Wildlife WayStation
Wildlife WayStation was a California animal sanctuary that rescued and cared for wild and exotic animals.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Wildlife WayStation was a charitable animal sanctuary and wildlife-rescue organization located on approximately 160 acres in Sylmar, in northern Los Angeles County, California. Founded in 1976 by animal activist Martine Colette, the sanctuary was created to provide refuge for wild and exotic animals that could not safely return to the wild or could no longer be kept by private owners. Its collection included large carnivores, bears, primates, native wildlife, and animals surrendered or abandoned by people who had acquired them as exotic pets. The organization operated within the boundaries of the Angeles National Forest and became one of Southern California's better-known facilities for the rescue and long-term care of non-domestic animals. Although rehabilitation was part of its stated mission, many residents remained at the sanctuary for life because they were habituated to humans, medically compromised, or otherwise unsuitable for release. At various times the facility housed lions, tigers, leopards, mountain lions, jaguars, bobcats, bears, chimpanzees, deer, coyotes, and wolves. It was reported to have held the largest group of chimpanzees in the Western United States for a period. The sanctuary's history included several major emergencies. A canine distemper outbreak in 1992 spread from raccoons and skunks to large cats, killing 18 big cats and forcing the facility to close for almost a year. In 1995, Wildlife WayStation received 27 lions and ligers rescued from the former Ligertown facility in Idaho after authorities intervened over alleged severe neglect. The sanctuary also faced wildfire threats: animals were evacuated during an Angeles National Forest fire in 2009, and the Creek Fire damaged part of the property in 2017, prompting another evacuation. The organization explored relocation and downsizing plans during the 2000s, including a proposed facility near the northern edge of Palm Springs. Those plans did not produce a documented permanent replacement site. The sanctuary experienced staffing disruption in 2016, when numerous employees and volunteers were dismissed, and its long-term financial and operational pressures contributed to its eventual winding down. Colette resigned as president and chief operating officer in May 2019. Later that year, state officials reported that the facility had surrendered its permits. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife assumed responsibility for the remaining animals and worked to place them with suitable sanctuaries and facilities. Chimpanzees were among the most difficult animals to relocate because suitable capacity was limited. Following the end of chimpanzee research in the United States in 2015, demand for appropriate sanctuary space increased, and the remaining chimpanzees from Wildlife WayStation were ultimately transferred to Chimp Haven in Louisiana. The former sanctuary's closure reduced the number of wildlife-rehabilitation resources available in Southern California and coincided with increased regulatory attention to the standards governing possession and rehabilitation of native wildlife. Wildlife WayStation also had a media profile. Its founder appeared as herself in Samuel Fuller's film White Dog, portions of which were filmed at the sanctuary. The facility was featured in the first episode of the Syfy program Marcel's Quantum Kitchen, and Colette appeared in a 2017 episode of Storage Wars. The organization was primarily supported by visitors and donors rather than by a commercial product business.
History
Martine Colette moved to Hollywood in 1965 and established a costume-design business before turning her attention to animal rescue. In 1976, she founded Wildlife WayStation in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles County. The facility was intended to provide a refuge for wild and exotic animals that had been abandoned, surrendered, rescued from unsuitable private ownership, or otherwise needed permanent care. The sanctuary occupied about 160 acres within the Angeles National Forest. Its residents included large cats, bears, primates, and a range of native species. Some animals arrived in poor physical condition after being kept as exotic pets or found without responsible owners. Wildlife WayStation provided veterinary treatment, enclosures, feeding, and long-term husbandry. While rehabilitation and eventual release were part of the broader concept, many animals could not be released and stayed at the sanctuary for the remainder of their lives. A serious canine distemper epidemic occurred in 1992. The disease was associated initially with raccoons and skunks receiving care at the facility and then spread to the big-cat population. The outbreak killed 18 big cats and forced the sanctuary to close for almost a year. The episode demonstrated the operational and biosecurity difficulties involved in housing many species in a single wildlife-care setting. In September 1995, the sanctuary responded to a crisis at Ligertown in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Authorities intervened after reports of severely inadequate conditions, and Wildlife WayStation accepted 27 lions and ligers. The rescued animals ranged from cubs to adults and were described as being in poor health. Other animals at the Idaho facility were killed during the official response, while the owners faced animal-cruelty charges. During the 2000s, Wildlife WayStation considered relocating or restructuring its operations. In 2007, it explored a possible site near the northern edge of Palm Springs, with a proposed new facility of roughly 80 acres and a smaller retained footprint at the original mountain location. The relocation concept did not become a documented permanent replacement for the Sylmar sanctuary. Wildfire became a recurring threat. In 2009, a fire in the Angeles National Forest endangered the property and caused the evacuation of many animals. In December 2017, the Creek Fire burned part of the facility and again required animals to be moved to safety. The organization also experienced internal disruption in 2016, when numerous employees and volunteers were dismissed. The sanctuary's operating position weakened toward the end of the decade. Colette resigned as president and chief operating officer in May 2019. Later in 2019, state officials announced that the facility had surrendered its permits. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife took charge of the property and the process of locating acceptable homes for the surviving animals. The chimpanzees presented a particular placement challenge because suitable sanctuaries had limited capacity. The remaining chimpanzees were eventually transported to Chimp Haven in Louisiana. The closure marked the end of Wildlife WayStation as an operating sanctuary and reduced the number of wildlife-rehabilitation facilities serving Southern California. It also occurred amid anticipated regulatory changes intended to professionalize the possession and rehabilitation of native animals. The organization remained notable in popular culture: Colette appeared as herself in Samuel Fuller's White Dog, parts of which were filmed at the sanctuary; the facility was featured in the first episode of Marcel's Quantum Kitchen; and Colette appeared on Storage Wars in 2017. Wildlife WayStation was funded principally through visitors and donations and did not operate as a conventional consumer-products brand.
