Staff

Mike Ziccardi, Director

Mike received his veterinary degree, masters and doctorate in epidemiology from UC Davis. Since 1996, Mike has acted as an oil spill response veterinarian and coordinator to more than 45 spills nationally and internationally. He has been a contract veterinarian for the California Department of Fish and Game as well as program coordinator, senior wildlife veterinarian, Assistant Director and now Director for California’s Oiled Wildlife Care Network at the Wildlife Health Center, UC Davis. During spills, Mike often works either as the Deputy Wildlife Branch Director at the Command Post, or as Care & Processing Group Supervisor or clinical veterinarian at the facility. In addition to his work with the OWCN, Mike is an Associate Professor at UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine.

Christine Fiorello, Response Veterinarian

Christine joined the OWCN in May 2010. Along with several other members of the OWCN staff, she has been helping out with the Deepwater Horizon Spill in Louisiana and Mississippi. Christine was an Assistant Professor of Zoological Medicine at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Christine brings with her a wealth of experience in addition to her DVM from Tufts, including a small animal  internship from Angell Memorial Hospital, a PhD in Ecology from Columbia (studying South American carnivores) and a residency (and ACZM Board certification) in Zoological Medicine from the University of Florida. Most recently, in addition to her teaching, clinical and research activities (including mentoring an intern and resident in Zoo Med), she has acted as the Faculty Director of the Wildlife Treatment Crew at UGa.

Kyra Parker, Recovery & Transportation Co-Coordinator

Kyra is the newest member of our team, having joined us in August. Raised in Ecuador, Kyra received her graduate degree from the University of California, Irvine, where she studied the feeding behavior of seabirds in the inshore waters of the Galápagos Islands, including the foraging ecology of Galápagos Penquins. Kyra worked as lead seabird biologist on the Farallon Islands, California between 1999-2001. Since then, Kyra has been involved in a number of different projects as part of PRBO Conservation Science Marine Division and most recently working for the Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research. Kyra wrote, edited, and coordinated the California Current Marine Bird Conservation Plan, an ecosystem-based approach for seabird conservation along the west coast of North America. As part of her oil spill experience that Kyra brings with her, she was a member of the Wildlife Processing Unit at PRBO Conservation Science 1999-2003.

Nancy Anderson,  Recovery & Transportation Co-Coordinator

Nancy Anderson graduated from The Ohio State University with degrees in Agricultural Engineering and Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she worked as a private practitioner (small animals, horses, food animals, exotics) and provided services for local wildlife rehabilitators until 1991 when she joined the faculty at her alma mater. Back at OSU, she taught general practice, exotic animal medicine and surgery, and was the faculty advisor for the Raptor Rehabilitation Program. In 1997, she started a PhD in Ecophysiology during which she studied energetics and thermoregulation in brown treesnakes by using doubly labeled water and radiotracking them through the rain forest of Guam. While finishing her dissertation, Nancy joined the staff at Lindsay Wildlife Museum in 2000 where she was the Director of Wildlife Services and acted as the veterinarian for approximately 6000 wildlife patients per year and a collection of 130 educational animal ambassadors. In 2010, she became a staff veterinarian at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom where she worked with a wide variety of marine and zoo animals including walrus, orca, dolphins, sea lions, seals, sharks, penguins, giraffes, tigers, elephants, etc. Nancy joined the OWCN team in September 2011 and is enjoying return to conservation work. In her spare time (what’s that?), Nancy enjoys dancing and going to concerts, and outdoor activities such as hiking, bird watching, SCUBA, and canoeing.

Emily Whitmer, Wildlife Care Specialist

Emily is a registered veterinary technician and she holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Carleton College. She has worked with a wide variety of marine wildlife in rehabilitation hospitals and research settings in California and beyond.  These include the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Research and Conservation Program, Cascadia Research Collective, The Marine Mammal Center, and the Alaska SeaLife Center. During oil spill response, Emily provides essential support of wildlife care and rehabilitation.

Becky Elias, Volunteer Coordinator

Becky received both her bachelors and masters degrees in Wildlife Ecology from Washington State University.  She graduated in 2004 after finishing her masters work on reproduction and behavior in endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits. After college, she continued working at Washington State University, doing research and managing the pygmy rabbit captive breeding program, and occasionally working with some of the other captive wildlife projects at WSU. In 2008 she moved to Michigan and became involved as a zookeeper at the Children’s Zoo in Saginaw, where she worked with a large range of birds, mammals and reptiles. During oil spill response, Becky coordinates the volunteer efforts by OWCN members.

Tim Williamson, Facilities Coordinator

Tim comes to the OWCN with varied education, experience in business, engineering, construction trades, equipment operation, and animal capture and handling. Tim started working for the Department of Fish and Game at the Wildlife Investigations Lab in Rancho Cordova in 1989. When Dave Jessup transferred to OSPR, Tim went with him, staying in OSPR until 2001. During that time he worked many spills, oversaw the construction of the OSPR facility in Santa Cruz, and spent hundreds of hours finishing the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center in San Pedro. Between 2001 and 2011 Tim managed Wildlife Areas for DFG in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Butte Counties.

Lavonne Hull, Administrative Coordinator

Lavonne has provided administrative support for the OWCN since 2000. During oil spill responses, Lavonne is an integral part of the team and a key component to ensuring the facility receives the necessary supplies. In addition to providing logistic support, Lavonne also works to ensure billings are accurate and in compliance with state and federal laws.