Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Los Angeles California Wildlife Rehabilitation Real Estate

Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Los Angeles California Wildlife Rehabilitation Real Estate
WEBSITE       FACEBOOK       YOUTUBE        MARY CUMMINS RESUME
Showing posts with label wildlife rehabilitator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wildlife rehabilitator. Show all posts

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Wildlife in the News: Nibi the beaver, Peanut the squirrel, by Mary Cummins Animal Advocates

I'm sure most by now have heard about the stories of Nibi the beaver and Peanut the squirrel. Both were found orphaned and raised by individuals with the intent to release them back to nature. For differing reasons neither were released. Instead the local Fish & Wildlife/Game Departments got involved. After some legal wrangling, petitions, press, social media campaign, Nibi is now an educational beaver. Sadly the authorities just instantly took Peanut and killed him. Here's a little explanation of what issues were involved.

Peanut the squirrel was found orphaned by a kind couple who raised him in Pine City, New York. The finder Mark Longo and his wife tried to release him but he was too acclimated to humans so they kept him. They made a social media page about him wearing hats, acting like a pet which garnered lots of fans and attention. They started P'Nut's Freedom Farm an animal sanctuary. Peanut got the attention of the local Fish & Game Department. New York State Department of Environmental Conversation (DEC) got a warrant then went and took him October 30, 2024 and killed him. They did not cite Longo or give him notice to appear for formal charges. They killed Peanut and a raccoon stating he bit someone and could have rabies. Just fyi any mammal can get and carry rabies. It's extremely rare for squirrels to have rabies. Most would die pretty quickly with obvious signs.

Legally one must have a permit to possess wildlife in New York. One could have possibly gotten an exhibit, sanctuary or wildlife rehabilitation permit to possess a squirrel. One could have also given the squirrel to someone who is already licensed to have squirrels. I doubt anyone would have been bitten at that point. I personally feel the authorities should have given the squirrel to a licensed individual. They could have worked something out in the future so the finders could visit or become licensed. The bad press is never worth it. Sadly that didn't happen. In a perfect world they should have given the baby squirrel to a wildlife rehabilitator so he could have been raised with others then released to the wild. It's possible the finder didn't know the law at the time. He did know the law later and should have taken steps to safeguard Peanut.

Nibi the beaver was also found orphaned. He was given to licensed wildlife rehabilitator Jane Newhouse of Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Massachusetts. You must raise beavers with others so they don't get acclimated to human caregivers. Squirrels are the same way. The rehabber tried but couldn't find another beaver Nibi would accept. Nibi wasn't able to be released for this reason. The rehabber applied for an educational permit but was denied. They were ordered to release Nibi instantly. A habituated beaver would most likely die if released.

Instead they used their social media fans to start a petition, contacted the media and contacted lawyers and local politicians. With the help of media and politicians including I believe the Governor they were able to secure the proper permits. 

I personally feel they should have been granted the educational permit originally. I feel perhaps the local Fish & Wildlife department just didn't want to encourage rehabbers to keep wildlife or showcase them in a pet like manner. While we got a wildlife rehabilitation and educational exhibit permit our local Fish & Wildlife department is also extremely against giving permits. They believe wildlife should be "utilized" as in hunted, eaten, used for fur, research or released to the wild even if they just die. They don't believe any wildlife should be kept for education, exhibition, sanctuary or foster. Because there are a lot of "working" wild animals in California they still give out some permits to some people. 

The purpose of this article is to educate people about possessing wildlife and the necessary permits. If you find ill, injured, orphaned wildlife, give it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator instantly. Don't keep it because you will bond with it and it will bond with you. Then it won't be able to be released back to nature and could end up dead. A life in nature is best for wildlife.

If you want to care for wildlife, volunteer with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. We are not accepting new volunteers but other facilities may. Thanks for caring about wildlife. 



Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Friday, June 28, 2024

Recognizing and Understanding Bias for Animal Welfare Professionals , Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates



Recognizing and Understanding Bias for the Animal Welfare Professional was a great class. I learned about the different types of human conscious and unconscious biases. Humans in order to survive have basic instincts and biases. We are fearful and distrusting of things which are new or different from ourselves. The us versus them is a survival mechanism. Our perceptions can change over time based on our experiences. All these things affect how we view the world, others and how we react. The class went into the different types of biases. It then went into how to control our biases in our reactions and behavior so we can treat people and the situation fairly and properly.

There was an interesting class experiment. Instructor told us to close our eyes and imagine we're going on a plane trip to a seminar we're really interested in. We go to the hotel and see a couple in love at the restaurant. We go to the seminar and listen to the presenters speak. Then the instructor told us to open our eyes. He asked us "what did the pilot of the plane look like in your mind? Were they a white man? What color and orientation was the couple? What did the presenters look like?" He showed photos of a female pilot in hijab, a same sex couple and black and disabled speakers. He asked if that was what we imagined? He said these biases are formed based on our experiences in real life, in movies, books... 

From the class description, "Our brains are amazing at making connections, doing work, and making decisions without us ever realizing it. Like when you drive home and realize as you're parking that you don't really remember the drive - yup - your unconscious brain played navigator so you could zone out a bit. However, these unconscious connections and processes can have a lasting effect on how you do your job.

Join us as we discuss different types of bias and how they unconsciously invade your decisions and actions on and off the job.

- Learn to identify 5-8 different bias types
- Understand how bias and cynicism can play off of each other;
- That bias, while often thought of as a negative, is actually an evolutionary necessity that we can earn to identify and work on
- And how to create a shared language around bias so your entire team can work on being more aware of these unconscious traps."


Jace Huggins with San Diego Humane Society was the host. I took my two week Humane Officer training at San Diego Humane Society in 2005.

Below are a few slides. I suggest taking the class because the instructor shares a lot of stories, examples, tests and polls. 




Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Thursday, June 27, 2024

IWRC - A Big Problem with Little Animals, How Insect Declines Affect Wildlife - Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

gwen pearson, mary cummins, animal advocates, insects, iwrc, international wildlife rehabilitation council, wildlife rehabilitator, wildlife rehabilitation,insects, entomology, wildlife, xerces, los angeles, california
gwen pearson, mary cummins, animal advocates, insects, iwrc, international wildlife rehabilitation council, wildlife rehabilitator, wildlife rehabilitation,insects, entomology, wildlife, xerces, los angeles, california


IWRC International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Coffee & Tea: A big problem with little animals: how insect declines may affect wildlife webinar

"A growing pile of research papers document insect declines across the globe. What does this mean for wildlife, as well as humans? We'll look at how deeply embedded insects are in ecosystems, and how declines in insects may harm birds and other wildlife.

Gwen Pearson serves as a Volunteer Ambassador for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, a non-profit organization focused on conserving invertebrates and their habitat. She has a PhD in entomology, and has worked in zoo and bird sanctuary settings."

Great presentation by entomologist, educator and speaker Dr Gwen Pearson with Xerces Society. Learned a lot about the importance of insects for wildlife, humans and our environment. Dr. Gwen Pearson is a wonderful speaker. You really need to watch her presentation. IWRC recorded it. 

In summary insect populations are down for many reasons. Birds and mammals feed on insects. This causes bird, mammal populations to also be reduced. We must take steps to help the insects. Some of those steps are not using pesticide, getting rid of some of your lawn, planting native plants, don't rake leaves and leave stems on the ground.

Below are a few quick things I learned from the presentation.

General consensus is that one should not don't release captive reared monarchs because of bacteria contamination which ends up spreading into the wild population.

We should plant organic milkweed.organic. Make sure it's never treated with Neonicotinoid pesticides which stay in the plant forever.

Keeping non-native honey bees is a business. It's not conservation. Honey bees now have diseases which they pass on to native bees.

