Our Mission

To conserve native wildlife and their habitats through ​science, education and collaboration.

Our Story

Founded in 1977, Ventana Wildlife Society led the way to the successful reintroduction of the iconic Bald Eagle and the California Condor to their native central coast habitats. Through adherence to rigorous science, collaboration to amplify our efforts, and educational outreach to underserved and historically marginalized communities, our organization strives to address pressing ecosystem challenges while inspiring the next generation of environmental and wildlife stewards.

Our Values

We believe in the importance of scientific research. We understand the value of contributing peer-reviewed publications to the scientific literature and extending our leadership in endangered and special-status species research, recovery, management and consultation.

We believe that access to meaningful outdoor experiences is a right that should be available to all, and that a love of the outdoors will help produce future leaders in wildlife preservation.

We believe that collaboration with other scientists, zoos, community members, organizations and governmental agencies will further our shared goals.

We believe in working closely with a diverse group of communities, industries, and native peoples.

Our Vision

We see a world in which endangered species thrive, and people are committed to their protection. Having succeeded in restoring the Bald Eagle to the central coast as a self-sustaining population, we envision a future where California Condors and other species will be well established and independent of our assistance. We also look forward to a time when financial, cultural and access-related barriers to meaningful outdoor education are eliminated, providing all with the opportunity to learn about, enjoy and protect wildlife