Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc.

Thanks to everyone who showed for our annual Open House this past Sunday! Nearly 1,100 people visited LTWC to see the river otter pup, bobcat kittens, raccoons, and the many other orphaned and injured birds and animals that LTWC is raising and rehabilitating this summer.

Thanks also to all our wonderful volunteers who made this day possible.

Missed the Open House? Check out the photos from this year’s Open House, courtesy of local photographer John Adamski. Want to see more wildlife in action? Be sure to check out our webcam and video pages.

Be sure to visit LTWC this Sunday between 10am and 4pm for our Annual Open House!

The Open House is the only day during the year that LTWC invites the general public to tour its grounds. This is a wonderful opportunity to see wildlife and learn about the work that LTWC does.

Watch the video below to see some of the animals that are at LTWC this summer, and click here for more information about the Open House.

Click below to watch a new video of a young river otter taking its first swim!

This video was filmed in LTWC’s River Otter Rehab cage, which is a great environment for orphaned otters like this one to learn to swim and fish–skills that are vital to their survival. This otter will get a lot more practice here over the next couple of months before it is released back to the wild.

LTWC received its first bear cub of the season on Memorial Day (May 28). The little cub, shown here, was found on the Hoopa Indian Reservation in Humboldt County, after its mother was killed.

This little cub arrived at LTWC on Monday, May 28, from Humboldt County.

Dr. Willits gave the cub a full examination and found only a couple of ticks, which is great news for this little guy!

We’ll keep you posted on his progress.

Dr. Willits giving the cub a full examination.

Check out this great article in yesterday’s Tahoe Daily Tribune about LTWC’s search for a new home:

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care looking to expand

This adult male golden eagle came into LTWC on Tuesday, April 10, from Squaw Valley. He arrived with major blood loss from the wrist area of his left wing; how he was injured remains a mystery.

The eagle received a few sutures. Although he’s not eating on his own right now, we’re able to feed it via tube. We’ll keep you posted on how he’s doing.

Click the image below to enlarge. Thanks to Dan Thrift for the photo.

As of this past Thursday (March 29, 2012), the San Luis Obispo cub was successfully released back to the wild.

The image below shows Barry Trammell and Dr. Kevin Willits moving the bear cub down from her perch in LTWC’s bobcat cage in order to prepare her for release.

The black bear cub originally arrived at LTWC weighing only 16 pounds, and with a severe injury under her chin that made it impossible for her to swallow. When the Department of Fish and Game picked her up this past Thursday, she weighed in at 35 pounds — a healthy bear ready to live life outside of LTWC.

Click below to read more:

Injured cub leaves Tahoe to return home to the wild
Lake Tahoe News, March 30, 2012

Bear cub found on Cuesta Grade is returned to wild
San Luis Obispo Tribune, March 31, 2012

Check out LTWC Secretary and Treasurer Tom Millham–as well as some of LTWC’s former wildlife residents–in this promo piece for Tahoe South’s new tagline: The Wild Side!

Update 05-13-2012: We are currently full for the 2012 Training Seminar and cannot accept any new registrations. There are still many ways that you can help LTWC! Please click here to learn more.

If you’re interested in helping raise and rehabilitate wildlife at LTWC, be sure to  sign up for the 32nd Annual LTWC Training Seminar, May 19-20. This training seminar covers all the basics you need to know about working with wildlife before becoming an active volunteer at LTWC.

The cost of the seminar is $60 per person (and $40 for each additional family member). This cost includes a training manual, a year’s membership with LTWC, and lunch on Sunday (May 20).

Once you’ve completed the course, you can put your new skills to work at LTWC! Our active volunteers assist with capturing, transporting, examining and feeding injured and orphaned animals and birds, and–when they’re ready–releasing them back into the wild!

Click here for more details and to sign up today!

Snowsports Week is February 13-16! Buy lift tickets to Sierra-at-Tahoe for just $35 (reg. $69) and support LTWC. Click here for more information, including ticket locations.

Interested in working with wildlife? Sign up now for the 32nd Annual LTWC Training Seminar, May 19-20. This training seminar covers all the basics of wildlife care, including diets, feeding, housing, first aid, transportation and anatomy.

Check out the latest issue of The Quill (pdf) to find out all about the latest news at LTWC, including the San Luis Obispo bear, which came to LTWC in September.