2006-2007 Orange Book: Internet Directory
Fund for Animals Rehab Center

In Ramona, his group owns the land where the Fund for Animals Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at 18740 Highland Valley Road operates.

Director Chuck Traisi has been in charge of the rehab center for 14 years since it was established by he and his wife, Cindy. They have created a year round, 24 hour, seven days a week medical wildlife rehab center, staffed by some paid staff and many volunteers.

They take in sick and injured wild mammals and birds, treat and rehabilitate them on their sprawling five acre site and return them to their original habitat.

Other organizations do similar work, but are more suited to small mammals and birds.

According to Traisi "the enclosures we've built here have made us well-suited for large mammals and birds. So we split the work up with other organizations."

They maintain a tight network with allied groups all over Southern California and Arizona.

They don't have the time or staff to do fund-raisers, so they rely on the interest of the general public in their work to help fund them.

The public is welcome Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. -4 p.m. They can't see the whole facility, but can visit quite a number of animals and birds in large enclosures recovering from injuries.

The center maintains its own fully-equipped medical facility on the property. For tricky cases they work with local veterinarians Dr. Donald Wood and Dr. Lynn Savage.

Although the center doesn't do educational programs both Chuck and Cindy Traisi do speaking engagements, complete with slides. They also provide a free booklet to the public. It offers tips on co-exiting with urban wildlife. It tells people who are uncomfortable living with skunks or raccoons how to discourage them without harming them.

If you find a wounded animal of the type they deal with, you probably won't be able to pick it up and drive it to them. Instead, go to the nearest phone and call the center. The phone rings in the houses, hospital and throughout the operation.

Although they operate year round, each season presents its challenges. During the spring, for instance, in addition to all the normal injured wildlife, they deal with orphaned baby bobcats, raptors, and coyotes.

They nurse them back to health in a totally controlled environment, with natural diet and the companionship of their same species, and minimal exposure to people. The workers don't talk to the animals, don't cuddle them or show them affection that might make them dependent on humans.

"We fulfill medical, housing and nutritional needs, and as a result they are completed ignored, so they are raised completely wild," says Traisi.

They are then released in an acclimalation method which allows them to begin foraging on their own, until they no longer require human food.

Call the Fund for Animals Rehab Center at 789-2324 or write them at 18740 Highland Valley Road.