Our Volunteers
Rosemarie
Most people have been with their animal friends for years. My journey to becoming a volunteer with Wildworks is far from normal. As a young child, I learned I was allergic to all those fun warm blooded animals out there: dogs, rabbits, cats, horses and probably the ferrets!
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Growing up and as an adult, my companions have included fish, turtles, hermit crabs, two budgies and a conure parrot. I have vicariously reveled in helping family and neighbors pet-sit their horses, dogs and cats.
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When I heard that Wildworks was in search of volunteers, I jumped at the chance. I’ve always loved the largest cat in California the mountain lion; birds of all kinds; gopher snakes and the cute prickly hedgehog. I was delighted to learn that most of these animals — with more to come — were happily living in Coarsegold.
Kelley
I have had a love of animals since I was young. I remember my first “rescue” which was a black cat stuck in a tree near my house. I got it down and couldn’t leave it so I brought it home. Thankfully, my parents let me keep him. Begging helped.
When I was 10, my family moved from L.A. to the Bass Lake area and I was in heaven because I was able to hike, climb trees, look for wildlife, etc. As I grew up, my love for animals grew (with the exception of not being a big fan of snakes) and by the time I finished high school, I knew I wanted to go into biology.
I got into Cal Poly, SLO, and wanted to go into marine biology. I loved it but after I graduated, I couldn’t find a job and moved back home and thought my life was over. Haha. I started volunteering at the Forest Service in North Fork and then moved into a seasonal job the following year working on stream/meadow restoration which lasted six seasons. I also volunteered/did various animal surveys over the winters.
Thankfully, I got a full-time job at CalTrans in Fresno as a biologist (lots of cool animals/surveys!) and worked there until 2016 when I transferred over to the CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife until I retired from the State the end of 2024.
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Chris
Animals have always been a great interest of mine. Always enjoyed camping and backpacking and trying to see wildlife in their natural environment. I worked ten seasons with the USDA Forest Service and three with the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife. I got to work in campgrounds, programs to radio collar and monitor deer in Northern California, worked in a fish hatchery, and worked at a state wildlife area. I couldn't get a year-round job so I worked for a campground concessionare, mutual water system, private water system, and finally for Madera County in utilities.
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I volunteered for many years at the Santa Rosa Bird Rescue Center and then for a long time didn't live close enough to any wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, or education centers. I was very excited when The Nature of Wildworks came to Coarsegold and am now very happy to be volunteering every week. I enjoy all of the animals- hate to say any favorites, but I have to admit I'm leaning towards bobcats.
Sally
A lifelong California resident, Sally grew up in the Berkeley area but always longed to live in the country. That desire was satisfied 20 years ago when she moved to O’Neals. She has two horses and a cat. She joined Fresno Wildlife in 2016 and raised a deer, Dandy, until she was able to be released deep in the Oakhurst foothills. Dandy was with Sally for a year. She also supported the group by helping with some birds and a beaver. Due to the distance, it became less convenient to go to Fresno and Clovis for activities, so The Nature of Wildworks appeared at just the right time to allow transition from one organization to another. She also will be volunteering at the Ahwahnee SPCA when it opens to help out with the dogs and cats while they wait to find their forever homes. She likes to keep busy!
Angi
I have loved animals for as long as I can remember. We had the standard dogs and cats growing up as well as milking goats when I was a child as I was allergic to cow's milk. I was always the kid in the woods catching lizards and snakes and if you know me you know I never outgrew that. In high school I worked 2 years as a vet tech and thoroughly enjoyed my job. After college, my husband and I moved to the country where I raised my daughter. We always had random rescues such as stray dogs, dumped kittens, wild baby bunnies our dogs brought home and even a mockingbird. We also raised our own bunnies, had a pygmy goat, 4 dogs and 5 cats. Our friends gave us the nickname Eller Zoo.
After living in the central valley 22 years we moved to the mountains and were in Mariposa for 5 years before moving down to Coarsegold where I attended an open house at our HOA. Lucky for me, NOWW was in attendance with some of their beautiful animals. When I found out how close they were located to our new home I knew I would volunteer some day. That some-day came 2 years later when I decided that waiting until retirement was too far off so I jumped on the opportunity sooner than I had originally intended. I love playing a role in ensuring these animals live healthy, enriched lives while also supporting the organization's mission of wildlife education and advocacy. I value the opportunity to help each animal thrive in a safe and stable environment. Working alongside such caring and dedicated staff and volunteers at The Nature of Wild Works is such a gift and I feel truly blessed.
Audrey
I have lived with my dogs and cat in Coarsegold for the last 6 years. Before that I had a ranch on the coast with my husband and son. We had dogs, cats, fish, birds, chickens, rabbits, and even a peahen. As you can guess, I love all animals. Many years ago I worked for a wildlife education and rehab center. I loved it! I had to quit when I hurt by back so I was very excited when The Nature of Wildworks moved to Coarsegold about the same time I retired. The people here are great and love animals as much as I do. Can you tell what one of my favorite animals is? This is Stella and she loves to hang out and play with her friends.
Vicki
I have lived over half my life in Cali. My husband and I bought a home up in YLP 4 years ago, came from Fresno. Did not want to own in the big city. It's a halfway point from the mountains, as my husband still commutes to Fresno. I am retired for the most part, except for a side business I've had for 9+ yrs.
