A Visit to Our Newest Member Organization
The OWCN Management Team Visits the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
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.
While our schedule was packed with training, networking, and even a little fun, our primary mission was clear: to connect with our newest Member Organization, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
I could easily write “thank you” 100 times in this blog, but instead, I’ll share our experience and express gratitude to our incredible hosts in a meaningful way.
Rebuilding In-Person Connections
To strengthen our in-person presence—something that was significantly impacted by the pandemic—OWCN has made it a priority to visit each of our 45 Member Organizations across the state. With natural staff turnover and the evolving nature of spill response, it’s critical that we stay engaged with responders and ensure OWCN continues to effectively support our 1,600+ responders.
Now in our second year of these facility and team visits, our goal goes beyond reviewing agreements and meeting staff. We want to reconnect, strengthen relationships, and reinforce the network that makes OWCN so effective. While virtual interactions remain an important tool for broad outreach, these in-person visits are proving invaluable—bringing responders back into the fold and fostering a renewed sense of engagement.
We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our network and the warm welcome we’ve received. Seeing firsthand the passion and commitment of our responders has been truly inspiring, and we’re already witnessing the positive impact of these connections. Strengthening our relationships through in-person engagement has reinforced what makes this network so special—the people at the heart of wildlife response. Thank you for all that you do!
Engaging with New Responders at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Our visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido was more than just a tour—it was an opportunity to meet new and returning OWCN responders, build relationships, and share critical insights about our collective role in wildlife emergency response.
Inspiring Presentations & New Connections
We kicked off the day with an engaging presentation from Senior Manager of Planning, Danene Birtell, who spoke to a room full of eager responders. Her talk reignited our shared commitment to conservation and highlighted the importance of readiness in responding to wildlife emergencies, particularly oil spills.
Next, we welcomed OWCN Director Dr. Victoria Hall, who was visiting many of our Member Organizations in person for the first time. Finally putting faces to names (and Zoom icons!) added a personal touch to the strong partnerships we continue to build across the network.
Strengthening Readiness & Collaboration
Following these impactful discussions, we met with Jenna Stallard, our Primary Contact and the Wildlife Care Manager for Birds at the Safari Park. Jenna’s enthusiasm for integrating OWCN into her team was undeniable—she has fully embraced our motto of Readiness and is already considering how the Safari Park can contribute beyond personnel and skillsets.
One major takeaway? The importance of space in oil spill response. With SeaWorld, one of our purpose-built facilities, nearby, having an additional location that could potentially be used for stabilization could be critical in an emergency. The willingness of the Safari Park team to support OWCN’s mission in these ways is an invaluable asset to our network.
Welcome to the OWCN Family!
Our visit to the Safari Park reinforced what makes OWCN so strong—our dedicated responders and the incredible partnerships we continue to grow. We are honored to welcome the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance into our network and deeply appreciate the warm welcome, insightful discussions, and shared commitment to wildlife emergency response.
We look forward to working together in trainings, drills, engagements, and—most importantly—responses. See you all soon!
Want to Connect?
If your organization would like to schedule a visit or if you have any needs that OWCN can support, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out anytime at OWCN@ucdavis.edu.
