Helping protect wildlife in need through search, observation, reporting, and rescue support.

About the Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew

The Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew is a trained, invite-only volunteer pilot initiative that supports responsible wildlife search and rescue efforts along Southern California’s coast through observation, documentation, reporting, and authorized pickup and transport of wildlife in need.

The Rescue Crew complements Wildlife Jewels’ EYES™ (Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life) program by helping ensure wildlife concerns are accurately documented and coordinated with appropriate, authorized response pathways, including licensed wildlife rehabilitators, animal services, lifeguards, and other authorized wildlife response partners.

The Rescue Crew operates within defined, approved scopes and does not replace or supersede wildlife authorities, lifeguards, animal control, or permitted wildlife rehabilitation organizations.

The Foundation Behind the Rescue Crew

Fueled by our founder’s lifelong passion for wildlife and a deep connection to seabirds and marine life, Wildlife Jewels® is informed by 20+ years of coastal observation along California’s shoreline and firsthand experience witnessing threats to coastal wildlife—particularly distressed and entangled wildlife, as well as the impacts of oil spills, tar balls, pollution, and other human-caused threats. This long-term commitment includes responsible observation, documentation, reporting, and helping route wildlife concerns through appropriate rescue and rehabilitation pathways.

These experiences helped shape today’s Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew.

How the Program Works

The Rescue Crew is a trained, invite-only volunteer network that supports wildlife response in coordination with licensed wildlife rehabilitators and authorized responders, with an initial pilot focus in La Jolla and nearby North County coastal areas.

Participation begins with an interest application, followed by orientation and training. Invitations, role assignments, and field activation depend on training completion, readiness, reliability, and program needs.

Volunteer Roles

Depending on training and authorization, Rescue Crew volunteers may support wildlife response through:

• Wildlife search, observation, and documentation

• Reporting wildlife concerns to authorized responders

• On-scene monitoring to help protect space and relay updates

• Limited, authorized transport or containment support in coordination with licensed wildlife rehabilitation partners

Volunteers do not provide medical treatment, diagnosis, or rehabilitation

Participation & Commitment Expectations

The Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew is an active, operational program. To ensure safety, readiness, and effective response, volunteers are expected to:

• Complete required orientation and training

• Commit to at least 6 months of active participation after onboarding

• Be available for on-call response monitoring or support as needed

• Maintain active status through periodic updates or trainings

• Follow all Wildlife Jewels® protocols and partner guidance

Typical participation averages ~4 hours per month, with flexibility month to month. Authorization for pickup or transport is based on training, experience, and program needs.

Wildlife Response Scope

Birds & Small Mammals

Pickup, containment, and transport to a rehabilitation facility for trained volunteers and in coordination with permitted partners.

Marine Mammals (Observation & Reporting Only)

Rescue Crew volunteers do not handle, move, herd, feed, or transport marine mammals (including seals, sea lions, whales, and dolphins). For marine mammals, the Rescue Crew’s role is limited to observing from a safe distance and promptly reporting to authorized responders.

Service Areas

Orange County and San Diego County coastal sites, with an initial pilot focus in La Jolla and nearby North County coastal areas.

Interested in Joining?

If you love wildlife and want to be part of a trained, coordinated team that helps when it matters, we’d love to hear from you—please submit an interest application below.

Every wildlife is a precious jewel—and every life matters. Help us protect them.