Most native bees are solitary. 3/4 bees nest in the ground. They only have 12 eggs in their lifetime whereas honey bees can have 1,000.

Lawns are the number one irrigated crop in the US. They're almost all treated with dangerous pesticides.

Bees come out after a few days of a certain temperature. Plants bloom based on daylight hours. They don't always align together so bees may not get enough food especially bees which only feed on certain flowers.

Feeder insects should be treated humanely. They should not be crowded. Must have good healthy varied food with calcium. The insects need calcium for their exoskeleton and other functions. Animals that eat insects also need calcium. @bug_gwen @theiwrc @animaladvocatesusa @mary_cummins #IWRC #internationalwildliferehabilitationcouncil #marycummins #AnimalAdvocates #animaladvocate #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #wildliferehabber #wildlife #wildliferescue

Below are just a few slides from her presentation. You must see her full presentation with all the slides.























Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Thursday, June 13, 2024

National Pigeon Appreciation Day by Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates




National Pigeon Appreciation Day is celebrated on June 13th to honor pigeons that served in World War I and World War II as messengers and spies, and to challenge the misconception that pigeons are pests and disease-ridden. We've rescued many non-native pigeons including racing, wedding, homing and fancy pigeons. The pigeon sitting on an unfertile egg is Patty Pigeon rescued by Patty Shenker at then Animal Acres which is now Farm Sanctuary in Acton, California. #nationalpigeonappreciationday #pigeon #pigeonlove #pigeonrescue #marycummins #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferhabilitator #wildliferescue #losangeles #california #rockdove #homingpigeon #weddingpigeon #racingpigeon 













Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Fish & Wildlife Wants to Kill All Barred Owls to Protect Spotted Owls, by Mary Cummins Animal Advocates

Fish & Wildlife wants to shoot and kill barred owls to save spotted owls. Animal Advocates does not agree. spotted owl,barred owl,fish and wildlife,mary cummins,animal advocates,wildlife rehabilitator,wildlife rehabilitation,los angeles,california,wildlife,wildife rescue,
Fish & Wildlife wants to shoot and kill barred owls to save spotted owls. Animal Advocates does not agree. spotted owl,barred owl,fish and wildlife,mary cummins,animal advocates,wildlife rehabilitator,wildlife rehabilitation,los angeles,california,wildlife,wildife rescue,.Photos: Wikipedia


Many people have asked us about our stand on the Fish & Wildlife proposal to kill barred owls to protect spotted owls in California. This is our position. We have sent in comment letters.

The Federal Fish & Wildlife Department FWS proposed shooting and killing barred owls in California, Washington and Oregon to allegedly save the spotted owl. This is their official proposal made November 2023 linked below. They claim the barred owl isn't native to these specific areas. Barred owls expanded their range across the nation naturally. They weren't artificially introduced. 

The real cause of reduction of spotted owl population is climate change, bark beetle, human development, wildfires, timber harvest, drought... Barred owls are larger, more aggressive and more adaptable than spotted owls. Barred owls are more adaptable as to their wider variety of prey, nesting sites, habitat range...They out compete spotted owls for prey, habitat and space. Barred owls aren't fighting and killing spotted owls directly. 

Fish & Wildlife has offered these same solutions for Fox Tree Squirrels versus Western Gray Squirrels. It's the same issue though fox squirrels have two litters per year as opposed to one for WSG. If you kill all barred owls, spotted owls will still decline for the reasons stated above. They need to look at the root causes of the decline in spotted owls and deal with those issues. That will save spotted owls and many other animals.


"Abstract: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a proposed Barred Owl
Management Strategy to address the threat of the non-native, invasive barred owl to the native
northern and California spotted owls. This action is necessary to support the survival of the
threatened northern spotted owl and avoid substantial impacts to the California spotted owl
populations from barred owl competition. This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft
EIS) was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This Draft EIS
evaluates the impacts of six alternatives, including a no action alternative, on the human
environment, including spotted owls, barred owls, other wildlife species, recreation and visitor
use, wilderness areas, socioeconomics, and climate change." 

