CCWR Board of Directors

CCWR Board Statements

Sharron Baird
Squirrelmender Wildlife Rehabilitation - Region 5

I began rehabilitating wildlife 18 years ago when I had trees cut down that contained a nest with three tiny tree squirrels. In spite of what I did, they grew healthy and strong and after release they raised several litters of their own. Subsequently I worked at getting my own permit and continuing my education on wildlife care. I have had my own permit for several years and I primarily work with small mammals. Recently I completed the requirements to qualify as a 501 (c) 3 organization and have both federal and state tax exemptions.

I am a member of IWRC and have completed most of their education classes as well as attend their annual conferences. At a member of NWRA I have volunteered to set up their mammal sessions for their annual symposium and have been a moderator for several years.

I have a firm commitment to CCWR as I strongly believe that wildlife rehabilitation is a profession and not a hobby (as many see it) and the need for a committed voice to the public is necessary. I have been impressed with the growth and accomplishments of our state group and their support of the rehabilitator as a liaison with DFG.

As a small, home-based rehabilitator, I understand the pressing needs of the individual; as a member of the CCWR board, I have spent time talking to individuals and facilities to get to know them, their concerns, and the best way to represent them as a whole.

I founded the Conejo Free Clinic in 1976 and worked as executive director of that organization until my retirement at the end of 2008. I always have felt the need to speak for all of the voiceless, whether they are homeless, people in need, or our native wildlife. I sincerely thank the dedicated wildlife rehabilitators in California for the opportunity and honor of serving on the CCWR board.

Leslie J. Bale
Opossum Society of the United States - Region 5

I have over 20 years experience in wildlife rehabilitation. Early on, I realized that I could provide the best care by focusing on one species and I chose the opossum. I started out in public education and moved up to become the President of the Opossum Society of the United States (OSUS)

I am a long-time member of the International Wildlife Rehabilitator’s Council (IWRC), National Wildlife Rehabilitator’s Association (NWRA), California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators (CCWR) and the American Cetacean Society (ACS) and regularly attend conferences and training sponsored by these organizations. I have also done presentations at IWRC, NWRA and CCWR symposiums/conferences and conducted annual training for OSUS.  I attended all the Region 5 California Department of Fish & Game regional meetings originated by CDFG. I was on the Region 5 rehabilitator’s advisory board when it dissolved in 2003. I have a CDFG rehabilitation license.

I have attended the last ten symposiums conducted by CCWR. I recognize the value of having a state organization as a resource for California rehabilitators. Having me on the Board of Directors of CCWR brings the outlook of both a mammal and backyard rehabilitator.

On a personal note, I am a California native and have lived in southern California all my life. I retired in 2003 after 31 years in law enforcement; the last 23 as a police dispatcher. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Todd Cecil, DVM, DABVP-Avian
Pet Emergency and Specialty Center - Region 5

I started my career working with exotic animals and wildlife while employed as a zookeeper at the San Francisco Zoo and a volunteer at the Coyote Point Nature Museum.  At the San Francisco Zoo’s Animal Resource Center, I gained great knowledge of handling, care, and nutrition of many wildlife species, kept as tamed education animals. As a volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation facility, a sense of medical triage and recovery would become a useful tool for my future career as a veterinarian. During veterinary school, I selected a zoological medicine track with an emphasis in zoological, wildlife and aquatic species and received my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of California at Davis in June of 1994. Externships at many zoological parks, aquaria and wildlife facilities led to an internship position in avian, exotic and wildlife medicine.

As a private practitioner in the San Diego area for over 15 years, I have been treating avian, exotic and wildlife species exclusively. Three years ago I joined the team at the Pet Emergency & Specialty Center, anchoring a newly established Avian/Exotic Service. The PESC encourages communication between the different services (Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Surgery and Avian/Exotics) in order to implement the best possible care for all patients. Personally, I am involved with multiple wildlife rehabilitation groups, working with species from fish to raptors, focusing on individual animal health, population dynamics and habitat ecology.

I believe we, as a veterinary and animal health care community, can offer wildlife species the same high level of medicine that is offered our canine and feline companions. Modalities such as a complete physical examinations, radiology, blood work and microbiology are vital diagnostic criteria routinely performed at our practice. The implementation of specialized diagnostics including serology, ultrasonography and endoscopy/laparoscopy can be arranged to better care for animals on their way to recovery.

Nancy Conney
Sky Hunters Rehabilitation and Education – Region 5

I am the director of Sky Hunters Rehabilitation and Education, with the main focus over the past 19 years on education in the community. As a board member of CCWR since 1998, my goal is to network with rehabilitation groups and help continue a good working relationship with the California Dept. of Fish & Game and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. I am a current member of NWRA, an instructor at the San Diego Natural History museum on Raptors, and a member of the Golden Eagle nest-monitoring group for the past 14 years.

Rehabilitators now have a professional presence through continued education credited to CCWR, NWRA & IWRC. It has been a pleasure to serve CCWR, and I look forward to continued growth and accomplishment.

Crystal Norris
Bird Rescue Center – Region 3

Originally from the state of Florida, I have been involved with wildlife rehabilitation since 1980. I was an active member at Santa Rosa Bird Rescue Center for over 15 years and since 1994, I have served on the Sonoma County Fish and Wildlife Commission. As a long time member of both NWRA and IWRC, I served for 5 years as a board member of IWRC. Among other projects completed while on the IWRC Board of Directors, I worked on the accreditation for rehabilitation centers.

