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Wildlife and Nature Organizations in San Francisco Bay Area

There are a host of wildlife organizations passionately working to study and protect wildlife and wild places in the San Francisco Bay Area. We have listed a few here and are working on expanding the list. If you know of any that are not listed here, please .

General

American Cetacean Society: Monterey Bay Chapter
Educational, conservational and scientific pursuites for expanding scientific knowledge of whales, dolphins, porpoises and related creatures.
American Cetacean Society: San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
Dedicated to protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises through education, research and conservation.
Audubon Canyon Ranch
Protect the natural resources of its sanctuaries while fostering an understanding and appreciation of these environments. Educate children and adults, promote ecological literacy that is grounded in direct experience, and conduct research and restoration that advances conservation science.
Location: North Bay
Bay Area Mycological Society
Increasing knowledge of and appreciation for the science of mushrooms.
Bay Area Open Space Council
a collaborative of sixty member organizations actively involved in permanently protecting and stewarding important parks, trails and agricultural lands in the ten-county San Francisco Bay Area.
Bay Institute
To protect and restore the ecosystems of San Francisco Bay, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and the rivers, streams, and watersheds tributary to the Estuary.
Location: Novato
Bay Nature
A magazine for the Exploration of Nature in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Big Sur Land Trust
Connect people and land on California's central coast.
California Bat Conservation Fund
Dedicated to the preservation of bats - education, conservation and rehabilitation
Location: Novato
California Native Plant Soceity
To conserve California native plants and their natural habitats, and increase understanding, appreciation and horticultural use of native plants.
Carolyn Parr Nature Center
Helping people of all ages learn more about the local natural environment of Napa Valley.
Location: Napa
Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration (CEMAR)
Using scientific information for the sustainable management of local and regional coastal watersheds in California.
Committee for Green Foothills
Protect and preserve open space of the San Francisco Peninsula through grassroots education, planning, and legislative advocacy
Coastside State Parks Association (CSPA)
Inspiring public appreciation and stewardship of the natural resources and cultural heritage of the San Mateo coast, in partnership with California State Parks.
Creekside Center for Earth Observation
Apply the latest science and technology to address challenging conservation problems.
Location: Menlo Park
CuriOdyssey - formerly Coyote Point Museum
Educate and inspire people to take care of the earth wisely through interactive science exhibits, hands-on and explorative school and public programs, and up close encounters with native California animals.
Location: San Mateo
Delta Science Center
To help people to appreciate, understand, and become active stewards of the San Francisco Bay-Delta ecosystem.
Location: Oakley
EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park'
Environmental education for the communities of southeast San Francisco.
Location: San Francisco
Elkhorn Slough Foundation
Conserving and Restoring Elkhorn Slough
Environmental Action Committee of West Marin
Protect West Marin's natural environment and rural character.
Environmental Forum of Marin
Protection and enhancement of the environment by educating its Members and the Marin citizenry about environmental issues.
Environmental Volunteers
Providing hands-on science and nature education through classroom-based programs, summer camps and the EcoCenter.
Location: Palo Alto and San Jose
Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association
protecting the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary's wildlife and habitats through the development of a diverse community of informed and active ocean stewards.
Location: San Francisco
Felidae Conservation Fund
Protect the world's 37 felidae species and their habitats by supporting and participating in international conservation, partnering in excellent science, and generating unrelenting outreach and powerful education programs. Their Bay Area Puma Project is studying the local Cougar population.
Friends of the Sea Otter
Conservation of Sea Otters and the preservation of their habitat through education, research, and policy decisions that will ensure the long-term survival of this species.
Golden Gate Cetacean Research
Scientific research on Bay area porpoises, dolphins and whales
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO)
A project of the Golden Gate National Parks Association and the National Park Service to study migrating birds of prey along the Pacific coast and to promote public awareness of the state of raptor populations.
Location: San Francisco
Grassroots Ecology
To involve and educate the people of Silicon Valley to restore local ecosystems.
Location: Palo Alto
Greenbelt Alliance
San Francisco Bay Area's advocate for open spaces and vibrant places
Guadalupe-Coyote Resource Conservation District (GCRCD)
Independent special district of the state of California led by a volunteer Board of Directors dedicated to the conservation of natural resources in Santa Clara County.
Location: San Jose
Hidden Villa
Educational organization that uses its organic farm, wilderness, and community to teach and provide opportunities to learn about the environment and social justice.
Location: Los Altos Hills
Hungry Owl Project
Promotes the use of Barn Owls and other beneficial predators for natural pest control, eliminating the need for dangerous poisons and pesticides.
Location: San Anselmo
John Muir Land Trust
Protects and cares for open space, ranches, farms, parkland and shoreline in Contra Costa County.
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Protects and manages lands of significant natural resource, agricultural, cultural and open space value in Santa Cruz County.
LandPaths
Creates ways for people to experience the beauty, understand the value, and assist in healing the land in their local communities in Sonoma County.
Location: Santa Rosa
Lindsay Wildlife Museum
Environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation.
Location: Walnut Creek
Marine Science Institute
Cultivate a responsibility for the natural environment and our human communities through interdisciplinary science education.
Location: Redwood City
Marine Life Studies
Acquire knowledge and share knowledge and inspire the next generation of whale, dolphin and ocean conservationists.
Location: Monterey
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Purchase, permanently protect, and restore lands forming a regional open space greenbelt, preserve unspoiled wilderness, wildlife habitat, watershed, viewshed, and fragile ecosystems, and provide opportunities for low-intensity recreation and environmental education. Covers an area of 550 square miles and includes 17 cities - Atherton, Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, and Woodside.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Inspire conservation of the oceans.
Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project
Restoration and enhancement of the native salmon and steelhead populations of the greater Monterey Bay area.
Native Bird Connections
Non-profit providing educational programs featuring live, nonreleasable birds.
Location: Martinez
Nature in the City
Build a community of stewardship and eco-literacy to preserve and honor San Francisco's natural legacy.
Location: San Francisco
Oceanic Society
Protect endangered wildlife and preserve threatened marine habitats worldwide.
Location: San Francisco
Paula Lane Action Network (PLAN)
Volunteer and grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to preserving open space, rural land and wildlife habitat. Current Project: Paula Lane Open Space Preserve, 100-year-long American Badger habitat, 12 Special Status avian species.
Location: Petaluma
Pelagic Shark Research Foundation
Develops and assists projects that contribute to a better understanding of elasmobranchs, with an emphasis on those which contribute to their conservation and management.
Peninsula Open Space Trust(POST)
Give permanent protection to the beauty, character and diversity of the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Cruz Mountain range.
Pepperwood Preserve
Ecological institute dedicated to educating, engaging, and inspiring our community through habitat preservation, science-based conservation, leading-edge research, and interdisciplinary educational programs.
Location: Santa Rosa
Point Blue (formerly PRBO Conservation Science)
Dedicated to conserving birds, other wildlife and ecosystems through innovative scientific research and outreach. Started as Point Reyes Bird Observatory.
Location: Petaluma
Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center
Interpretive programs related to the natural history of Waddell Valley in Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Location: 7.5 miles north of Davenport
The River Otter Ecology Project
Research, education and conservation of River Otters in the Bay area
Salmon Protection And Watershed Network (SPAWN)
Protect endangered Salmon in the Lagunitas Watershed.
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
Dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats through science and outreach, and to contributing to informed resource management decisions in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Location: Sobrato Center for Nonprofits in Milpitas
San Francisco Bay Joint Venture
Protect, restore, increase and enhance all types of wetlands, riparian habitat and associated uplands throughout the San Francisco Bay region to benefit birds, fish and other wildlife. It is joint venture between multiple public and private organizations.
San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society
Promote public awareness and appreciation of San Francisco Bay and its natural history, and to conserve and preserve the remaining bay lands as essential wildlife habitat. The SFBWS offers many guided excursions that make wildlife watching easy and accessible.
Location: Newark
San Francisco Estuary Partnership
A coalition of resource agencies, non-profits, citizens, and scientists working to protect, restore, and enhance water quality and fish and wildlife habitat in and around the San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary.
Location: Oakland
San Francisco Naturalist Society
Dedicated to the enjoyment, study, and preservation of the natural world.
Location: San Francisco
San Francisco Nature Education
Interactive environmental education programs to develop leadership and stewardship in youth and adults in underserved communities in San Francisco.
Location: San Francisco
San Francisco Parks Alliance
Inspire and promote civic engagement and philanthropy to protect, sustain, and enrich San Francisco parks, recreation, and green open spaces.
Location: San Francisco
San Mateo County Parks Foundation
Provide additional financial support for the recreational, environmental and educational programs and projects of the San Mateo County Department of Parks.
Santa Clara County Creeks Coalition
Transforming local creeks into "living streams"
Location: San Jose
Santa Clara Open Space Authority
Preservation of undeveloped land, in Santa Clara County, in its natural state.
Santa Cruz Bird Club
Location: Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group (SCPBRG)
Location: Santa Cruz
Save Mount Diablo
Preserves Mount Diablo's peaks and surrounding foothills, through land acquisition and preservation strategies.
Save the Bay
Protect, restore and celebrate San Francisco Bay.
Sea Stewards
Restore ocean health and the health of the San Francisco Bay, by protecting all ocean life from plankton to sharks.
Sempervirens Fund
Protects and permanently preserves redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests, wildlife habitat, watersheds, and other important natural features of California's Santa Cruz Mountains, and encourages people to appreciate and enjoy this environment.
Location: Los Altos
Sonoma Birding
Sustainable bird and nature related activities in Sonoma County.
Location: Sonoma
Sonoma Ecology Center
Enhance and sustain ecological health in Sonoma Valley.
Location: Sonoma
Sonoma Land Trust
Conserve scenic, natural, agricultural and open land for the future of Sonoma County.
Stevens and Permanente Creeks Watershed Council
Engage the community in wise stewardship of our watershed, furthering the protection, restoration, and community appreciation of creeks and associated habitats.
Sulphur Creek Nature Center
A wildlife rehabilitation and education facility situated in a serene 10-acre canyon near downtown Hayward.
Location: Hayward
Urban Wildlife Research Project
Working on connectivity corridors and the behavior of the Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in and around the San Francisco Bay.
Ventana Wilderness Alliance
Protect, preserve, and restore the wilderness qualities and biodiversity of the public lands within California's northern Santa Lucia mountains and Big Sur Coast.
Ventana Wildlife Society
Current program areas include Species Recovery focusing on California Condor reintroduction, Conservation Ecology, Conservation Education, and Habitat restoration. Focus is on the Big Sur area.
Watershed Preservation Network
Environmental education, advocacy, networking and technical support of other non-profit organizations.
Location: San Geronimo
The Watershed Project
People committed to a healthy San Francisco Bay watershed.
Location: Richmond
Wild Oakland
Provide free, Oakland-centered environmental education.
Location: Oakland
The Wildlife Society, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
International non-profit scientific and educational association dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education. Mission is to enhance the ability of wildlife professionals to conserve diversity, sustain productivity, and ensure responsible use of wildlife resources for the benefit of society.
Worth a Dam
Maintaining the Martinez Beavers in Alhambra Creek through responsible stewardship, creative problem solving, community involvement, and education.
Location: Martinez

