Wildlife Resources

We are lucky to have over 20 different species of bats living in San Diego County. These nocturnal animals are extremely valuable to our environment — in fact, almost every bat found in this area eats insects, which provides a huge benefit to our region’s gardens and farms.

Coyotes generally avoid humans, even though we share much of the same space in San Diego County’s urban and suburban areas. However, pet food, compost or trash can attract coyotes and create the impression that homes or buildings are easy feeding areas.

As coyotes have expanded their range across North America, encounters with people have increased. These encounters sometimes alarm people who fear for the safety of their pets and children.

Generally, coyotes will avoid human contact. Coyotes who have adapted to urban and suburban environments, however, may realize there are few real threats and approach people or feel safe visiting yards even when people are present.

There is one species of raven and one species of crow in the San Diego area, and our Project Wildlife program helps hundreds of these birds each year!

Project Wildlife cannot remove healthy ducklings from backyard pools because the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Permits do not allow us to relocate healthy wildlife. It is illegal to disturb any active nest!

If you find a bird tangled in fishing line or caught on a hook, follow these instructions.

Foxes are primarily active at night, mate for life and live in almost every corner of San Diego County. They are very beneficial to have in our community because they help control the population of mice, rats, gophers, moles and other small rodents. A fox is unlikely to harm an adult cat, dog or human.

Here are some tips to maintain a harmonious relationship with native wildlife.

There are seven species of hummingbirds in San Diego County and 80% of those brought to Project Wildlife are Anna’s hummingbirds. It’s important to know that hummingbirds need food often and have to stay warm.

Virginia opossums are the only marsupial found in North America and Project Wildlife admits about 1,000 of them each year. They do not carry rabies but do foam at the mouth as a natural defense. They are not aggressive towards humans or pets.

Learn more about opossums, bats, and owls.