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Friday, March 8, 2024

International Women's Day from Animal Advocates, Mary Cummins in Los Angeles, California



Today is International Women's Day! This year's theme is "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress." Did you know that as of 2024 89% of wildlife rehabilitators in the United States are women? Most animal rescuers in general are women.

Our founder Mary Cummins was inspired by her Mexican American grandmother Maria Rivera who raised her. Maria Rivera was an animal rescuer and a vegetarian. She instilled in her granddaughter the desire to help all creatures in need. Cummins' first animal rescues of a bunny, squirrel and deer were with her grandmother. 

Today we honor women and especially those in animal rescue and care. Thank you, women, for spending countless hours rescuing and caring for animals around the clock. Thank you for educating the public about animal and wildlife issues. And thank you for helping out, investing in and donating to animal care organizations to accelerate progress for animals. 

In loving memory of our great women volunteers Mari Shepard, Janet Adams and Julie Murray. #internationalwomensday #internationalwomensday2024 #AnimalAdvocates #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #losangeles #california #animalrescue

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Sunday, January 7, 2024

Number of California Mountain Lions Only 3,200-4,500 by Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

Photo from Wikipedia

I've written extensively about the dwindling number of mountain lions in California especially in Southern California. Most of the mountain lions who die in Southern California die because of humans. They are mainly killed being hit by cars, poisoned with rat poison or with depredation permits. 

When asked about the number of mountain lions in California the California Department of Fish & Wildlife generally says they have no idea how many exist. They never really tried to find out because they knew their numbers were decreasing rapidly. They allegedly told some the number "could be" about 6,000. 

I had estimated the number was closer to 4,000 in an article I wrote about depredation permits.  I stated "the California Department of Fish & Wildlife gave depredation permits to people in California who killed 1,702 mountain lions from 2001 to 2018" based on the results of State Information Act Requests which I made. Depredation permits are given to people who have had pets or livestock killed by mountain lions. The permits allow them to shoot and kill the mountain lion whom they think killed their animals. Every time pets or livestock are killed it's because they weren't properly protected by their owners.

Today the LA Times had an article about a recent study which is not final or published about the actual number of mountain lions in the state. The study found there could be 3,200-4,500 mountain lions in the state with most in Northern California. My estimate was right in the middle even though Fish & Wildlife told me it was "way too low." I even asked people who were directly involved in this study if they knew how many mountain lions existed. They said they had no idea but my number was too low. I actually have that on video. From the article,

"The total number of mountain lions is estimated to be between 3,200 and 4,500, which is thousands fewer than previously thought. The count was conducted by state and university scientists who used GPS collar data and genetic information from scat samples to model population densities across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Mojave Desert and Southern California’s patchwork of weedy, fire-stripped wilderness.

“The greatest density is in the coastal forests of Humboldt and Mendocino counties of Northwest California, and lowest is the high desert east of the Sierra Nevada range in Inyo County,” said Justin Dellinger, a large-carnivore biologist and leader of the California Mountain Lion Project effort. “The Central Valley and portions of the Mojave Desert have no mountain lions.”

"The California Department of Fish and Wildlife had for decades estimated that the state’s mountain lion population was roughly 6,000 — even despite relentless vehicle strikes, wildfires and encroachment by land-hungry humans throughout their range.

“That old figure was just a back-of-the-envelope calculation without much data to support it,” Dellinger said. “The new, more accurate information we collected will be used to conserve and manage mountain lions more appropriately.”

In a collaborative effort involving the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, the nonprofit Institute for Wildlife Studies and the nonprofit Audubon Canyon Ranch, Dellinger and others traipsed through mountain forests, canyons and desert badlands in search of tracks. They also set trail cameras and traps, tranquilized lions, took biological samples and fitted animals with tracking collars.

