Staff and Contact Information

Staff

Director: Michael Ziccardi
Response Veterinarian: Greg Massey
Clinical Veterinarian: Shannon Riggs
Volunteer Coordinator: January Bill
Administrative Coordinator: Lavonne Hull
Facilities Coordinator and Development Engineer: Don Ballard

Mike Ziccardi, Director

Dr. Ziccardi received his DVM, MPVM, and PhD in epidemiology from UC Davis, emphasizing wildlife health and the effects of petroleum exposure in wildlife. He has been an oil spill response veterinarian and coordinator since 1996, responding to more than 20 spills in the US and abroad.

Dr. Ziccardi has acted as a contract veterinarian for California Department of Fish and Game, as well as program coordinator, Assistant Director, and senior wildlife veterinarian for California’s Oiled Wildlife Care Network at the Wildlife Health Center, UC Davis. His current position is Director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network and Associate Professor of Clinical Wildlife Health at UC Davis.

Greg Massey, Response Veterinarian

Dr. Massey received his veterinary degree from the North Carolina State University in 1989. In 1996 he became a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian Practice). From 1993 – 2003, he worked as the Endangered Species Veterinarian for the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources where he conducted field research, provided clinical care for birds at endangered species breeding facilities on the islands of Hawaii and Maui, and consulted for the Honolulu Zoo. From 1997 – 2003, he was responsible for coordinating Hawaii’s Oiled Wildlife Response Program. During that time he co-chaired the Oiled Wildlife Subcommittee of the Honolulu Area Committee and was responsible for producing Hawaii’s Oiled Wildlife Response Plan. In October of 2003 he joined the Oiled Wildlife Care Network. In addition to responding to oil spills, he currently manages the veterinary care of birds rehabilitated at the San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center, a program in partnership with the International Bird Rescue and Research Center. He also administers the California Wildlife Health Externship for 4th year veterinary students and teaches UC Davis veterinary students on the Zoo Medicine rotation. Research interests include clinical care and infectious diseases of oil affected wildlife and field techniques (e.g., translocation, telemetry) to enhance wildlife management.

Shanon Riggs, Clinical Veterinarian

Dr. Riggs received her DVM from the University of California, Davis in 2002. Following graduation, she completed an internship in Bird, Zoo and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery at Louisiana State University. She then returned to UC Davis and completed a three-year residency in Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine. Dr. Riggs has been with the Oiled Wildlife Care Network since 2006, working primarily as the clinical veterinarian for the San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center in Cordelia, CA.

 

January Bill, Volunteer Coordinator / Wildlife Rehabilitator

January O. Bill received her B.S. with a major in wildlife rehabilitation from Humboldt State University. Her interest in oiled wildlife response began in 1999 when she was a volunteer at the Stuyvesant spill in Humboldt County.  She has acted as Director for Humboldt Wildlife Care Center and as an oil spill responder, wildlife rehabilitator, and volunteer coordinator for International Bird Rescue Research. She has responded to 10 oiled wildlife responses throughout the US. She is on the Board of Directors of the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association. Her current position is Wildlife Rehabilitator and Volunteer Coordinator for the Oiled Wildlife Care Network.

Don Ballard, Development Engineer

Don Ballard is the Facilities Coordinator for the OWCN. He designs and fabricates facilities and equipment, including everything from pools to holding/drying pens which help in the care of oiled wildlife. These designs are continuously being refined following a spill response and are state-of-the-art based on knowledge gleaned in these events. Don's work is essential to providing the best achievable care for oiled wildlife.

Lavonne Hull, Administrative Coordinator

A native of northern California, Lavonne (known to her friends as “Lovie”) was born and raised in Dixon, where she still resides. She is the mother of four children ranging in age from 17 to 24. Lavonne provides administrative support for the OWCN. The experience gained from managing her family frequently comes in handy when she is faced with the chaos of juggling logistic requirements for oiled wildlife responses. She has been a member of the OWCN team since 2001.

Contact Us

Main phone number: (530) 752-4167
FAX: (530) 752-3318
e-mail: wildlifehealth @ ucdavis.edu

Wildlife Health Center
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California, Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616

Directions

UC Davis Wildlife Health Center

TB 128 Old Davis Road
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 752-4167

From Sacramento:
Travel west on Interstate 80 to the UC Davis campus exit.
Turn left (south) and drive 3/4 mile; we are the second driveway on the left after you cross the railroad tracks.
Our building is TB128.

From San Francisco:
Travel east on Interstate 80 to the UC Davis campus exit.
Turn right (south) and drive 3/4 mile; we are the second driveway on the left after you cross the railroad tracks.
Our building is TB128.

Northern California Center

San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center
4369 Cordelia Road
Fairfield, CA 94534
(707) 207-0380

From Berkeley/San Francisco:
Take 80 North to the 680 Benicia/Green Valley Road exit
Take first exit: Green Valley Road
Right at stop (becomes Lopes Road)
Continue to the next stop sign & turn left on Cordelia Road
Continue on Cordelia Road .7 mile. The center is on the right.
From Sacramento:
Take 80 south to the Suisun Valley Road/Green Valley Road exit
Exit at first turn off; loop up around and continue back over the freeway.
Continue as road becomes Pittman Road
Continue on Pittman and turn left at last stop sign onto Cordelia Road
The center is on the right .25 mile.

Southern California Center

Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center
3601 South Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 514-2573 or 514-2574

From the 405 freeway take the 110 freeway south to end of freeway. The freeway ends in San Pedro.
Turn left onto South Gaffey at end of road passing under the "Welcome to San Pedro" overpass.
At the 25th Street fork, get into the left lane to continue on Gaffey and NOT in the right lane which will put you on 25th.
Continue on Gaffey just past 36th Street and look for the sign on right side for Angels Gate Park.
Turn right into the park (Leavenworth St.) and stay on main road over numerous speed bumps. Continue around bend and watch for large parking lot on right side of street.
The Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care & Education Center is next to the Marine Mammal Center at Fort MacArthur.

 

| Last updated: February 28, 2008