North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre is a non-profit facility that cares for ill, injured and orphaned wildlife, and educates the public about wildlife and environmental issues. Visitors can see non-releasable Vancouver Island wildlife in peaceful and rustic surroundings. Hours Open Daily 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM Admission Adult $15+tax Children 4–16 $6+tax Children 3 & under FREE Veterans and Military FREE Location 1240 Leffler Road, Errington, BC Locate Us on Google Maps Join Our Team Volunteer They Need Us. We Need You! Donate Now Stay Connected Latest on Facebook Photos on Instagram Tripadvisor reviews Watch us on Youtube Get our newsletter Adopt an Animal View Adoption Animals in Shop

HOME > Robin and Sylvia Campbell Scholarship to Benefit Wildlife (2026) The Scholarship: North Island Wildlife Recovery Association will award five $2,000 scholarships to post-secondary students and five $1000 scholarships to high school students in in the summer of 2026. Scholarship recipients shall also receive a one-year membership to North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. Are You Eligible to Apply? Are you currently a full-time student registered in one of the following?: a high school in SD69 or SD68 graduating in 2026
 post-secondary (undergraduate or college) program
 graduate degree program
 diploma program Are you enrolled in full-time studies that benefit wildlife? Examples include the study of animal care, biology/ecology, coastal/marine studies, earth science/geology, environmental studies/education, natural resource protection, resource management, veterinary medicine OR other studies that directly benefit wildlife. Are you a Canadian citizen who previously lived or currently lives on Vancouver Island? If you answered 'Yes' to all 3 questions, then we welcome your application. How Will Your Application Be Evaluated? Applications will be judged on: the relevance of the post-secondary academic program in which you are enrolled your transcript and the level of excellence demonstrated in relevant subject areas [High school applicants only] your involvement in volunteer and extra-curricular activities that demonstrate their dedication to wildlife and/or the environment. Five Steps to a Successful Application Download Scholarship Application form Download Reference Request form Download and complete the Scholarship Application form . Write a 400-500 word personal statement describing your educational and career goals as you see them now. Include a current resume that details your education, work experience, honours and awards, extracurricular events and/or community activities, and employment. Provide copies of post-secondary transcripts . High school students : Provide proof of acceptance into a post-secondary program. Download and print 2 copies of the Reference Request form . Include two sealed letters of recommendation that address your academic achievement and potential for success in your post-secondary studies. (**Instructions are provided in the Scholarship Application form.) Mail* or hand-deliver your completed application package with the 5 required components to: Joyce Lee, Executive Director North Island Wildlife Recovery Association Box 364, 1240 Leffler Rd., Errington, BC V0R 1V0 wildlife@niwra.org Application Deadline: April 15, 2026 *NOTE: If you choose to send your application via Canada Post, you are encouraged to track your package so you can ensure it arrives by the deadline. Late entries will not be considered.

VISIT > Services & Facilites Services & Facilities Wheelchairs/Access Our paths are graveled and wheelchair accessible. Two wheelchairs are available for visitor use at no charge. Caregivers A caregiver accompanying a disabled person who requires assistance receives FREE entry. Participant in the Easter Seal Access 2 Card program. Parking Parking is free. Reserved parking spots for the disabled are available in the main lot near the entrance. Gift Shop Bear Den Gifts is open daily and features unique clothing, wildlife & nature books, and other unique souvenirs to remember your visit. Washrooms Washrooms are wheelchair accessible and have one baby changing station. They are located in the Eagle Flight Enclosure building. Picnic/Play Areas Picnic areas with tables and benches are scattered around the grounds for your enjoyment. The Field of Stones playground is located near the Wildlife Garden and picnic areas.