- 2019
Permits surrendered and animal-placement process begins
[1]After Colette's resignation, state officials report that the sanctuary has surrendered its permits and begin coordinating placements for the remaining animals.
- 2017
Creek Fire damages the facility
[1]The Creek Fire burns part of the sanctuary, prompting another animal evacuation.
- 2009
Angeles National Forest fire evacuation
[1]A forest fire threatens the property and forces the evacuation of numerous animals.
- 2007
Relocation proposal
[1]The organization considers creating a new facility near northern Palm Springs and reducing the size of its original mountain site.
- 1995
Rescue of lions and ligers from Ligertown
[1]Wildlife WayStation accepts 27 animals rescued from an Idaho facility accused of maintaining severely unsuitable conditions.
- 1992
Distemper epidemic
[1]An outbreak spreads from raccoons and skunks to large cats, kills 18 big cats, and closes the facility for almost a year.
- 1976
Wildlife WayStation is founded
[1]Martine Colette establishes the animal sanctuary in Sylmar, California, to rescue and care for wild and exotic animals.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit wildlife sanctuary positioned around the rescue, rehabilitation, and lifelong care of wild and exotic animals that could not be returned to the wild or maintained safely in private ownership.
Animal welfare service · 1976
Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation
The sanctuary rescued wild and exotic animals from abandonment, unsuitable private ownership, neglect, and other emergencies. Where release was possible, rehabilitation was part of the mission; many residents instead required permanent sanctuary care because they were not candidates for release.
Animal welfare service · 1976
Sanctuary and lifelong animal care
Wildlife WayStation maintained enclosures and care programs for large cats, bears, primates, and native wildlife. Services included feeding, veterinary treatment, behavioral care, and ongoing husbandry for animals that could not safely return to the wild.
Educational and visitor program
Public education and visitation
Visitors and donors helped support the sanctuary, while public exposure to the animals and their stories contributed to its educational and fundraising role. The organization also gained visibility through television and film appearances.
Marketing campaigns
- Donor- and visitor-supported sanctuary program
United States
The sanctuary presented its rescue and lifelong-care work to visitors and relied substantially on donations and visitor support to fund animal care.
Outcome. The program supported the facility during its operating years, although the available material does not provide financial totals or a formal campaign name.
Brand decisions
2019
Surrender of operating permitsOtherBackground
The sanctuary's operating capacity and leadership position had deteriorated, and Martine Colette resigned as president and chief operating officer.
Action taken
The facility surrendered its state permits, after which the California Department of Fish and Wildlife assumed responsibility for placing the remaining animals.
Aftermath
The sanctuary ceased operating, and the remaining animals were transferred to suitable facilities, including Chimp Haven for the chimpanzees.
2007
Proposed relocation and downsizingStrategyBackground
The mountain location presented operational and environmental challenges, including exposure to wildfire and constraints associated with its setting in the Angeles National Forest.
Action taken
The organization explored an approximately 80-acre site near northern Palm Springs while considering a smaller footprint at the original location.
Aftermath
No completed relocation is documented in the cited material.
1995
Acceptance of rescued Ligertown animalsStrategyBackground
Authorities intervened at an Idaho facility where lions and ligers were reportedly living in severely poor conditions.
Action taken
Wildlife WayStation accepted 27 of the rescued animals and provided them with care.
Aftermath
The animals were rehabilitated and cared for at the California sanctuary, while the Idaho operators faced animal-cruelty charges.
1992
Temporary closure during the distemper outbreakOtherBackground
A canine distemper epidemic spread among animals at the sanctuary and reached the big-cat population.
Action taken
The facility closed for nearly a year while the outbreak was addressed.
Aftermath
Eighteen big cats died, underscoring the health risks of housing multiple susceptible species in one facility.
Recent events
- 2019
Founder resigns and state authorities assume responsibility for the animals[1]
Leadership change · Regulation
Martine Colette resigned from her leadership roles, and the sanctuary surrendered its state permits. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife then coordinated the placement of the remaining animals.
- 2019
Remaining chimpanzees transferred to Chimp Haven[1]
Other
The last chimpanzees associated with the sanctuary were moved to Chimp Haven in Louisiana as part of the broader effort to rehome the remaining animals.
- 2017
Creek Fire damages the sanctuary[1]
Other
The Creek Fire burned part of the facility and led to the evacuation of animals from the property.
- 2016
Employees and volunteers dismissed[1]
Leadership change
Numerous employees and volunteers were dismissed in an internal staffing disruption.
- 2009
Forest fire threatens the facility and prompts animal evacuations[1]
Other
A fire in the Angeles National Forest threatened the sanctuary, leading to the evacuation of numerous animals.
- 2007
Relocation plans considered for the sanctuary[1]
Other
Wildlife WayStation explored moving part of its operations from the Angeles National Forest area to a proposed larger site near northern Palm Springs while reducing the footprint of the original property.
- 1995
Wildlife WayStation receives lions and ligers rescued from Ligertown[1]
Other
The sanctuary took in 27 lions and ligers from a troubled Idaho facility after authorities intervened over alleged cruelty and poor living conditions.
- 1992
Canine distemper outbreak kills big cats and closes the sanctuary[1]
Other
A distemper epidemic originating among raccoons and skunks spread to large cats at Wildlife WayStation. Eighteen big cats died and the sanctuary was closed for nearly a year.
Sources2 sources
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