Critter Squad Wildlife Defenders are on a mission to make learning and protecting wildlife an ingrained task of all humans; children and adults alike! Our goal is to bring the joy of wildlife right into your home through hands-on and digital educational outreach, while doing what we can to help support local wildlife! Join the C.S wildlife defenders on a global mission to save the planet!
MEET THE FOUNDER:
Geoffrey Mantonya is the founder of The Critter Squad, a company many have come to know and love. A true lover of animals, Geoff started a company called Manton Reptiles when he was only 19 years-old. The company’s main focus was towards captive reptile breeding programs. Through his future experiences in the animal world, and through his own University education, Geoff realized the importance of educating the public, so he transformed his business into a wildlife education company. Through this, The Critter Squad was created. Geoff is now 31 years-old and his company, The Critter Squad, is strongly known for their extremely exciting and educating animal outreach presentations. As The Critter Squad moves into the future, Geoff is leading the pack into new worlds. He has started new wildlife endeavors, such as humane animal trapping and release programs, captive breeding programs, and a few other secrets waiting to emerge. Geoff is eager to continue educating the community and making a difference in the world of wildlife.
Meet the Team!
Mark Gollub
Mark has always displayed a significant interest in animals from a young age. So much so that as a toddler he had to held back from trying to hug every dog he came across. He also enjoys sharing his knowledge of Critter Squad’s various animals with his students and to anyone who will listen. Mark graduated from University of California, Riverside, with an Anthropology degree, and then later attended the EATM program at Moorpark College so that he could be really hands-on with a wide variety of animals, because in his mind there is simply no cooler job than that.
Carly Blauner
Carly grew up exposed to the local wildlife population native to the Santa Monica mountains during hikes and trail rides. She studied Zoology at Oregon State University where her favorite class was Mammalogy. On the weekends, she volunteers at an animal sanctuary. Carly’s current project is befriending the neighborhood flock of crows using unsalted peanuts.
Bailey Salvoski
Since she was 4 years old, Bailey Salvoski knew she would devote her life to animals; learning everything there is about them and their husbandry. To make this dream a reality, she graduated first from CSU Channel Islands with a B.S. in Biology, then the Exotic Animal Training and Management program at America’s Teaching Zoo. Her love for all creatures great and small is never ending, and her passion extends to sharing her knowledge with anyone and everyone. She’s worked with a large variety of exotics, including: reptiles, small mammals, primates, hoofstock and her favorite, big cats. She lives by the motto: Our quality of work, is their quality of life!
Steele Sciberras
Steele is our residential Aussie. G’DAY MATE. Growing up in the bush and on the beaches of Australia, Steele has come face to face with some of the cutest and most dangerous critters on the planet. Steele has always love animals but teaching, learning and caring for all the critters at Critter Squad has quickly become a new passion of his. His big energy and bubbly Aussie personality will make sure you have an amazing time while learning about the animals of the world.
Joey Silvers
Joey was inspired by the same group he gets the privilege of working with today. When an educator walked into his 5th grade class with a 6 foot green iguana, a passion was ignited. Little did he know, this passion would grow each day and give Joey the ability to share this passion with classes and students all over Los Angeles.
Riley Mantonya
Riley brings her passion for animals to the Critter Squad team every day. A lifelong wildlife defender, Riley strives each day to bring wildlife conservation to everyone she teaches. Her dedication to Critter Squad is unquestionable, and her fearlessness has given her the ability to help improve the lives of many of our rescued animals. Riley works daily to ensure the Critter Squad conservation message is broadcast to all of her students, and her experience with animals is invaluable to the team.