OWCN Blog

About a month ago, Frankie and I attended the EROS (Environmental Response to Oil Spills) training in Newport Beach, California as part of our onboarding. The training is organized by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the M/V Treasure oil spill, a disaster that released greater 1,300 tons of oil into the Atlantic Ocean impacting a significant number of African penguins (Speniscus dermusus). Approximately 20,000 oiled penguins were captured and brought into care. Additionally, more than 19,000 additional birds were pre-emptively captured and relocated to an oil-free environment. They were then released to return to their home range, and by that time the spill was cleaned up.

Picture this: a young Western toad, its skin caked with sticky oil and dirt, is hopping through an oiled creek bed. A few counties away, a Western grebe - a fully aquatic bird - has beached herself, her feathers clumped with thick crude oil.

Two animals impacted by two different oil spills…but when it comes to rehabilitation, these two creatures might as well be from different planets.

Let’s take a fun and educational deep dive into the wildly different world of rehabbing an oiled toad vs. an oiled grebe - two animals with very different biology, behaviors, and needs.

My name is Jane Riner and I’m the 4th free-ranging wildlife health veterinary resident in a collaborative training program with the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. One of my favorite aspects of the program is getting to share what we do with students and hopefully inspire future generations of wildlife veterinarians.

Hard to believe that this past Monday (May 19) marked the 10-year anniversary of a spill that changed so much in how we conduct our day-to-day operations – how we prepare for spills, train our responders, and conduct a response. Yes, as they say, every spill is unique, and with each spill we glean valuable lessons that help us improve how we fulfill our mission of best achievable proactive capture and care of oil-affected animals. The Refugio Oil Spill was no exception.

On Friday, March 14, Brett Long and I were notified by OWCN of an oil spill in Long Beach around 10:00 am. We were able to gather some of our personal gear, a company vehicle, and coordinate with the staff that were going to remain on-site to provide coverage for the rest of the day. Brett and I had both never been the first on-scene, and we were pretty excited to have the opportunity to help but also nervous in anticipation of what we might be walking into.

On March 5, 2025, the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) hosted our first in-person Basic Responder Training (BRT) since 2020 at one of our amazing Member Organizations, SeaWorld San Diego. We welcomed 23 new responders for a full day of training, teamwork, and Tyvek.

It’s hard to believe it has been 15 years since I was an undergraduate student at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt). At the time I was majoring in Wildlife Biology with hopes of one day pursuing being a game warden with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. However, other opportunities I pursued took me away from the picturesque redwood-lined campus on the Northern California coast. 

Growing up in San Francisco, I first encountered the term "domoic acid poisoning" in 1998 when The Marine Mammal Center diagnosed the first cases of this condition in California sea lions. I was 17 years old and eager to help. Driven by a passion for wildlife, I reached out to the Center, attended an orientation, and secured a spot on their Wednesday Day Animal Care Volunteer Crew. Every week, I made the 2.5-hour journey from San Francisco’s Mission District out to the Marin Headlands.

Pinnipeds and Pints has become a cherished tradition at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC), bringing together staff, volunteers, and other partners for engaging discussions on best practices in marine mammal care. Every few weeks, the center hosts a guest speaker for a virtual evening chat, fostering education, collaboration, and camaraderie within the marine conservation community.

OWCN Touches Down in San Diego!

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) team—Dr. Victoria Hall, Danene Birtell, Wendy Massey, Dr. Jamie Sherman, and myself, Frankie Lill—hit the road this week for an exciting and impactful visit to San Diego. With a vehicle packed full of training materials, we were ready for a week filled with learning, connection, and collaboration.

I’ve done this dozens of times, but my adrenaline skyrockets nonetheless. His wide, unblinking eyes glare at me, his chest heaving with sharp but rhythmic breaths. He tracks my slow, deliberate movements. He watches for any sudden move I make, but still, he lets me approach. Two other team members hold wooden boards between us and him for protection- after all, he outweighs the three of us combined, and his teeth could turn us into quite the plastic surgeon’s dream.

Wendy here, welcome back! I know I said 'this Holiday Season' I bet you didn't think I'd add on Valentine's Day to the season... Did you? 

I am back for part two of my Spills of Christmas Past Series, I am discussing the MV Citrus Spill, a collision that happened in the Pribilof Islands. If you missed part one you can find it here!

Although the Tanzanite spill occurred a few years before I joined OWCN, it still gets referenced frequently around the office as a key example. I've learned a lot about this incident—and oil spills in general—thanks to these discussions. For anyone unfamiliar with the event, here's a quick recap:

Hello! I’m Jenna Stallard, Wildlife Care Manager over the Bird Department at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and I’m thrilled to serve as Program Leader for our campus as the newest member of the Oiled Wildlife Conservation Network (OWCN). As I prepared for my first Oilapalooza event, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I was eager to learn more about the network’s work, how the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance contributes, and what I’d be diving into as the new Program Leader.