Friends of ...

These are organizations focused on a specific place - park, river, watershed.

Alameda Creek Alliance
To restore the Alameda Creek watershed and its native fish populations.
Alhambra Hills Open Space Committee
To preserve the Alhambra Hills near Martinez. Housing development is an imminent threat.
Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association
Support and assist the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in education, outreach, and stewardship.
Friends of Adobe Creek
Restore Adobe Creek, which is in the Los Altos/Palo Alto area of Santa Clara County.
Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge
Project initiated by the Golden Gate Audubon Society, to train and maintain a corps of volunteers committed to protecting and enhancing the wildlife of the proposed Alameda National Wildlife Refuge.
Friends of Baxter Creek
Preserving, restoring, protecting, and advocating for Baxter Creek and neighboring watersheds.
Location: El Cerrito and Richmond
Friends of China Camp
Keeping China Camp State Park open and thriving for our community.
Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed
Protect and enhance the natural ecosystems of Corte Madera Creek Watershed, especially those relating to urbanized creeks and wetlands.
Location: Larkspur
Friends of Edgewood Natural Preserve
Protects and celebrates Edgewood as a unique treasure by promoting exemplary stewardship, and by reaching out with informative public programs.
Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
Inspires the preservation of the unique intertidal environment of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, through education and the support of research.
Friends of Five Creeks
Restore, maintain, and enjoy the creeks and watershed of the East Bay from north Berkeley to Richmond.
Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed (FOMCW)
Protects, conserves, and restores Marsh Creek and its tributaries, and inspire appreciation and conservation of the Marsh Creek Watershed.
Friends of Mt Tam
Promote the conservation, education, and interpretation of California State Parks, primarily at Mount Tamalpais State Park.
Friends of the San Francisco Estuary
Supports San Francisco Estuary Partnership (see above).
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
Enhancing and increasing community awareness of Santa Cruz County state parks.
Friends of Sausal Creek
Promotes awareness and appreciation of the Sausal Creek watershed, and to inspire action to preserve and protect the creek and its watershed as both a natural and a community resource.
Lagoon Valley Conservancy
Protect Lagoon Valley for future generations.
Location: Vacaville
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation
Preserve, restore and enhance the Laguna de Santa Rosa, and to inspire public appreciation and understanding of this magnificent natural area.
Location: Santa Rosa
Living Arroyos
A partnership of the City of Livermore, Urban Creeks Council, and Zone 7 Water Agency to restore and enhance urban stream and riparian (streamside) habitats while continuing to protect drinking water supplies and maintaining current levels of flood protection. Living Arroyos seeks to re-integrate the region's streams and its human communities so that residents of the rapidly urbanizing Tri-Valley area can have opportunities to experience real, functioning nature near at hand.
Martinez Open Space and Park Protection Initiative
Increase protections for all open space and park land in Martinez
Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
Maintaining and interpreting Mt. Diablo State Park.
Permanente Creek Alliance
A collaborative of organizations working together to preserve and restore the Permanente Creek Watershed.
Point Reyes National Seashore Association
Support Point Reyes National Seashore.
Location: Point Reyes Station
San Bruno Mountain Watch
Protect and preserve San Bruno Mountain.
Sandhills Alliance for Natural Diversity
Preserve the rare and unique habitat of the Santa Cruz Sandhills.
South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition
Reclaim, Restore and Revitalize creeks in the South Bay.
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
Environmental and interpretive organization that works in partnership with California State Parks in the Russian River District to support volunteer, education and stewardship programs.
Suisun Marsh Natural History Association
Rescue of native California wildlife and to the preservation of the Suisun Marsh.
Location: Suisun City
Tri-Valley Creeks
Promote healthy Tri-Valley creeks through active community participation and education.
Vallejo Watershed Alliance
Raise awareness, create local partnerships and promote sustainable management of Vallejo's watersheds.
Location: Vallejo
Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation
Preserve and enhance Walnut Creek's nearly 3000 acres of open space and to educate area residents.

