VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY
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Ventana Wildlife Society

Conserving Native Wildlife and Their Habitats Since 1977
​Ventana Wildlife Society restored a population of bald eagles to central California and dedicated the last 25 years to restoring California condors to the wild while providing meaningful outdoor experiences to youth and families. ​​ In doing so, we create hope for humans and wildlife to thrive, together.  Help us restore condors to the wild and educate the next generation. 

Just Accepted into the 2022 Wildlife Conservation Film Festival and the Best Shorts Competition is our new wildlife documentary film - Giants of Big Sur: California Condor Stories 

Learn more about the documentary and watch the trailer!
​Go behind the scenes with Wilderness Documentarian, Ross Thomas, as he learns the amazing and inspiring stories of the critically endangered California condor. Ross meets the Ventana Wildlife Society experts who have been working since 1997 to restore these majestic giants to the wild Big Sur coast.

Traveler (171)'s Big Sur Homecoming
After losing 2 mates to lead poisoning, 25yr-old female, Traveler (171), faced the battle of her life after ingesting lead fragments herself back in June. After 2.5 months of treatment, first at Oakland Zoo and then at La Zoo, we are relieved to say that she has made a miraculous recovery. Traveler (171) was released back into the wild at our Big Sur sanctuary on September 7, 2022. We are so grateful to have her back!
Hot Links
​• Ventana Wildlife Society is proud to be a Blue Zones Project Monterey County participating organization

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• Big Sur Condor Sanctuary Rebuild Update - New photo!
​The Release Facility is underway and plans are approved!
 


• Get to know the central California flock on My Condor Bios
​• Become a Member​ and get up-to-date news on all things condor plus a monthly email from our Executive Director, Kelly Sorenson​
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We are proud to be a Blue Zones Project - Monterey County organization that is helping to build a healthier, stronger community!
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Species Recovery

Bald Eagles
Restored a breeding population of Bald Eagles to the California central coast from 1986-2000
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Bald Eagles are breeding once again in the Central California Coast Region, thanks to a successful re-introduction project. During 1986-2000, we released 70 juvenile Bald Eagles at our Big Sur wildlife sanctuary. Our goal was to establish a population of four adult breeding Bald Eagle pairs, in the hopes of creating a self-sustaining population. At our last count, we found 30 nesting territories. The wild Bald Eagle population is thriving! 
Condors
Restoring California Condors to the wild since 1997
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Email me Condor updates
By the 1980s, the California Condor population was in crisis, and extinction in the wild seemed imminent. The dramatic decline of condors in the 20th century has been attributed to shooting, poisoning, electric power lines, egg collecting, and habitat loss. In 1987, the last wild California Condor was taken into captivity to join the 26 remaining condors in an attempt to bolster the population through a captive breeding program. At that time, it was uncertain whether or not North America's largest flying land bird (by  wingspan, 9.5 feet) would ever again soar in the wild.

USFWS Matching Fund - Help Us Restore the Flock
​
Thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Fund, every dollar spent this year will be matched 1:1!  Our 2022 goal is $365,000.  Please consider making a gift today and help the condor survive in the wild again.
double your donation
Education
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​​Connecting Youth to Nature Since 1992​
Since 1992, we've been providing outdoor education programs for youth. We pick them up in our fleet of four 15-passenger vans, meeting in communities from Marina to Salinas, and inland from Prunedale to Greenfield. Our destinations have included whale watching boats in the bay, kayaks at Elkhorn Slough, tidepools at Point Pinos, caves in Pinnacles National Park, and forests in the Ventana Wilderness. We provide opportunities for children who have never experienced these things before and offer the discovery of a new world, new emotions, and new possibilities. More than 1,300 youth enroll in our outdoor education programs each year, but we still focus on the individual, their unique discoveries, and the potential they have to shape the lives of others.
more about education
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Become a Member today
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Shop for Condor merchandise

Merchandise Gift Card

$15.00 - $50.00
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California Condor Pin

$8.00
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Condor Distancing T-Shirt, LONG Sleeves

$35.00 $24.50
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Short Sleeve T-shirt

$25.00
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Long Sleeve T-shirt

$35.00
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Condor Distancing T-Shirt, Short Sleeves

$25.00 $17.50
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Condor Ceramic Necklace

$20.00
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Ladies Sportek Jacket with Hood

$90.00 $63.00
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Knit Beanie

$20.00
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Grey Baby Beanie

$16.00 $11.20
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Bike Tire Condor Earrings

$25.00
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Condor Trucker Hats and Baseball Caps

$28.00
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Adopt-A-Condor as a gift
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ventana wildlife society

9699 Blue Larkspur Lane, Ste 105
Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 455-9514 | fax (831) 455-2846
​​
Ventana Wildlife Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization | Federal EIN 94-2795935
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© COPYRIGHT 2021.​ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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  • WHO WE ARE
    • Annual Reports / Documents
    • Bald Eagles - Our Beginning
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
    • Employment
    • Media Coverage
    • Our Story
    • Staff
    • Wildlife Sanctuaries
  • CONDORS
    • Artists Supporting Condors
    • Condor Biology
    • Condor Cams
    • Condor Field Work
    • Condor Releases
    • Condor Status
    • Condor Threats
    • My Condor Bios
    • Nesting Condors
    • The Condor Chat
    • Vultures of the World
    • Zoom-Chats
  • Films and Shorts
    • Giants of Big Sur: California Condor Stories
    • The California Condors of Big Sur
    • Videos and Photos
  • Education
    • Education Overview
    • Inspirational Youth
    • PARTNER PROGRAMS >
      • MWEE for Educators and Teens
      • Nature Prescription Programs
      • Salud Y Naturaleza
      • Partner Programming
    • PUBLIC PROGRAMS >
      • Youth Programs
  • Services
    • Condor Presentations
    • Ecological Services
    • Non-Lead Ammunition
    • Wildlife Data Management Tools
  • How You Can Help
    • Adopt-A-Condor
    • Annual Membership
    • Big Sur Discovery Center
    • Donate >
      • Donate
      • Donate to Condor Recovery
      • Donate to Youth Education
      • Leadership Circle
    • Fund-A-Student
    • Legacy Society
    • S'MORE in Big Sur
    • Subscribe
    • Supporters
    • Volunteer
    • Your Opinion Matters
  • Shop