
Major upgrades have been completed at our Los Angeles wildlife center thanks to the generous support of Marathon Petroleum Foundation!
Predator proofing had recently become a key issue at our L.A. wildlife center in San Pedro. As development has continued in the surrounding community, the presence of predatory species such as raccoons and rats in and around the center has increased significantly. In the spirit of being good stewards of our local ecosystem, our staff researched the best methods for preventing the mounting predator concerns. To protect both our patients and local wildlife, we opted to use exclusion methods that would prevent the need for trapping or extermination. Upgrades to the outdoor animal enclosures were designed to create a hard, protective barrier against predators on the outside while maintaining a soft, safe interior for our patients on the inside.
With the help of a generous grant from the Marathon Petroleum Foundation, these designs were finally able to come to fruition! Hardware cloth was applied to the exterior of our outdoor aviaries and enclosures to keep out any would-be intruders. In addition, aluminum flashing was attached to the top of the structures to prevent any animals from climbing on top of the aviaries. To keep our recovering patients protected from the heavy-duty surfaces of the aviaries, we applied new netting to provide a soft cushion for the birds inside.
The grant also included funding for the installation of a new washer and two dryers to help us keep up with constant flow of laundry through our facility. We are so grateful to the Marathon Petroleum Foundation for their support which has made these critical upgrades possible!