Dellinger said the group spent roughly $2.45 million in state funds over seven years to produce three population estimates: One suggests there are 4,511 cougars living in California, and the other two suggest the number is roughly 3,200. Deciding which figure is most precise will be challenging for biologists tasked with reviewing the census report."

"There’s an almost 1 in 4 chance that the charismatic cats could be extinct in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana Mountains within 50 years."

Clearly something must be done now or our native mountain lion will become extinct. I'm sure they calculated the birth rate, cub/kitten survival rate to age of maturity/breeding and death rate by various causes including depredation permits to make this estimate. I'd love to see the math but will have to wait until the research is reviewed then published. I will assume it's correct based on my knowledge of the experience and expertise of Dr. T Winston Vickers, UC Davis and the other organizations involved.

As I stated in my previous articles the main things we must do to save native mountain lions in order are the following.

1. Do not give any depredation permits for mountain lions. People must secure their livestock and pets. If a mountain lion doesn't kill and eat the livestock or pet dog, a coyote will. Fish & Wildlife said they don't want to give the permits. Ask the California legislature or the Fish & Game Commission to change the regulations that makes it mandatory for the Department to give depredation permits. They should only give permits if one specific mountain lion is a definite threat to humans based on facts and physical evidence.

2. Stop allowing the use of anticoagulant bait poison outdoors. Non-target wildlife are eating the poison directly or they are being poisoned secondarily by eating animals which ate the poison. Mountain lions will eat slower sick animals more often because they're easier to catch. They primarily eat the organ meat which is where the poison is stored in the liver. Mountain lions eat coyotes, raccoons who are also poisoned secondarily. Mountain lions eat ground squirrels, gophers directly who eat the poison directly. They really need to find a different safer method of controlling ground squirrels, gophers on golf courses, soccer fields and landscape areas. They have to put the poison in bait stations which only allow the target animal. Maybe there can be trap doors in the bait stations that dump the animal in a bucket where it can at least be killed humanely and quickly. Poison is a slow painful death.

3. Allow the maintenance of existing open space. Limit development and plan any development with native wildlife in mind. Don't plan new freeways with blind curves. Research has shown us mountain lions are more likely to be hit by cars on curved roads with limited visibility. If mountain lions must pass through a dangerous area, guide and funnel them to safer areas with hardscape and landscape. They are incorporating some of this in the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. Development also limits population ranges which isolates mountain lions causing inbreeding and genetic degradation issues.

I'm glad someone finally did a study about the actual number of mountain lions in California. Maybe this will help conserve this important keystone species. We need mountain lions to help control the deer population. If the deer population gets out of control, it can be detrimental to our ecosystem and environment. This is especially so because we killed off all our native wolves over 100 years ago. Only recently have a few migrated from other states into California. Reintroducing wolves in certain areas in some states has restored ecosystems. I hope we don't get to the point where we have to reintroduce mountain lions to California. 

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Animal Advocates Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2023, by Mary Cummins


Join us as we celebrate "National Hispanic Heritage Month" September 15 to October 15. During this month Americans celebrate the history, culture and contributions of Latino people to our nation. This 2023 year's theme is "Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America."

Animal Advocates celebrates Latinos who have helped animals, the environment and wildlife. We celebrate Mexican American Animal Rights Activist Cesar Chavez. Chavez once said, “We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that the animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect them and love them as we love ourselves.”

We celebrate Environment Activist Dolores Huerta. "In the fight to protect American farm workers Huerta exposed the country’s deepening reliance on pesticides and other chemicals that harm people and ecosystems. Her efforts to outlaw harmful pesticides catalyzed the environmental-justice movement."

We celebrate our Latina founder Mary Cummins whose love of wildlife encouraged her to found Animal Advocates over 20 years ago in 2002. Her love of all animals came from her Mexican grandmother Maria Rivera Cummins. We also celebrate the first Latino Fish & Game Commissioner Michael Flores who promoted Latinos enjoyment of the outdoors. We also support Latino Outdoors who help connect Latinos to the great outdoors and Green Latinos who work to protect our environment.

