Press Releases

November 2008

Lincoln News Messenger: Students meet new four-legged neighbors

Twelve Bridges Elementary School students have some new four-legged neighbors who moved in across the street. The Wildlife Heritage Foundation, a local nonprofit land conservancy, and Sun City Lincoln Hills Community Association, in collaboration with Restoration Resources, began grazing 90-plus acres of open-space three weeks ago with 650 goats and sheep. Wildlife Heritage Foundation, which holds the Sun City preserve’s conservation easement, chose grazing as the most effective and environmentally sound method of invasive weed control and fire prevention. This week, the flock of sheep and goats were moved by their owner, Lee Hazeltine, to the open-space area across the street from Twelve Bridges Elementary School. Hazeltine, Intergrazers owner and operator, tends a flock of 4,000 goats and sheep on a Yolo County ranch. Twelve Bridges Elementary Vice-Principal John Kovach, the Wildlife Heritage Foundation’s education program coordinator Kelly Velasco and Hazeltine, worked together to provide students with an invaluable lesson. Read the full article from the Lincoln News Messenger.

Over 250 lambs and kids have been born while grazing the Sun City Lincoln Hills open-space. The dog pictured is “Jack Jack” and he is the herds protection from predators. He lives with the herd 24 hours/day and is cared for by the shepherd. The people pictured looking at the herd are on the Sun City trails and they are a regular occurrence. Some of the residents have grown quite attached to the herd, especially the new babies.

Lincoln News Messenger: Wildlife Heritage Foundation official speaks to Lincoln Open Space Committee

Patrick Shea, executive director of the Wildlife Heritage Foundation, was the quest speaker at the November meeting of the Lincoln Open Space Committee. The foundation’s mission is to preserve California’s heritage of open spaces, diverse wildlife and agricultural land. So it was of particular interest for meeting attendees to see how the foundation partners and works with homeowners’ associations, such as the one in Sun City, in preservation efforts. Read the full article from the Lincoln News Messenger.

June 2008

Lincoln News Messenger: Splash in the mud ends school year

Hosted by the Restoration Resources Learning Center and the Wildlife Heritage Foundation, the trip gave the 111 children an up-close and personal look at nature and the wetland ecosystem. Read the full article from the Lincoln News Messenger.

May 2008

WHF Community Educational Program Recognized by Placer County Economic Development Office

Students Receive Environmental Stewardship Lesson from Local Businesses
The third grade class at Skyridge Elementary in Auburn recently received a lesson in environmental stewardship. Lincoln-based non-profit Wildlife Heritage Foundation (WHF), along with Rocklin’s Restoration Resources, hosted a three-day field trip experience for the youngsters last month. During the outing, the students received lessons in animal habitats, endangered species, native plants, and other conservation-based topics. They visited Silvergate, a private mitigation bank in Sheridan, for hands-on biological experiences, and, at the end of the trip, watched a live bird demonstration. The partnership of Wildlife Heritage Foundation and Restoration Resources will continue to bring environmental education to local students and families. Both entities work with credentialed teachers, who coordinate and lead the field trips and other education programs. “The partnership will allow us to reach students all over Placer, Sacramento, Yuba, and Butte Counties,” said Kelly Velasco, WHF’s education programs coordinator. “Our goal is to educate the next generation about the wonders of wildlife.” Excerpt above taken from Placer County’s May 2008, In Progress Online newsletter

Lincoln News Messenger: Wildlife foundation opens Lincoln office

Lincoln has a nature-conscious new neighbor. The Wildlife Heritage Foundation, a Woodland-based nonprofit, celebrated its move to Second Street in Lincoln. “Primarily, (we moved here) because we have a lot of property situated locally,” said Patrick Shea, the foundation’s executive director and chief financial officer. Read the full article from the Lincoln News Messenger.

WHF Partners with US Fish and Wildlife Service

WHF will hold and manage a large endowment, the proceeds of which will be used by the USFWS to manage and monitor property donated by Catellus Limited Operating Partnership to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.