We love living up here and we love animals. We had 5 cats at one point, (called crazy cat lady). However living in the foothills is quite different from city life. We love all animals give great pleasure in spoiling them. So for me, working at Wildworks is very rewarding. I think about these wonderful domesticated/injured animals that have a forever home to live their lives out in comfort gives me peace. I am very proud to be a part of that process and highly commend Molly, Meagan and Nicole for their dedication to Wildworks!
Ron and Brenda
My husband Ron and I learned about nature of Wildworks thru our dog groomer Samantha. We went to learn about it and fell in love with the animals, birds, reptiles and especially Bobby the bobcat. We love feeding them and doing other chores to make the facility run smoothly and assist the staff. We’ve made a lot of wonderful friends who work and volunteer as well. It’s so wonderful to see the ladies who run it, show their love and commitment to taking care of all the animals who will live their best lives here.
Justin
My name is Justin, and I am a first-generation Taíno student with a passion for championing diversity across all realms. I am a student at Cabrillo College (of Aptos, CA), majoring in Agriculture Plant Science AS, as well as Fire Technology AS. In spring of 2026 I will transfer into CSU Fresno to major in Animal Science (Dairy Production) BS with minors in both Water & LGBTQ2+ Studies. From lakeside microbes to dream-world monsters, I wish to bring our curiosities to the surface. My mission is to be able to provide quality environmental data to the global public so that landowners such as farmers may make better-informed decisions no matter where they are.
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I am volunteering at the Wildworks in an effort to learn more about our fellow animals and the ways in which we humans interact with them. As a child, I refused to eat meat because I didn't want to participate in the slaughter of animals — these days, after two decades of changes, I find myself feeling similarly again. When not at the Wildworks or playing games, I sample Bass Lake for harmful algal blooms and report my findings to the Freshwater Phytoplankton Monitoring Network. All microscope observations are done on my SW350T Trinocular at home. I have a deep passion for learning and often find myself lost in research, so much so that it sometimes kills me in the middle of my games!
Eden
Diana
I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to volunteer with all the special animals at the Nature of Wildworks. I am a homeschooling mother of 4 with many animals of our own at home, currently including dogs, cats, fish, ducks, and chickens. Animals of all types have always had a special place in my heart, and I love that we have such a special facility so close to us where my children can meet animals they might never have an opportunity to meet otherwise. While I love every single animal at the Nature of Wildworks, I could cuddle with Jake the gopher snake, and enjoy the adorable antics of the busy little hedgehogs all day.
Petronella
I grew up on a farm in Sweden where my family grew strawberries and kept sheep, Hereford cattle, pigs, and chickens. For a few years, I had a Shetland pony who would only let me ride him bareback. He was one of my best friend.
When one of our sows had given birth, my friend and I would lie underneath the heating lamp in the pig enclosure, so all the baby piglets had to crawl up on us to get to the heat. We spent most of that summer playing with them, sitting in the apple trees and throwing fruit to the growing piglets down below.They were, of course, raised for meat and I became a vegetarian that year.
As an adult, I traveled the world for a couple of years and I met my husband Jeff in the Himalayas, Nepal. I came back with him to California and we bought a home in North Fork. We have two children, one in college and one in high school. I loved raising my kids and was super involved at their schools, but as they grew older, I started looking for something new and meaningful to do.
I have missed having animals in my life and therefore I was so excited when I learned about The Nature of Wildworks. When I visited, it was everything I hoped for: a variety of fantastic animals and plenty of work to be done. It is a gift to work with an organization where I can put everything else aside and be completely present with the animals and work at hand. I also think a practical workout is the best workout, so bring on the horse poop!
Carolyn
I grew up splitting my time between the hustle and bustle of Washington DC and 340 acres of wilderness in the deep green hills of rural West Virginia. In DC I attended a bilingual elementary school where I learned to speak Spanish and still have a pretty good accent and vocabulary today. In WV I learned to appreciate nature; catching crawdads on the creek and identifying constellations at night around the campfire.
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Our family ultimately separated from our endless green and ended up in big Los Angeles. I have been trying to get back to the wild ever since. Funny I would find myself here at Wildworks; it is the wildest place I could ever imagine!
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As an Angelino I was called “hawk lady” by coworkers because i would occupy our skyscraper windows with my binocs spying on my flying friends. I participated in the Griffith Park Raptor Study for years where we identified nests and counted baby raptors every spring. Also I volunteered for the LA Audubon Society taking LA youth on bird walks at Kenneth Hahn park. LA is pure concrete, but no matter you can always remember the wild when you look up to see the soaring red tail.
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It gets harder and harder to connect to our wild roots in today's world, and I feel strongly that Wildworks exists to protect this ancient connection. I take my volunteer role seriously and I feel privileged to be a part of this mission.
Evelyn
​​​Although I grew up in the city, I have always loved the great outdoors and the animals who inhabit it. I'm currently a biology student at Fresno State with the hopes of becoming a zookeeper at our local zoo once I graduate. I love volunteering at Wildworks and getting the opportunity to get up close with such beautiful animals. Volunteering here really is a dream come true for me.
