, and release oil-affected wildlife during oil spill events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersDavis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Oiled Wildlife Care Network does
The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) is a nonprofit emergency response program administered through the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, established in 1994 by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (CDFW-OSPR) in response to the Exxon Valdez and American Trader spills. Its core function is to mobilize a statewide network of 40+ member organizations and 1,300+ trained responders to capture, stabilize, rehabilitate, and release oil-affected birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians across California. The organization operates 12 specialized purpose-built or modified wildlife rehabilitation facilities stretching from Crescent City to San Diego, supported by mobile field stabilization units, equipment caches, and annually reviewed written protocols for capture, transport, care, and release. Research and continuous improvement are delivered through a Competitive Grants Program that has awarded more than $4 million to over 180 scientific studies, complemented by in-house research, a mentorship program, and post-release survival studies using satellite and radio telemetry.
OWCN's revenue is sourced from two streams: ongoing preparedness funding from a "small fraction" of CDFW-OSPR's Oil Spill Prevention Administrative Fund (which is itself fed by per-barrel fees on oil received into California), and event-driven billing to responsible parties during oil spill activations (with the Oil Spill Response Trust Fund as a backstop when no responsible party is identified). Member organizations contribute volunteer labor, facility capacity, and trained personnel, while public donations and earned media round out the funding mix. The organization is activated by CDFW-OSPR or the Incident/Unified Command structure during oil spills, with a public 24-hour hotline (1-877-UCD-OWCN) as the consumer-facing reporting channel. Reach is principally California, with international deployments (Deepwater Horizon, M/V Rena in New Zealand, Prestige in Spain) extending influence globally.
Oiled Wildlife Care Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oiled Wildlife Care Network
- Legal name
- Oiled Wildlife Care Network
- Website
- https://owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Oiled Wildlife Care Network is a nonprofit program at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine that coordinates a statewide California network of 40+ member organizations, 1,300+ trained responders, and 12 specialized facilities to rescue, rehabilitate, and release oil-affected wildlife during oil spill events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oiled Wildlife Care Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Oil Spill Wildlife Response Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Hazardous Waste Management (4955)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Oiled Wildlife Response (EUAIAMAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Animal Health Emergency Preparedness & Outbreak Response (HLAMAJAD), Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)
Keywords
Where Oiled Wildlife Care Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Davis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
Oiled Wildlife Care Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Government Appropriations (OSPR Oil Spill Prevention Administrative Fund): Ongoing preparedness operations including staffing, facility maintenance, equipment and supply purchases, training costs, and research support are funded through a small fraction of OSPR's Oil Spill Prevention Administrative Fund, which receives a fee from every barrel of crude or refined oil received into California.
- Responsible Party Billing: When activated for spill response, the party responsible for the oil spill is billed for OWCN's response costs using a predetermined rate schedule. When no responsible party is identified, activities may be funded from the State's Oil Spill Response Trust Fund (OSRTF).
- Member Organization Support: In situations where no oil spill is observed and OWCN is not officially activated yet oiled birds or mammals are captured, OWCN provides support to member organizations to supplement the cost of caring for oil-affected animals.
- Donations: OWCN accepts donations from the public to support oiled wildlife care and rehabilitation activities, preparedness for oil spills in the Western United States and internationally.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Oiled Wildlife Care Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OWCN provides statewide emergency response services for oil-affected wildlife in California, including capture, field stabilization, cleaning, conditioning, and release of oiled birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The organization coordinates a network of 40+ member organizations, 1,300+ trained responders, and 12 specialized rehabilitation facilities, and is activated by California's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) during oil spill events.
Product overview
The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) is a unified emergency response and preparedness program operated through the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis. The organization's core offering is its statewide oiled wildlife response service, supported by a network of 40+ member organizations and 12 specialized facilities. Additional modules include training programs (Oiled Wildlife Specialist courses, Oilapalooza conferences), research initiatives (competitive grants, in-house research, mentored research, and post-release studies), and K-12 educational outreach. The network mobilizes over 1,300 trained responders to provide capture, rehabilitation, and release services for oiled wildlife across California.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Oiled Wildlife Response Services Statewide emergency response to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife affected by oil spills, including capture, field stabilization, washing, conditioning, and release of oiled birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians across California.
- Training & Drills Program Multi-tiered preparedness program including the Oiled Wildlife Specialist (OWS) training course, Oilapalooza biennial conferences, and regular exercises/drills to ensure responders are prepared for oil spill emergencies.
