our Mission
WRI is a non-profit organization based in San Diego County dedicated to the preservation of wildlife through research, education, advocacy, cooperative work with governmental agencies, and land trust management.
Successfully Saving the Ramona Grasslands
The Wildlife Research Institute, spearheaded a cooperative effort with The Nature Conservancy and San Diego County, to purchase 7,000 acres of grasslands in Ramona, CA.
These critical and threatened grasslands support one of the most significant raptor populations remaining in San Diego County including one of few remaining Burrowing Owl populations left in San Diego County. The Ramona Grasslands are wintering feeding grounds for hundreds of migrant geese and raptors including snow geese and ferruginous hawks. The Grasslands are also part of a wildlife corridor connecting public lands in north San Diego County with public lands in the south county. Bald eagles have been nesting in the Ramona Grasslands since 2012-- a welcome sign of this success story.
The WRI
TEAM
Experienced and knowledgeable, our team is dedicated to long-term scientific research that achieves objectives critical to the preservation of top predator species and their habitats.
In loving memory of WRI Executive Director, Dave Bittner
WRI's Board of DIRECTORS
We are grateful to our Board of Directors who are conservation-minded citizens that donate their time and expertise to our organization.
We are grateful to our Board of Directors who are conservation minded citizens that donate their time and expertise to our organization.
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Leigh Bittner Founder | WRI Managing Director
Fred Sproul Botanist
Jim Tostado Realtor | Wildlife Advocate
Tina West Finance
Tom Stark Engineer and Naturalist
Katie Quint WRI Research Director | Biologist | Eagle Specialist
Becky Sharp Educator
Hans Petermann WRI Field Manager | Retired Business Owner
In loving memory of WRI's influential Board Members
Dave Bittner, Carol Angus, and Shot Linton
We also have a dedicated team of volunteers that donate many hours to host our Hawk Watch program so we can offer free wildlife education to our citizens and schools!
Want to become a WRI volunteer?
