Many Stories, One Purpose: Returning Wildlife to the Wild

When barn owl eggs were discovered at an unsafe nesting site, their future was uncertain. Rather than leave them in a situation where they were unlikely to survive, the eggs were brought to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, where our team took on the delicate task of incubating them.

For the first time in our organization's history, we were incubating and hatching eggs. With careful monitoring and dedicated attention, the eggs hatched, and the tiny owlets began their next chapter in our wildlife hospital. There, they received the specialized care they needed during their earliest days of life.

But our goal was always bigger than helping them hatch. We wanted to give these young owls the opportunity to grow up with their own kind and develop naturally. Through our Barn Owl Maintenance Program’s spring monitoring services, we were able locate active nests and foster the owlets with wild barn owl mothers, giving them the chance to continue growing up in the wild. What began as an urgent rescue became an extraordinary example of what can happen when preparation, expertise, and opportunity come together.

For the past several years, generous supporters have donated incubators to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue that have vastly improved the quality of care for our most sensitive patients, neonate and young orphaned wildlife. Unable to thermoregulate on their own, these patients typically rely on their mother to balance the temperature and humidity levels until they are big enough for their bodies to handle this task on their own. These donations have improved the standard of care we were able to provide and have opened the door for possibility to incubate viable unhatched eggs. 

The opportunity to incubate unhatched eggs is a rare one. Eggs are rarely viable by the time that they are discovered by humans, and it takes just the right set of circumstances to find eggs in time to be able to act. So, when we received our first clutch of barn owl eggs this summer, we all knew that we were embarking on a rare occasion that were all fortunate to witness. So, it’s fair to say that we did not expect to get the opportunity to care for unhatched eggs four more times in the coming months.

Indeed, in 2026, we found ourselves caring for several different species of eggs, including a western screech owl, a turkey vulture, and two sets of western pond turtles, in addition to the barn owls.

When a tree containing a western screech owl nest was cut down, two chicks and an unhatched egg were brought to SCWR. Our team cared for the two young owls while continuing to incubate the remaining egg. Two days later, it hatched, bringing another owl, weighing only 7 grams, into our care.

From there, our raptor renest team was able to jump into action. Knowing that the parents were likely still in the area where the tree was felled, we were able to call upon our friends at Napa Wildlife Rescue to obtain a screech owl box. Our renesting team then installed it on a tree next to the original nesting tree and placed the hatchling owlets inside, in the hopes that the parents would return to care for their young. Wanting to be sure of this, we installed a trail camera facing the box and were absolutely elated when just moments after dusk, an adult screech owl was seen inspecting the box and then soon after delivering food.

This was a historic moment and opportunity for our organization to learn from the owls and observe adults caring for these owls from the moment of reunite to them fledging from the nesting box. See for yourself in the videos below the instinct, care and dedication that the adults poured into their young owlets. 

See photos and videos of this story in the slideshow below.

The next story is one of a turkey vulture egg that came to us under very different circumstances. During a rescue involving a female turkey vulture, an egg was discovered. It is suspected that the mother laid it in response to the stress of her situation. Unfortunately, her injuries were too severe for her to survive in the wild. But her egg, however, was carefully incubated and hatched a little over a month later, giving her offspring a chance at life in the wild.

Months after hatching, the young turkey vulture was grown and ready to return to the wild but to give it the best chance of success, we wanted to try to release it alongside a wild kettle (a group of turkey vultures). Thankfully, our renesting team knew of just the place!

A volunteer had a private property where a turkey vulture kettle was frequently seen visiting. We were able to slowly introduce the young bird to the kettle by keeping it in a nearby enclosure while encouraging the wild birds to visit the property with roadkill that had been collected by truly dedicated team members.

Our volunteer and trail camera kept a close eye on the kettle and the unfolding introduction. Soon after, the young vulture was released onsite. Thanks to the keen observation skills of our volunteers, the orphaned bird and the wild kettle were observed together for about 24 hours before all of the birds left the area.

See photos and videos of this story in the slideshow below.

Our egg journey did not end with avian patients. We also found ourselves caring for two separate batches of western pond turtle eggs. One batch was laid in a swimming pool after the mother became trapped inside. The other was laid by a turtle already receiving care at our wildlife hospital after being hit by a car.

While western pond turtles typically bury their eggs, both batches were laid in water and would not have survived without intervention. Thankfully, the eggs were collected in time, and after a couple of weeks of incubation, we were astounded to see that they were viable and developing!

Thanks to a quick-acting donor who purchased a reptile egg incubator from our Amazon Wishlist, we were able to update our set up for these eggs and successfully hatched a total of eleven western pond turtles months later!

See photos of this story in the slideshow below.

A young bobcat's first lessons about the world usually come from its mother. Through her, it learns the skills it will eventually need to survive independently in the wild.

For two young bobcats who came into our care this year, that journey took a different path.

The two bobcats were flown to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue from Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center by Flying Tails, a valued partner in our wildlife rehabilitation work. Flying Tails helps connect wildlife in need with rehabilitation centers equipped to provide specialized care, making it possible for animals to travel safely to facilities that may be better suited to their needs. Their transportation network of volunteer pilots help to vastly reduce the time and stress of transportation for our patients, and creates collaborative opportunities between wildlife rehabilitators that might otherwise be difficult to coordinate. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to help fund the bobcats' flights and make this important transfer possible.

At SCWR, the young bobcats received specialized care in our young predator enclosures, where appropriate diets, enrichment, and space to develop helped prepare them for their next steps. Together, with the right care and environment, these young cats began to thrive. 

So, when we received word that Peninsula Humane had a bobcat of a similar age, we knew these two would be a good match to help their bobcat thrive as well. Working together with their team, we determined that since they had more room available in their predator enclosures, we would transfer our bobcats into their care where their journey continued. 

Flying Tails once again helped make the next part of the journey possible, transporting the bobcats from SCWR to Peninsula Humane Society, where they could be paired with the other bobcats.

This story is a beautiful example of wildlife rehabilitation as a collaborative effort. No single facility can provide every type of care or accommodate every animal in every circumstance. By sharing information, coordinating transportation, and working toward the same goal, rehabilitation centers can create better opportunities for the animals depending on them.

We are grateful to Flying Tails for the role they played in connecting these bobcats with the care and companionship they needed, and to our fellow rehabilitators for working together to support wildlife across California.

Every animal's journey is different. Sometimes, the most important thing we can do is provide specialized care ourselves. Other times, it is recognizing when another facility can offer something more and helping an animal get there.

In the end, the goal remains the same: giving every animal the best possible chance to develop the skills it needs for life in the wild.

A fun side note: As we write this update in early November, the collaboration continues as Peninsula Humane is currently visiting our facility (photographed to the right) to learn about our Apex Predator Enclosure so they they can begin their journey towards bear care!