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Wildworks Fundraiser Features Animal Communicator Lydia Hiby
PHOTOS BY FLAVIA POTENZA, MESSENGER © Mollie Hogan and her blue and yellow macaw, Jammy, pose for a “pretty bird” picture at a fundraiser for The Nature of Wildworks. Hogan founded the non-profit in 1995 to provide lifetime care for non-releasable wild animals. The organization has a number of year-round outreach and educational programs. Animal communicator Lydia Hiby (left), consults with a patron and her rescued Shih Tzu, Sabina, who has some attitude problems. “Don’t call her the ‘Gray Lady,’” Hiby advised. “She wants to be called the ‘Great Lady.’” Seven-month-old Flemish Giant Rabbit, Hunny Bunny, whose favorite food is kale, is well on her way to growing into the two-foot-tall, 50-pound creature she was bred to be. She was very content to be in the arms of her handler.
Stark, the raven, is not mad and no, that is not the reincarnation of Edgar Allen Poe, but Stark’s handler-for-a-day. A barn owl perches on the gloved hand of its handler, KK Dodds. A gopher snake is someone you want nearby to control the rodent population. Jake obligingly wraps around handler Vanessa Vandawalker’s arm. A turkey vulture’s reputation is fearsome, but up close and not-too-personal, Wildworks’ Harry, is ... well ... very handsome.
Wild animals and their handlers wandered around and answered questions from fascinated patrons of Topanga’s wild animal sanctuary, The Nature of Wildworks (natureofwildworks.org), during a fundraiser held at a private home. 
Mollie Hogan, Wildworks founder, and her blue and yellow macaw, Jammy, greeted guests, while volunteers and their “Animal Ambassadors,” provided a close-up-and-personal meet-up rarely attainable in the wild.
Among them were a serval, a Fennec fox, snakes, owls, a turkey vulture, a bantam chicken and a 7-month-old Flemish Giant Rabbit, Hunny Bunny, who is well on her way to growing into the two-foot-tall, 50-pound creature she was bred to be.
Most of the animals are native to California and were either acquired from zoos, confiscated as illegally owned pets, or rescued as orphaned or injured wildlife.
Hogan founded Wildworks in 1995 to provide lifetime care for non-releasable wild animals. Through a number of outreach programs, it has enhanced the public’s understanding of LA’s local natural environment in classrooms, community projects and even programs for pre-schoolers through second grade.
The highlight of the afternoon was animal communicator Lydia Hiby (lydiahiby.com), who claimed that anyone can communicate with their animals.
“I just ask them questions,” she said, making it sound easy. “If you want to talk to them, get really quiet and start asking questions. They’re sending messages all the time.”