As one of the founding board members of CCWR, I have served as president for many of those years. I, along with your other Board members, believe that wildlife rehabilitators have developed better networking throughout the state thanks to work completed by the organization. I feel CCWR has bridged many gaps between the wildlife rehabilitation community and the Department of Fish and Game. In being re-elected to another three-year term, I will continue to help ensure that wildlife rehabilitation in the State maintains a high level of standards. I will continue to assist in planning and developing CCWR symposiums to bring wildlife rehabilitators the knowledge they need to meet the changing needs of rehabilitating wildlife in California. I look forward to continuing to serve on CCWR board and would like to hear from you about your concerns.

Kimberly Stroud
Ojai Raptor Center – Region 5

I have been in the rehabilitation/education field with raptors for 13 years. I trained with Raptor Rehabilitation and Release in Simi Valley for two years, and then pursued another permit from the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) in 1994 to help form Wildlife Care of Ventura County. I was on the board of that group for eight years, and then split from them and applied and received my own permits with CDFG and USFWS for Ojai Raptor Center (ORC) in January 2000. ORC has been in operation since then.

I am the Director of Ojai Raptor Center. I take in 400-500 raptors a year and various other birds. I work full time at Patagonia and take care of birds full time as a volunteer. I also provide educational presentations and public outreach programs to schools and community organization, focusing on habitat conservation for the birds in our areas, what the laws are relative to them, and how to cohabit with them. I provide species-specific information about the ambassadors that are used in the presentations.

I have been involved with the CDFG and USFWS regulations since I began rehabilitating, and feel there is a need for the regulations to be monitored and modified. They have not changed significantly in many years, but the rehabilitation and education field has grown astronomically. CCWR has been proactive in establishing a working relationship the CDFG toward this endeavor, and I am proud to be a part of that.

JoLynn Taylor
WildCare – Region 3

In 1993 I began volunteering at WildCare, a medium-sized center that treats over 200 native species and admits about 4000 animals annually. Since 1994 I have worked with a number of bird and mammal species; beginning with songbirds and eventually specializing in small mammals.

As a volunteer, I’ve learned wildlife husbandry and medical treatment of birds, mammals and reptiles and taken the IWRC training series. I’m the Raccoon Team Leader, and have been employed at WildCare since 1996 working first as the volunteer program manager and later as the Membership and Publications Manager, doing their newsletters, managing the databases and membership program.

I believe that public education will help prevent wildlife orphaning and injury and that volunteer education and training are an essential part of our ability to be successful. Networking with other rehabilitators and environmental agencies is key to promoting a consistent message to the public and to staying at the forefront of current wildlife issues and techniques. As member of the CCWR Board of Directors, I work with members and board directors toward building membership and improving educational and networking opportunities across the state.

Chuck Traisi
The Fund for Animals – Region 5

Since 1984 Chuck and his wife Cindy have managed the Fund for Animals Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in San Diego County. While networking intensively with other organizations, Chuck's 13-acre center deals primarily with large mammals and birds. The center also serves as a "shelter," housing numerous species of wildlife confiscated by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). In 1994, Chuck was the only lay person invited to participate in a Veterinary Delegation to the People's Republic of China. In 1995, he participated in a Wildlife Conservation Delegation to the Kingdom of Nepal.

Chuck has recently returned to his center after a 21-month assignment assisting the Department of Fish and Game in overseeing the care, and subsequent transfer to sanctuaries, of 54 large exotic cats. These cats, mostly adult tigers, were seized by CDFG after their owner was arrested, charged and subsequently convicted on numerous animal cruelty charges.

"I bring no special talent to the CCWR other than a desire and commitment to continue to be part of the already successful efforts to professionalize wildlife rehablitation in California."

Shawnie Williams
Sky Hunters Rehabilitation and Education – Region 5

I have been a wildlife rehabilitator since 1995, specializing in opossums, raccoons, fawns, gray foxes and education. I have also been the caregiver for many education ambassadors, including gray foxes, opossums and raptors. I was a volunteer for a local wildlife organization for 13 years. During that time, I was on their board of directors for six years. I was the lead for the education outreach program, the deer team and fox team.

At present, I volunteer for Skyhunters, a local raptor rehabilitation and education center in Region 5.

I have a wonderful husband, three great sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, one beautiful grandson and another grandchild on the way.

Dawn Wilson-Kozicki
Region 6

My background is in the Radiology field, in which I worked for 28 years. After I retired, I got involved with wildlife rehabilitation.

I have had the pleasure of rehabilitating for 12 years. My specialties are waterfowl, fawns, and foxes. I have been on another board for wildlife in which I served as treasurer and president. I volunteered every week at the care facility for many years while still doing rehabilitation in my home.

I trained in the oil spill response and have, unfortunately, been able to put my training to use. I also am involved with the wildlife biologists and veterinarians from UC Davis in the Southern California Cougar Project.

I have been involved planning fundraisers and helping raise money for various organizations. When I am not busy with rehabilitation and everything else, I bring my domestic animals to a nursing home and visit with the residents.

My experiences have allowed me to help others in training, networking, or guidance of all sorts for which I am grateful. It is a blessing to have the ability to rehabilitate and work with others that share the passion.