Desert Wildlife Center

04/04/2025

Our friends at College of the Desert are screening this new documentary today. Check it out!

College of the Desert will premiere the documentary film "Hawk Watch" on Friday April 4 at the Po***ck Theater at the center of the COD campus. Parking is free, admission is free with a suggested donation $10

Doors will open at 3pm and film with show at 3:30pm (45 minutes) with a Q/A afterwards. The film stars Hal Cohen (he will be there in person) the hawk watch guy at Borrego Springs. Every March he coordinates a Swainson's Hawk watch with volunteers who count them every day morning and evening for 6 weeks.

04/03/2025

A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for making the Wild & Scenic Film Festival possible! Your support not only brings this inspiring event to our community, but also helps fund our lifesaving rehabilitation program at the Desert Wildlife Center.

Join us on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 7:00pm to 9:30pm, at the Rancho Mirage Public Library & Observatory for an unforgettable evening of short films that will move, educate, and captivate you. This free event is open to everyone, so bring your friends and family and immerse yourself in the wonders of nature.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. If you’re interested in supporting this event, please contact Bart Verry at [email protected] for more details.

Mark your calendar and we’ll see you there!

04/03/2025

We're thrilled to be at the Indian Wells State of the City breakfast as the Presenting Sponsor.

03/31/2025

Join us TODAY, March 31st, from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM, for an important community event dedicated to protecting wildlife in the Coachella Valley! Experts from Poison Free Malibu, in partnership with the Desert Wildlife Center and Oswit Land Trust, will lead an educational presentation on the dangers of rodenticides to local wildlife and share humane alternatives for managing rodents.

Rodenticides don’t just harm rodents, they also threaten predators like hawks, owls, and bobcats, which are vital to maintaining ecological balance. This event is perfect for homeowners, business owners, or anyone passionate about safeguarding our native species.

For more information or to RSVP, contact David P. at [email protected].

03/22/2025

Fun day at the 16th Annual One PS Neighborhood Picnic! Our volunteer team answered a slew of wildlife questions and sold our stylin’ merchandise to community members who want to help support our lifesaving mission. And we had a little canine support as well!

03/17/2025

Some great facts about coyotes in honor of Coyote Awareness Week!

03/12/2025

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating our remarkable planet! The Desert Wildlife Center is thrilled to partner with the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory to host the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the Rancho Mirage Public Library .

Enjoy a curated selection of inspiring short films focused on wildlife that will move, educate, and captivate you. Whether you're a nature enthusiast or just looking for a fun night out, this event is FREE and open to everyone. Grab your friends and family, and immerse yourself in the wonders of our natural world. Mark your calendar now and we’ll see you there!

03/07/2025

Look what we spied in the front garden of the shelter - not one but three new bird nests! We are so grateful to the UCCE Master Gardeners of Riverside County for all of their help in making the animal shelter grounds not only beautiful, but a wonderful little oasis for birds, lizards, monarchs, and other species to thrive!

03/04/2025

It’s CV Giving Day, and your donation today can make a real difference for wildlife in need across the Coachella Valley. Your support ensures that every animal gets the care they deserve and a chance to return home.

Help us protect the wildlife in our community by donating today:

https://www.cvgivingday.org/organization/gpsanimalallies

03/03/2025

It’s World Wildlife Day! Did you know that the average size of the world’s wildlife population has decreased by 73 percent over the past 50 years, according to the World Wildlife Fund? This makes preserving habitat and helping wildlife in need even more important.

These images, by photographer Scott Collins, are a reminder of the amazing beauty and diversity of our wildlife in the Coachella Valley. Thank you for caring for desert animals and birds!

02/28/2025

Do you have questions about coyotes or other wildlife? As a reminder, you can now reach the Desert Wildlife Center at our
helpline: 760-203-5500.

We are still working on getting our facility ready for wildlife but our team is already here to offer guidance and, when possible, arrange transport to rehabilitation centers that can provide care until we officially open.

Thank you for caring about our desert wildlife. We look forward to talking to you!

📷 : Unsplash/Chris Stenger

02/12/2025

Discover how the soon-to-open Desert Wildlife Center will transform the lives of injured and orphaned wildlife in our region! Join us for an engaging presentation with Tracy Dawson, Director of the Desert Wildlife Center, as we dive into the causes of wildlife injuries, the Center’s mission to provide care, and how YOU can get involved in protecting our local wildlife.

📅 When: Saturday, February 15, 2025
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
📍 Where: Mizell Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA
✨ RSVP to David Paisley: [email protected]

Let’s come together to create a brighter future for our desert wildlife. 🌵❤️

01/30/2025

Great information here. The event is at 4 pm PT today.

Coyote Watch Canada
Canid Connections Speaker Series is hosting : "Poison-Free Rodent Control"

Join us for this compelling presentation about poison-free rodent control. Back by popular demand, Rebecca Dmytryk from Humane Wildlife Control Inc.
will share her years of experience and great "DIY" tips. Humane and preventative solutions that work!

WHEN: Thursday, January 30th at 7:00PM ET/4 pm Pacific

Preregistration required sign up here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/0mkjgTsNSomneFcx5cLE_w

Our speaker series are FREE to register and attend but a suggested donation of $10 can help to keep our series availble for everyone.

01/28/2025

Exciting news! You can now reach the Desert Wildlife Center at our
helpline: 760-203-5500.

Got questions about living alongside coyotes and other wildlife? Need advice on keeping your pets safe? Or maybe you’ve found an injured wild animal that needs help? While we’re still waiting on permit approvals for renovations, our team is here to offer guidance and, when possible, arrange transport to rehabilitation centers that can provide care until we officially open. (We are not accepting injured wildlife at this time)

Thank you for caring about our desert wildlife. Give us a call, we’re here to help!

01/17/2025

Some helpful information about Coyote mating season. Take practical steps to protect pets and coexist!

01/14/2025

We regret to announce that the upcoming lecture has been postponed indefinitely, as our speakers, who live in Los Angeles, are directly impacted by the ongoing fires.

Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this crisis, and we’re sending strength and support to those affected. We’ll provide updates on rescheduling soon. Thank you for your understanding and compassion during this time.

01/06/2025

The Desert Wildlife Center is partnering with Oswit Land Trust to welcome Kian and Joel Schulman of Poison Free Malibu to Palm Springs! These dedicated advocates have worked tirelessly at the city, county, and state levels to restrict harmful pesticides that threaten families, pets, and wildlife.

Event Details:
📅 Date: January 16, 2025
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
📍 Location: Mizell Center, 480 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
📧 RSVP/Info: [email protected]

Discover how their impactful work in Malibu, the Santa Monica Mountains, and beyond has transformed communities into safer, poison-free environments. Learn how these innovative strategies can protect our local ecosystems and create sustainable, toxin-free practices right here in the Coachella Valley.

01/01/2025

Friends of Desert Wildlife,

Some good news! The Poison-Free Wildlife Act will take effect in California tomorrow Jan. 1.

The new law bans the use of first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. These restricted chemicals are blood-thinning rat poisons that cause animals to die from internal bleeding. Owls, hawks, roadrunners, snakes, coyotes and bobcats who consume the infected rodents are also poisoned.

The law allows the poisons to be used in agricultural settings and public health emergencies only.

We thank everyone who advocated for this bill on behalf of our desert wildlife!

Photo: Eddie Black/Unsplash