20 Most Memorable CA Animal Stories Of 2020

CALIFORNIA — Creatures, great and small, in California, we love them all. Animals from all over the Golden State made headlines in 2020, and Patch has curated some of the year's most adorable, interesting and heartwarming stories.

The San Diego Zoo welcomed an endangered pygmy hippopotamus and performed cataract surgery on a gorilla. The Oakland Zoo treated mountain lion cubs rescued from a wildfire. A stolen lemur was found and returned to the San Francisco Zoo.

Border Patrol agents rescued a missing horse and California Highway Patrol officers rescued a sea lion stranded in the road. A combative bear landed in a California realtor listing.

Some of the stories below will make you laugh, while others may make you cry. More will make you cheer. Here are some of our favorite animal stories of the year.

1. Beloved CA Animal Sanctuary Burns Down, But Not Destroyed

The Lucky Ones Ranch was home to a hodgepodge of 105 animals before it was ravaged by the LNU Lightning Complex fires.

2. How A Combative Bear Landed In California Cabin's Realtor Listing

Real estate photos aim to flatter properties. So the image of duo fending off a bear at this for-sale Tahoe fixer seemed a curious choice.

3. Animals Evacuated From Children's Nature Retreat Due To Wildfire

Already impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, the 20-acre animal sanctuary in Alpine is seeking donations to help care for the animals.

4. Bobcat Burned In Wildfire Turns Corner Toward Recovery In Ramona

The team at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center hopes to return the bobcat to the wild next month.

5. Border Patrol Agents Rescue Missing Horse In San Diego County

Agents assigned to the Imperial Beach Station found the missing horse named "Ollie" July 15 in the Tijuana River Valley area of San Diego.

6. SEE: CHP Rescues Sea Lion In The Road

"An unusual traffic hazard" was spotted Wednesday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol said.

7. Endangered Pygmy Hippo Born At San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo announced the birth on Endangered Species Day. The birth was the first of its kind at the zoo in more than 30 years.

8. Gorilla At San Diego Zoo Safari Park Undergoes Cataract Surgery

Animal care specialists at the Safari Park and professionals at UC San Diego Health worked together to save a young gorilla's eyesight.

9. Found: Endangered Lemur Stolen From San Francisco Zoo

The zoo offered a reward for the safe return of Maki, a 21-year-old ring-tailed lemur. Maki is back home at the zoo.

10. 750th Pet Adopted From Marin Humane Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

A dog named Rosie was the 750th animal to be adopted from the Novato-based animal shelter amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

11. Guide Dogs For The Blind Celebrates New Puppy Center In Marin

Guide Dogs for the Blind celebrated the first litter of puppies born in the guide dog school's new Puppy Center in San Rafael.

12. Marine Mammal Center Helps Free Entangled Whale In Monterey Bay

The humpback whale had become severely entangled in crab fishing gear and could not move, according to the Marin County-based center.

13. Los Gatos Locals Rally Together To Rescue Cat Stranded In Redwood

A cat was stuck in a tall redwood tree in Los Gatos for four days until a crew from a local tree service company came to its rescue.

14. Masked Intruders Paw Their Way Inside Redwood City Bank

The trespassers knocked over a computer before being shooed to safety.

15. Oakland Zoo Mends 3 Mountain Lion Cubs Rescued From The Zogg Fire

Three orphaned mountain lion kittens rescued from the Zogg Fire are heading to a new home in Ohio after recovering at the Oakland Zoo.

16. Oakland Zoo Treats Mountain Lion Cub Badly Burned In Zogg Fire

"Captain Cal" was rescued by firefighters from the Zogg Fire, but the lion cub is already well on his way to recovery at the Oakland Zoo.

17. Rare Whale Washes Ashore At San Onofre State Beach

A sea creature, found Friday on the rocks, had a "big bulbous head, tiny dorsal fin, & dagger teeth" identifying it as a pygmy sperm whale.

18. Viral 'Goat' Videographer Uses Platform To Fight Hunger

Zach Roelands' goat stampede video had been viewed on Twitter more than 4.4 million times as of Monday afternoon.

19. WATCH: Dolphin Gets 'Belly Rub' From Boat In Oceanside

A playful pod of dolphins were captured on camera by Oceanside Adventures, including one that swam upside down and scratched its belly.

20. WATCH: 'Speedy Gonzales' Shark Swim Off Capistrano Beach

They're baaaack. Local photographer and drone pilot Matt Larmand captured crazy footage of a shark off the Capistrano Beach area last week.