Audubon Chapters

Golden Gate Audubon Society
Local Audubon Society Chapter covering City and County of San Francisco and western Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Marin Audubon Society
Local Audubon Society Chapter covering Marin county.
Location: Mill Valley
Madrone Audubon Society
Local Audubon Society Chapter covering Sonoma county.
Location: Santa Rosa
Mount Diablo Audubon Society
Local Audubon Society Chapter covering Contra Costa county.
Location: Walnut Creek
Napa-Solano Audubon Society
Covering all of Napa and Solano Counties.
Ohlone Audubon Society
Local Audubon Society Chapter for southern Alameda County.
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Local Audubon Society Chapter for Santa Clara County.
Location: Cupertino
Sequoia Audubon Society
Local Audubon Society Chapter for San Mateo County.

Rescue and Rehab

Bird Rescue Center
A rehabilitation center for Sonoma County's wild native bird population.
Location: Santa Rosa
International Bird Rescue Research Center
Mitigates human impact on aquatic birds and other wildlife through rehabilitation, emergency response, education, research, planning and training.
Lindsay Wildlife Museum
Environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation.
Location: Walnut Creek
Marine Mammal Center
Rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured, sick and orphaned marine mammals (Seals, Sea Lions, Dolphins, Porpoises, Whales and Sea Otters) along a 600 mile stretch of California coastline, from Mendocino County through San Luis Obispo County.
Locations: Hospital site in the Marin Headlands, just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco; field offices in Anchor Bay, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo; and gift store and interpretive center at San Francisco's PIER 39
Peninsula Humane Society
A private, non-profit that cares for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife from San Francisco through northern Santa Clara County and provides "living with wildlife" tips for local residents.
Location: Burlingame (Tom and Annette Lantos Center for Compassion)
Native Songbird Care and Conservation
Dedicated to the conservation of native songbirds through rehabilitation, release back to the wild and public education.
Location: Sebastopol
Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue
Rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and the promotion of understanding and appreciation of wildlife through Education Outreach.
Location: Sonoma
Sulphur Creek Nature Center
A wildlife rehabilitation and education facility situated in a serene 10-acre canyon near downtown Hayward.
Location: Hayward
WildCare
Animal aid, advocacy, and education throughout the Bay Area and beyond
Location: San Rafael
Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley
Provide care and rehabilitation of injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife within the Silicon Valley Community. Foster a positive coexistence between the general public and wildlife, and encourage an interest in, and concern for wildlife conservation issues.
Location: San Jose
Wildlife Emergency Services
Wildlife emergency response and care
Location: Moss Landing
Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Rescue (YUWR)
Heal the sick and injured/orphaned animals brought to us and ready them for release back into our Urban Wilds.
Location: Oakland

Links

  • Wildlife rehabilitation organizations serving the Bay Area - a list from California Council for Wildlife rehabilitators  ...link 

Bay Area Open Space Council Bay Institute Committee for Green Foothills Golden Gate Cetacean Research Hidden Villa Hungry Owl Project LandPaths
Sonoma Ecology Center Sonoma Ecology Center
Alameda Creek Alliance Elkhorn Slough Foundation Friends of Sausal Creek
SCVAS
Lindsay Wildlife Museum
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