Oiled Wildlife Care Network

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.

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

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

• Oil spill response
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Oil-affected wildlife
• Wildlife emergency response
• Spill preparedness training

Headquarters

HQ city

Davis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• International Bird RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015International 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 ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Participates 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 ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Participates 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 CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010OWCN 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)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994OWCN 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 CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994OWCN 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994The 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 PacificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember 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 LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSC 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner4,500 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 DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/oiledwildlife
• YouTubeyoutube.com/OneHealthInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/OiledWildlifeCareNetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/oiledwildlife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/owcn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Oiled Wildlife Care Network