Our community of animal lovers support our causes and champion for a better world for wildlife and the planet. One of our causes is to promote much needed diversity in Fish & Wildlife and Wildlife Rehabilitation. We also promote wildlife education in Spanish and English. We borrow the words of Dolores Huerta in saying ”¡Sí, Se Puede!" "Yes, we can!" accomplish these goals.

Of course we celebrate our entire community and animal lovers world wide every day. As we primarily serve Los Angeles, California which is predominantly Latino we honor our Latino community during this special month.

#HispanicHeritageMonth #LatinxHeritageMonth #HerenciaHispana #LatinoHeritageMonth #MesHerenciaHispana #NationalHispanicHeritageMonth #AnimalAdvocates #MaryCummins #Latino #Latinx #CesarChavez #DoloresHuerta #GreenLatinos #LatinosOutdoors #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #wildliferescue #LosAngeles #California #Spanish #SiSePuede @AnimalAdvocatesUSA @MaryCummins 

*We use the term "hispanic" because that is the official name of the US heritage month. Other words that can be used are "latino," "latine," "latinx" ... The history of our nation is complex and controversial. The US was inhabited by Native Americans who were conquered and colonized by the Spanish, French, British and USA. September 15 is the day many Latin American countries gained their independence from their colonial occupations. We strive to respect and promote all people. 

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Monday, September 4, 2023

P-22 Mountain Lion Eating a Dead Deer, GRAPHIC, Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates


Mountain lion P22, P-22, puma, cougar is eating a dead deer in Griffith Park October 2022. This video came from a trail cam, trail camera in Griffith Park around October 28 to October 30, 2022. p22, p-22, mountain lion, cougar, puma, mary cummins, animal advocates, griffith park, los angeles, california, wildlife rescue, wildlife, rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator @animaladvocatesusa @marycummins 

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Monday, April 25, 2022

Chuck Bonham, Charlton Bomham, Director California Department Fish & Wildlife, Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates


Chuck Bonham, Charlton Bonham, Director of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, speaking at the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing groundbreaking event by Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates. 

"How y'all doing? (applause) Okay, so it's a big complicated project. It has science, it has law, it's got economics, engineering, inevitably, it has politics. Not a lick of that matters today. On a day like today it's the human spirit, it's your soul, it's your heart, it's your insurmountable imagination and fortitude to make California better. So, on behalf of the Department of Fish & Wildlife, your Department of Fish & Wildlife, as Director the joy makes you want to cry. I'm so damn happy we're here getting this project done. And I'd like to give, hear from you a big hallelujah and amen!" (hallelujah, amen!) Transcription by Mary Cummins.

About Chuck Bonham

"Charlton “Chuck” Bonham was appointed as Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, effective September 6, 2011. Prior to his appointment as Director of Fish and Wildlife, Mr. Bonham served in a number of roles for Trout Unlimited over ten years, including since 2004 as the organization’s California director.

Mr. Bonham was responsible for developing, managing, and implementing TU's programs in California. These programs include the California Water Project, Sportsmen’s Conservation Project, and restoration and watershed projects in both northern and Southern California. In addition, Mr. Bonham was a senior attorney for the organization.

Mr. Bonham also served on the Board of Directors of the Delta Conservancy, whose mission is to conserve, sustain and enhance the cultural, agricultural, recreational, wildlife and natural habitat resources of the River Delta region, as well as develop and promote sustainable protection, management and stewardship programs through research and education.

Mr. Bonham received his J.D. and Environmental and Natural Resources Law Certificate from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, in Portland, Oregon. Before Trout Unlimited, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa, and an instructor and guide at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, in Bryson City, N.C.

Mr. Bonham brings a diverse background and a longstanding appreciation for the outdoors to the position."

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Ted Lieu at Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Groundbreaking by Mary Cummins Animal Advocates


US Representative Ted Lieu at the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing groundbreaking event April 22, 2022 by Mary Cummins.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit