Chronology
- Mission Statement
- About CSU Bakersfield
Facility for Animal Care and Treatment
The Facility for Animal Care and Treatment, also know as FACT, is housed on 40 acres of the California State University,
Bakersfield's Environmental Studies Area on the campus. All the animals that come to FACT are native to Kern County
and the Southern San Joaquin Valley. FACT works in close cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game,
providing comprehensive medical assistance and rehabilitation services to hundreds of sick, injured, and orphaned
animals each year.
FACT, formally known as the Environmental Studies Area, started in 1972 with a generous grant of $30,950 from the CSB Foundation. Grant money was also acquired through the Kern County Wildlife Reservation Committee and the Kern County Fish and Game Protective Association, a private sportsman's group, and through volunteer support. The center began with three goals in mind; to assist wildlife agencies, to help the animals, and to provide students with opportunities that they would not normally have been available in environmental studies.
Facility for Animal Care and Treatment (FACT) began in the spring of 1975 and continues to be a non-profit organization.
It was originally established and run by biologist Ted Murphy. He specialized in treatment and rehabilitation of wild
animals that were injured or diseased in the wild. He was especially interested in the protected or endangered species.
FACT has treated Red-tailed Hawks, Prairie Falcons, Great Horned Owls, Kit Foxes, Golden Eagles, Red Shouldered Hawks
and American Bitterns. These animals are taken care of by dedicated volunteers and eventually released into the wild,
with retraining required for some of the wildlife. The retraining of birds includes teaching the birds how to hunt,
first by putting dead food on the ground, and later leaving live food tethered to the ground.
FACT has reached out to the community through educational exhibits and environmental presentations that have been offered to the community in outreach programs. The community is invited and encouraged to take an active role in learning more about this educational facility. Volunteers give tours of the facility throughout the year free of charge to the public, allowing the community a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of nature in a safe environment.
