"We've responded to large stranding events before, but nothing on this scale. Our team is working tirelessly to give each of these birds the care they need, even as more continue to arrive.”
— Kelley Boland, Development Coordinator, Pacific Wildlife Care
Between September 1 and October 12, Pacific Wildlife Care admitted 765 Common Murres. Most were weak, emaciated, and starving. On a single day, 68 birds came through their doors, a new record for the organization.
They aren’t alone. Rehabilitation centers up and down the California coast are seeing the same thing.
A WildAlert map showing reported cases of nutritional disease in seabirds across California in a single week, from October 5, 2026 to October 13, 2026.
One center's records can suggest a problem. Records from dozens of centers, pooled together, show its true scale. That's what we do.
Every animal tells part of a bigger story. We help bring that story into focus. The Wild Neighbors Database Project is the nonprofit behind WRMD and WildAlert. WRMD helps wildlife rehabilitators care for individual animals, while WildAlert brings together anonymized data from participating WRMD users to reveal broader patterns in wildlife health and help identify emerging threats sooner.
A WildAlert chart showing reported cases of seabirds with nutritional disease in California over the past year from October 13, 2025 to October 13, 2026.
Your gift keeps this early-warning system running, so the next crisis is spotted sooner and the people protecting wildlife have the evidence they need.
Donate To Keep This Critical Work Moving
Common Murres receiving care at Pacific Wildlife Care’s rehabilitation clinic after being found stranded along the California coast.
Behind every data point is an animal, and a team working to give it another chance. Your contributions help everyone see the bigger picture.
With gratitude,
Rachel Avilla
Co-Founder and Executive Director