- Competitive Grants Program Research funding program awarding over $4 million to more than 180 scientific studies, supporting projects on wildlife capture and care methods, health assessments, and post-release survival studies.
- In-House Research Internal research focused on incremental improvements to oiled wildlife rehabilitation, including electronic medical records, nutrition studies, fluid effectiveness comparisons, and animal tracking technology.
- Mentored Research Program Program supporting OWCN Member Organizations in developing research projects to identify better ways of caring for oiled animals, with mentors assisting in project design and proposal development.
- Post-Release Studies Long-term tracking research on rehabilitated oiled wildlife survival after release, using satellite tags and leg bands to monitor brown pelicans, Western grebes, surf scoters, and other species.
- Educational Outreach K-12 environmental outreach program and public education on oil spill effects on wildlife, including classroom activities and resources for teaching children about wildlife response.
- 24-Hour Oiled Wildlife Reporting Hotline 24-hour hotline (1-877-UCD-OWCN / 823-6926) enabling the public to report oiled wildlife sightings for rapid mobilization of OWCN response resources across California.
Quantifiable outcome
- 75+ oil spill responses led in California since 1994
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Oiled Wildlife Care Network
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Oiled Wildlife Care Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Oiled Wildlife Care Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- International Bird RescuecoreInternational Bird Rescue operates the San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center (Fairfield) and the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center (San Pedro) during spill and non-spill periods. They are a key member organization providing expert wildlife rehabilitation during OWCN responses. Their staff serve as senior roles during spill operations.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreParticipates as an ex-officio member on the OWCN Advisory Board and collaborates with OWCN during oil spill responses. Damian Higgins serves as ex-officio board member representing USFWS.
- NOAA - National Marine Fisheries ServicecoreParticipates as an ex-officio member on the OWCN Advisory Board and collaborates on marine wildlife response. Justin Viezbicke serves as ex-officio board member representing NOAA Fisheries.
- CDFW-OSPR Scientific Advisory CommitteecoreOWCN Scientific Advisory Committee evaluates the scientific merit and quality of research and technology development proposals competing for grant funds. Members include scientists from academia, oil industry, rehabilitation organizations and other research institutions. Appointed for three-year terms.
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR)flagshipOWCN was established in 1994 by CDFW-OSPR in response to the Exxon Valdez and American Trader oil spills. OSPR funds OWCN's ongoing preparedness operations through the Oil Spill Prevention Administrative Fund. During spill events, OSPR activates the network to provide wildlife response as part of the Incident Command structure. This is the founding and most central partnership for the organization.
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine - Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health CenterflagshipOWCN is administered by the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The WHC is a multidisciplinary unit focused on the health of free-ranging and captive terrestrial and aquatic wild animals and implements the One Health approach. The WHC is a Center of Excellence within the One Health Institute (OHI).
- The Marine Mammal Center (Sausalito)coreThe Marine Mammal Center acts as the primary response facility for oiled pinnipeds for the OWCN and can house up to ten sea otters during a large spill. Includes triage center, washing stations, pen flat with seven pens and pools, and a 23,000 gallon closed-loop filtration system. Their Senior Manager of Volunteer Engagement previously managed 1,300 responders contributing 150,000 annual service hours.
- Aquarium of the PacificcoreMember organization supporting OWCN field response efforts. OWCN staff Frankie Lill previously worked at the Aquarium of the Pacific as Aviculturist and Volunteer Coordinator for Mammal and Birds before joining the OWCN Management Team.
- UC Santa Cruz - Long Marine LaboratorycoreUCSC oiled bird facility is located adjacent to the OSPR-managed Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center. Contains modular buildings for office and laboratory space and a 9,750 square-foot plumbed and powered pad for temporary pool use. During non-spill periods, MWVCRC conducts research with UC Santa Cruz collaborators.
- Cal Poly Humboldt - Marine Wildlife Care Center (Arcata)core4,500 square foot facility on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus designed to handle 400 birds in early stages of a spill. During non-spill times, plays a significant role in the education of students in the Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt.
- SeaWorld San DiegocoreMember organization operating an 8,000 square foot Oiled Wildlife Care Center capable of housing up to 200 seabirds and twenty marine mammals. The facility includes 32,000 gallon salt water pool for pinnipeds, sea turtles, and sea otters. During the Refugio Oil Spill (2015), SeaWorld cared for California Sea Lions transported from the Los Angeles area.
- Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center (Huntington Beach)coreMember organization operating a facility designed to care for up to 400 oiled birds. Constructed 2,625 square-foot building with specialized areas. During non-spill periods, used by the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy for wildlife rehabilitation and education.
- Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles (San Pedro)coreMember organization located adjacent to the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center, with capacity to care for up to twenty pinnipeds during spill events. OWCN-supported improvements include intake/wash building with six wash stations and 13,000 gallon tank for rehabilitative care.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Oiled Wildlife Care Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center (UC Davis): Parent organization administering OWCN within UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Broad incumbent peer because it operates the broader wildlife health portfolio (terrestrial and aquatic free-ranging wildlife) under the One Health Institute, of which OWCN is one program among several.
- The Raptor Center (University of Minnesota): University-affiliated wildlife medical and rehabilitation center. Broad incumbent peer because it shares the veterinary-school-administered model of clinical wildlife care, including Director Victoria Hall's prior leadership role there, and overlaps on raptor and ecosystem health expertise.
- Audubon Society: National bird conservation organization with a network of wildlife rehabilitation centers. Broad incumbent peer because it overlaps with OWCN on bird conservation, habitat protection, and rescue/transport activities through its national center network, though it does not specialize in oiled wildlife response.
Direct peers
- International Bird Rescue: Operates the San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Centers as a core OWCN member organization. Direct peer because it executes the same oiled wildlife capture, washing, and rehabilitation work for birds under OWCN coordination and has responded to 120+ spills.
- Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research: Long-standing oiled wildlife response organization on the U.S. East Coast, operating oiled bird care facilities in Delaware. Direct peer because it provides the same oiled bird rehabilitation service model as OWCN and is the principal East Coast analog referenced in oiled wildlife response literature.
- The Marine Mammal Center: Operates the primary response facility for oiled pinnipeds within OWCN, including a 23,000-gallon closed-loop filtration system. Direct peer because it executes the same oiled pinniped capture and rehabilitation work as part of the OWCN network and is the dominant marine mammal rehab center on the U.S. West Coast.
Emerging players
- SeaWorld San Diego: OWCN member organization operating an 8,000 sq ft Oiled Wildlife Care Center capable of housing 200 seabirds and 20 marine mammals. Emerging player peer because its wildlife rehabilitation role is one program within a broader commercial marine park enterprise, and its involvement is partial relative to OWCN's statewide coordination scope.
- Re:wild: Global conservation organization focused on wildlife and habitat protection including species recovery programs. Emerging player peer because of shared conservation mission and overlap on species protection work, though Re:wild's primary scope is terrestrial habitat rather than oil spill response.
Others
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife – OSPR: State regulator and OWCN's founding/funding partner. Included as an 'others' peer because while OSPR activates and funds OWCN, it is a government regulator rather than a competing service provider, and the relationship is symbiotic rather than competitive.
Regional players
- Pacific Marine Mammal Center: Marine mammal rehabilitation organization in Southern California. Regional peer because it focuses on pinniped care in a different geography from OWCN's primary coastal response footprint, but intersects with OWCN on stranded and oiled marine mammal response coordination.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Oiled Wildlife Care Network social profiles
Digital presenceOiled Wildlife Care Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oiled Wildlife Care Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Oiled Wildlife Care Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oiled Wildlife Care Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Oiled Wildlife Care Network
What does Oiled Wildlife Care Network do?
OWCN provides statewide emergency response services for oil-affected wildlife in California, including capture, field stabilization, cleaning, conditioning, and release of oiled birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The organization coordinates a network of 40+ member organizations, 1,300+ trained responders, and 12 specialized rehabilitation facilities, and is activated by California's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) during oil spill events.
Is Oiled Wildlife Care Network a public or private company?
Oiled Wildlife Care Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Oiled Wildlife Care Network founded?
Oiled Wildlife Care Network was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Oiled Wildlife Care Network based?
Oiled Wildlife Care Network is headquartered in Davis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Oiled Wildlife Care Network make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Appropriations (OSPR Oil Spill Prevention Administrative Fund) is the primary driver. The others are responsible Party Billing, member Organization Support and donations.
Who are Oiled Wildlife Care Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center (UC Davis), The Raptor Center (University of Minnesota) and Audubon Society. Direct peers are International Bird Rescue, Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research and The Marine Mammal Center. Emerging players are SeaWorld San Diego and Re:wild. California Department of Fish and Wildlife – OSPR is listed as an others. Pacific Marine Mammal Center is listed as a regional player.
Does Oiled Wildlife Care Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oiled Wildlife Care Network.
What industry is Oiled Wildlife Care Network in?
Oiled Wildlife Care Network's product category is Oil Spill Wildlife Response Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAMAI, Emergency Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Oiled Wildlife Response, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAC, Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 4955.