ABOUT US
An Unforgettable Experience!
Located in Ramona, California, Critter Encounters is more than just a wildlife sanctuary—it’s an adventure! We bring fascinating, touchable animals right to you with exciting, hands-on presentations for schools, summer camps, retirement communities, and special events.
With 30 years of experience, we introduce people of all ages to a variety of native and exotic animals, helping them connect with wildlife and understand ecosystems from around the world. Want an even closer experience? Book a Private Tour of our sanctuary for an unforgettable, up-close encounter!
We can’t wait to share our amazing critters with you!
Meet the Team
〰️
Meet the Team 〰️
Our Board of Directors
Andrea Burgan is the CEO, President, and Director of Critter Encounters. With over 30 years of hands-on experience working with exotic animals, Andrea is deeply passionate about animal care, rescue, and humane education.
Her journey began at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly the Wild Animal Park), where she was trained as both an educator and animal keeper through the Zoological Society of San Diego. Today, Andrea focuses on rescuing and adopting “tractable” exotic animals—those comfortable with human interaction—and sharing their stories with people of all ages through meaningful, up-close encounters.
Andrea’s work has been featured across a range of media outlets, including a national commercial for Kahoots Feed and Pet, YouTube’s Animal Bond Academy, and television appearances on The Donny & Marie Show, The Howie Mandel Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
ANDREA BURGAN
Founder / CEO / President
MATT BURGAN
CFO / Construction Specialist
Bio coming soon…
WENDY WOODARD
Treasurer / Secretary / Marketing Operations
Wendy Woodard has volunteered her time at Critter Encounters as the Treasurer, Secretary, and Marketing Operations Director, as well as the occasional “whatever else we need today”, since inception of our non-profit over 10 years ago. She and Andrea met at the Wild Animal Park in 1998 and have been close friends and entrepreneurial collaborators ever since.
Wendy earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology at Arizona State University, where she worked in the Conservation Ecology Department researching the relationship between leaf-mining insects and endophytic fungi and their mutual host plants. She worked as a zookeeper, animal trainer, public educator, and conservation research assistant at the Phoenix Zoo, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Sea World of San Diego, and both the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoos’ Safari Park (formerly known as the Wild Animal Park). Some of her proudest achievements include contributing to the recovery of the endangered San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike, and acting as a surrogate mother to an infant Lowland Western Gorilla, Jamani, whose survival and subsequent reproductive success have been critical keys to the genetic stability of the species.
Wendy transitioned from the field into the lab, and then into start-ups, marketing, and scaling business operations. For the past 22 years, she has grown her career in digital marketing, brand strategy, and international e-commerce, working with globally-recognized brands on enterprise technology projects.
Today, she marries her passion for habitat and wildlife conservation with her international business acumen to support Critter Encounters’ mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and provide educational purpose to injured or non-releasable animals through our up-close, hands-on educational experiences.
Connect with Wendy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendywoodardmcdowell/
Our Staff
Connor is a lifelong wildlife enthusiast with over nine years of hands-on experience in animal care, rescue, and education. He joined Critter Encounters in 2023 and now lives on-site, caring for the sanctuary’s residents and sharing their stories through engaging programs.
Before this, Connor worked in wildlife rehabilitation, including several years with the BEAR League, where he focused on native species like black bears, coyotes, and raptors. With a background in emergency response and ambassador animal handling, he brings both skill and compassion to his work.
Whether bottle-feeding a raccoon or teaching kids about Fennec foxes, Connor is committed to creating a better future for wildlife—and the people who love them.
CONNOR HOYT
Lead Keeper / Wildlife Educator / Social Media
Furry, feathered, and scaled aptly describes Laurie’s life. Having grown up in a rural area, she spent most of her childhood outdoors, exploring and riding horses. She often disappeared for hours, returning with exciting tales about the various critters she encountered. Throughout her life, Laurie has maintained a diverse menagerie of animals, including a macaw and a snake. She currently owns two horses, a goat, two cats, two dogs, and a turtle.
Following her college graduation, Laurie pursued a career in animal care, recently celebrating 29 years at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where she has held positions in animal care, pathology, and participated in job shares at the San Diego Zoo. An avid adventure traveler, Laurie has explored Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, and parts of Central America. In 2016, she joined colleagues from the Safari Park on a health assessment survey of wild hicatee turtles in Belize. Though challenging, working in the remote jungle was a profound experience.
Laurie has known Andrea for nearly 30 years and has assisted her with her menagerie since it was small. She is proud of Andrea’s accomplishments and growth and can think of no better way to spend her time than participating in educational outreach with ambassador animals.
LAURIE
Wildlife Educator / Keeper
Testimonials