CCWR Board of Directors

CCWR Board Statements

Vann Masvidal
Bird Ally x - Region 2

    Vann Masvidal has been rehabilitating wildlife at various centers throughout Northern California since 2005. He is currently the Rehabilitation Manager of the Sacramento Wildlife Care Association, where he has worked since spring of 2009, and is co-director of the aquatic bird rehabilitation group Bird Ally X. His favorite species to work with are Yellow Billed Magpies and Brown Pelicans.  In serving on the CCWR board, he hopes to be of greater use to California's wildlife by helping facilitate the sharing of knowledge between rehabilitators throughout our diverse and beautiful state.

Chuck Traisi
Fund For Animals - Region 5

Chuck, along with his wife Cindy, was the resident Manager of the Fund For Animals Wildlife Center in Ramona from 1985 until his retirement in 2010. In addition to the primary function of wildlife rehabilitation, the 13 acre center held a Restricted Species Permit and housed many animals confiscated by the Department of Fish & Game. Chuck established a reputation of applying a pragmatic and no-nonsense approach to the care and rehabilitation of wildlife.

One of its founding members, Chuck was on the CCWR Board of Directors for 17 years and served 2 terms as board president.

Although no longer directly involved with wildlife rehabilitation, Chuck has been elected back on the CCWR Board and has stated his desire to assist, in any way he can, with what he describes as "the most proactive and effective state wildlife organization in the country".

Francie Waller
Gold Country Wildlife Care - Region 2

    Immersed in wildlife activities as a child in Morro Bay, Francie later, volunteered at the Peninsula Humane Society SPCA in San Mateo. There she worked in the wildlife and exotics department. In 2003, Francie moved to the Sierra's and became a volunteer for another organization working to rehabilitate and save small mammals, waterfowl and game birds. Waterfowl and game birds are now her specialties.

     Francie has enjoyed a volunteer career as a wildlife rehabilitator and parrot rescuer for the past 10 years. This was preceded by a career in social work, special education and teaching art. None of these careers afforded her an opportunity to volunteer on a steady basis. Now she is fully immersed in her volunteer work. That being said, it is Francie's goal to assist in coordinating the skills and resources of others who have worked with wildlife and have a passion to work as rehabilitators into an organization whose total purpose and philosophy is to promote high standards of caring for injured and orphaned wildlife.

     Francie has a long history of working with non-profit organizations, most recently having served as Vice President for a wildlife organization in her region. She has also been a coordinator with Mickaboo Companion Parrot Rescue for 8 years. Francie and her husband Ron have lived in Blue Canyon, CA since 2003. They care for an menagerie of critters including many parrots and chelonians and are involved in their local arts community.

     Francie has been on the CCWR Board since 2009 and is currently the membership chair person.

 

Kathy Bolen
Critter Creek Wildlife Station - Region 4

   I began my interest in wildlife, many years ago having the opportunity to work at the San Diego Zoo Hospital. I have never forgotten my love for wildlife, although career moves dictated otherwise. I have a degree in Biomedical Engineering and worked as a Vascular Technician at the Naval Regional Medical Center in San Diego for 11 years. Another career move had me attending and graduating from the Regional Police Academy and serving on the San Diego Police Department for 25 years.

  My husband (of 29 years) and I retired 8 years ago and moved to the Fresno area to assist in caring for my elderly mother. I discovered a renewed interest in wildlife (with all the new free time I had) and began rehabilitating songbirds and small mammals. I joined to Critter Creek Wildlife Station located just outside the city of Fresno. I pick-up and rescue abandoned, orphaned or injured wildlife and transport them to Critter Creek for rehabilitation. I still participate in some rehabilitation of songbirds and small mammals.

  I take great pride in making friends with those who find our wildlife, letting them know the important role they have served in caring enough to hold on to that creature until we can retrieve it.

  I am also a falconer and love to show off my American Kestrel at educational presentations. My falcon is a great wildlife ambassador.

  My interest in being on the CCWR Board of Directors is to increase the communication between wildlife rehabilitators not only statewide, but directly within Region 4. It would be so useful to be able to share information with others in the Central Valley in regards to volunteers, rehabilitation trends, medical and veterinary practices the wildlife laws (and their changes). I have established relationships with the local SPCAs and law enforcement agencies and will readily speak with them regarding wildlife issues.

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

     I have over 25 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 and a USDA Exhibitor's Permit.

      I have attended the last fifteen 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 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.

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
Sky Hunters Rehabilitation and Education - Region 5

     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.