“Our reward is when we release a rehabilitated animal back into the environment to live the healthy life it deserves.”
Angela Hartman, OHS Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator (shared in the 2024 open house press release)
Usually, the best thing people can do to protect wildlife is simple: Leave them alone. But one day per year, East Bay residents get the chance for a behind the scenes look at how experts treat and rehabilitate injured wildlife at Ohlone Humane Society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. This year, the Center opens its doors to the public on Saturday, October 19 from 10am until 2pm. Guests can tour a real wildlife hospital, meet Phil the Beekeeper, and attend live ambassador animal talks with Happy Hollow Zoo and Wildcare Rehabilitation. There will also be free goodie bags, crafts for kids and opportunity drawings.
In 2024, trained Ohlone Humane Society (OHS) rehabilitators helped 415 injured animals (down from 436 in 2023 and 493 in 2022, in part due to precautions around Avian Flu). In a press release, Angela Hartman, OHS Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator, credited community support for the center’s accomplishments in 2024. “Due to the outpouring of community support we have accomplished many projects this year to improve our wildlife center. Thanks to Boy Scouts we have a new outdoor pagoda and seating area for our volunteer staff and a generous grant from the Fremont Candlelighters enabled us to purchase a new exam table, indoor heaters and animal incubators for our baby birds and mammals.”
The center has taken in 27,000 animals since its opening in 1997. In addition to experts, staff, and volunteers, Boy and Girl Scouts, animal control officers, local wildlife centers, donors and caring citizens keep the Center running.
When asked by this newspaper for updates on the Center, Angela Hartman had this to share: “We are really looking forward to seeing everyone at the open house this year! We are getting ready to start the biggest project since we opened in 1997. Thanks to the generous grants from Fremont Bank, Ava Community, Adobe, and the Tri City Ecology Center we will be starting construction on our new outdoor animal enclosures before the end of the year. Our current animal enclosures are now 27 years old and it is time to tear them down and rebuild! There will be a total of 12 animal enclosures under construction. We are super excited and so are the animals.”
The event is free to attend, but guests are encouraged to bring a donation from the list below to help wild patients:
• Nitrile and latex gloves – all sizes
• Wet and dry dog and cat food
• Laundry soap and bleach
• Paper towels and Kleenex
• Bagged garbage soil
• 13 and 33 gallon trash bags
• Gift cards for hardware and grocery stores
Ohlone Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Open House
Saturday, Oct 19
10am – 2pm
37175 Hickory St., Newark
Parking for event is on Hickory Street near World Pac
All Ages Welcome – Free Entry – Rain or Shine
