Estelle Andrews Busch: Wildlife Advocate

Santa Barbara lost one of its great wildlife advocates, educators, and rehabilitators to cancer this past Monday.

Estelle Busch, founder of the Birds of Prey Preservation Program, as well as co-founder and first president of Wildlife Care Network, passed away December 14, at Hospice. She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in mid November. One month later, she was gone, peacefully.

Estelle Andrews Busch moved to Santa Barbara in 1959 from Mercer Island in the Seattle area and commenced what would become a 40-year career of activism, while beginning to develop her true genius in the area of wildlife. She was one of the leaders in the effort to stop the condo development on the property that is now Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens. During that fight, Alice Keck Park passed away, bequeathing funds to the city to establish the botanical park. Estelle and many other activists had won an important victory, and the city received a wonderful gift for their efforts. That park is one block from Estelle’s home, and she was one among the many who loved the changing seasons experienced through a walk in the park.