Founder Of Wetlands And Wildlife Care Center In Huntington Beach Dies

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — Greg Hickman, the founder and chairman of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, died at 73.

Hickman was out of state on a fly-fishing trip on May 15 when he died unexpectedly, Debbie McGuire, executive director of the care center, said. The Daily Pilot reported he died from heart failure.

A memorial is in the works by Hickman's family, but a date has not been set. Hickman leaves behind a son, Paul.

"We are going to miss his presence tremendously and will work tirelessly to keep the project going for many years to come," McGuire said.

Hickman got his start in 1972 as California's first licensed wildlife rehabilitator, working at the North Orange County School District Regional Occupational Program in Anaheim. He operated the Alliance for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education center at the school district, McGuire said.

Following the sale of the school district's site, Hickman and veterinarian Joel Pasco opened the All Creatures Care Cottage veterinary hospital in Costa Mesa in 1987.

During his tenure with the veterinary hospital, Hickman helped oversee the care of hundreds of birds affected by the 1990 American Trader Crude Oil Spill, which saw around 400,000 gallons of crude oil dumped into the waters off of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, McGuire said. Only 15 percent of birds impacted by the spill survived.

Hickman helped open a wildlife rehabilitation center following the oil spill, through a partnership with the Alliance for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education and the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy.

The alliance eventually changed its name to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center and officially opened in 1998 as a standalone facility.