Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary in Butte County is under investigation for animal welfare violations.
Rumors began circulating last week that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife planned to euthanize animals if they could not be rehomed. However, NSPR confirmed that no animals have been, or will be euthanized at the wildlife sanctuary, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Peter Tira, an information officer with the agency, said the CDFW will not and has never euthanized animals due to permitting issues. He said the CDFW’s goal is to find permanent homes for the animals at the sanctuary.
Tira said the state has begun a criminal investigation into the sanctuary due to code violations at the site. If they are found guilty, the sanctuary owners could face hefty fines, permanent closure and potential jail time.
The sanctuary held a permit allowing it to house native and exotic wildlife, Tira said. The permit expired in 2025 and Tira said the sanctuary’s renewal application was denied. The permit refusal is due to violations of the California Fish and Game Code, including potential animal welfare violations.
This is not the first time the sanctuary has received code violations. According to PETA, the sanctuary has received over 20 citations and complaints over its 30-year history.
PETA reports the sanctuary’s history is littered with “abuse, chronic inability to meet bare-minimum standards for animal care and inadequate veterinary care.”
NSPR reached out to the sanctuary for comment, but did not receive a response.
