Wildlife Medical Emergency
While we care deeply about wildlife, SCICON staff are not available 24/7 and do not have the resources to pick up or transport animals to the facility. The SCICON Raptor Center is not able to intake any songbirds or waterfowl, including pigeons, doves, ducks, or geese.
Do not put yourself at risk when attempting to help wildlife.
Unless otherwise instructed, wildlife intakes will need to be transported to the SCICON campus in Springville. Arrangements must be made with staff BEFORE wildlife is delivered.
For help and or assistance with wildlife in Tulare County, please call:
SCICON Raptor Center: (442) 272-2742 (accepts calls/text)
SCICON Site Office: (559) 539-2642 (calls only)
If you do not receive a response, please send a text with a picture, location, and any relevant information to the SCICON Raptor Center number, or send an email to the SCICON Raptor Center Specialist Tyler Gilmore at tyler.gilmore@tcoe.org.
Please note that while we have a certified wildlife rehabilitator on staff, in some cases, we may need to refer you to another licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility. This may depend on the species involved or the specific circumstances of the situation.
If SCICON Raptor Center is not able to assist, please contact the next available facility below:
For Tulare, Kings, and Fresno counties, the nearest facility may be:
Fresno Wildlife
Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation Service - About Us
(559) 298-3276
For Kern County, the nearest facility to you may be:
Ojai Raptor Center
The Ojai Raptor Center
(805) 649-6884
Information from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Central Valley Region for California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
Wild animals rarely require human help. Attempts to approach or handle wildlife can cause serious injury or harm to you and/or the animal. There are certain situations where a wild animal may benefit from human intervention, such as visible injury.
DO NOT intervene without proper guidance from a trained professional (i.e., capture, handle, confine, feed/water).
DO NOT drop off wild animals at a location unless instructed to do so.
Contact a CDFW Office or a wildlife rehabilitation facility
Wildlife rehabilitators are NOT "on call" (24/7). They often work out of their homes.
Wildlife rehabilitators operate with limited resources. Be considerate when asking for help.
Wildlife rehabilitators usually rely on others to transport animals to them.
Wildlife rehabilitators may limit the number or species of animals they can accept
History
The SCICON Raptor Center
The SCICON Raptor Center was established in the 1970s with support from the California Department of Fish and Game and the community. Its original mission was to provide care and rehabilitation for injured and orphaned native raptors. Over the years, SCICON staff, local veterinarians, and dedicated volunteers have helped hundreds of birds of prey recover and return to the wild.
Some raptors, due to the extent of their injuries, are unable to survive on their own. These non-releasable birds are given a permanent home at the Raptor Center, where they become part of the SCICON educational team. Each day, students visiting the SCICON campus have the opportunity to visit the Briz Brisby Raptor Center, where they can experience the awe of seeing these magnificent birds up close.
Through these encounters, students learn about the vital role raptors play in our ecosystem and the importance of protecting native wildlife. The education birds serve as ambassadors, helping to inspire a deeper respect and understanding for California’s birds of prey.
Today, the Raptor Center's primary mission remains focused on education — providing hands-on, up-close learning experiences for students. When resources and staff are available, the center also operates as a licensed California wildlife rehabilitation facility. Staff work closely with local veterinarians, government agencies, and volunteers to care for injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife throughout Tulare County.
The SCICON Raptor Center is fully licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
The Phyllis Wall Museum
The Phyllis Wall Museum and Library is a standout feature of the SCICON campus, offering an enriching experience for all visitors. The original museum building was established to provide a permanent home for a small but growing collection of donated taxidermy, rocks, books, and science equipment. This initial two-room, two-restroom facility was made possible through a generous donation from Phyllis Wall and her family, and served the SCICON program faithfully for many years.
As time went on, the museum could no longer accommodate the expanding needs of the campus. Then-superintendent of the Tulare County Office of Education, Max Crochan, began planning an expansion that would include a third room and a planetarium. The planetarium itself was the original dome previously used in Visalia by the Tulare County Office of Education. When it was replaced with a larger model, the original dome found a new and lasting home at SCICON, where it continues to be used weekly to teach students about astronomy. The new room added during this expansion soon became home to an impressive collection of books and Native American artifacts.
However, by 2003, the museum’s collection had once again outgrown the available space. In response, the museum underwent another expansion, adding two more rooms, a large storage closet, and two additional restrooms on the east side of the complex. Initially sparsely filled, the expanded museum now comfortably houses its growing collection and serves as an engaging educational resource for students.
Today, the SCICON Museum and Library boasts an extensive and diverse collection, including rocks and minerals, fluorescent rocks, scientific literature, Native American artifacts, a discovery center, and beautiful taxidermy displays. It continues to be a treasured part of the SCICON experience, inspiring curiosity and learning in every student who visits.