~wildlife education~ Responsible hunters understand their role in wildlife conservation and follow established laws and ethical practices. They know they must hold a valid BC Hunting License and, for certain species and areas, are required to obtain additional authorization as well. Photo credit: istock.com/Mark Dufresne Correct species identification and safety are essential to ethical hunting. Ethical hunters educate themselves on the specific open seasons, bag limits, and restrictions that vary for species like black-tailed deer, black bears, Roosevelt elk, and upland game birds. They respect municipal bylaws, no-shooting areas, and private land access rules, and get explicit permission before hunting on private property. Poaching is the illegal killing or taking of fish, wildlife or native plants; hunting out of season or killing without a permit for trophy or international trade of wildlife products; keeping live wild animals as pets; or taking hides, skins and other animal parts to be used for clothing, food, folk medicine, jewelry and trophies. Poachers place natural populations of wildlife at risk and ruin lawful recreational opportunities for law abiding ethical hunters. Poachers often take more than just game animals, killing threatened, endangered and non-game species. Poachers are most likely to kill for profit. There are eager national and international markets of collectors and consumers who pay large sums for rare trophies and wildlife parts. Some countries have depleted their wildlife species to the point that poachers travel to Canada to find game. While poaching for commercial gain is a significant problem, the taking of a few “extra” fish or animals is also a serious issue. Individuals may believe their bending or breaking of the rules will have little impact on the overall health of species, but they ignore the total impact of all such acts. Poaching has caused a dramatic decline in the number of black bears and other animals. Poachers rob legitimate sportsmen of game and fish, which in turn robs businesses and taxpayers of revenues generated by hunting and fishing. How can the poaching problem be curtailed when there are few Conservation Officers to track down offenders and the vast size of our country makes the search difficult? Education is key. The average citizen does not participate in poaching and can help by reporting offences they witness. And stronger legislation with greater penalties could deter poachers from killing and removing wildlife from our country. You can help the wildlife in care at NIWRA by making a financial contribution on our secure website. Thank you so much for caring about wildlife!

~wildlife education~ Photo credit: istock.com/TOLGA DOGAN Birds migrate to avoid the hardships of cold weather, and to seek food in warmer regions. They prepare for their long trek by accumulating fat to provide fuel for the lengthy flight. During an overwater migration, they can lose a quarter to one-half of their body weight. Most long-distance migrants, especially smaller birds, fly at night. They may travel continuously or land daily around sunrise to rest and forage. When traveling over water or unsuitable habitats, birds that normally stop each day may fly without a break for longer periods. Bird migrants that travel shorter distances usually fly during the day, generally spending only a few hours of the morning in migration. Aerial foragers, such as swallows and swifts, do not stop but simply feed in flight as they migrate. No two species follow precisely the same migratory route from beginning to end. The continued loss and degradation of stopover habitat is one major threat to migratory birds. As forests are cleared and fragmented, birds have fewer places to rest on their arduous journey. In Canada, it is estimated 16 to 42 million migratory birds are killed annually from collisions with windows. Birds cannot recognize transparent or reflective glass as a barrier. They can see through glass and what is reflected on glass, but they cannot see the glass itself. At night, artificial light from buildings and cityscapes are dangerous for birds. Many species migrate at night using light from the moon, the stars, and the setting sun to navigate. The bright lights of our urban areas confuse these birds. If a bird strikes your window and is stunned, give it time to rest and heal. Gently pick up the bird and place it in a ventilated box or sturdy paper bag and keep it in a quiet area protected from prowling cats for up to one hour. Watch to see if the bird flies out safely. If it does not fly out, call your local wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice. You can help prevent bird window strikes at your residence or business by applying decals or a tight spacing of dots to windows, hang streamers, or cover the whole window on the outside. Bird proofing must be applied on the outside of the window. At your place of business, encourage your business management to apply bird proofing to windows. You can help the wildlife in care at NIWRA by making a financial contribution on our secure website. Thank you so much for caring about wildlife!

~wildlife education~ Photo credit: istock.com/ CarrieCaptured They may have lovely soft fur and be cute and cuddly when they feel like it, but cats have been largely responsible for the extinction of 33 bird species over many centuries. Scientists estimate that free-roaming cats kill hundreds of millions of birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians each year, including endangered species. Cats are particularly deadly for birds. Even well fed, pampered cats will hunt and kill. Every year, domestic and feral cats kill between 100 million and 350 million birds in Canada, leading some bird species to decline by up to 90%. Cat attacks are one of the primary reasons birds, especially smaller species, are admitted to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRA) for treatment. A cat doesn’t have to kill the bird outright; even a small scratch from a cat can kill a bird. Bacteria found in the saliva and mouth of a cat can cause swift and fatal septicemia (infection in the bloodstream) in birds and small animals. Birds caught by cats need to be treated with specialized antibiotics by wildlife professionals, even if they don’t appear injured. If you have a cat, how can you help? Spay or neuter your cat at an early age, do not feed stray cats, never abandon a cat, and support the work of your local SPCA. Keep your pet inside or supervised and on a leash, if outdoors. Have someone handy build an outdoor Catio (a secure outdoor enclosure) fit for your feline royalty. You will be keeping birds safer, and you’ll keep your pet safer too. Outdoor cats can be exposed to many dangers, including motor vehicles, fights with other cats and wildlife, and diseases. Keeping cats from roaming freely also reduces human exposure to diseases such as toxoplasmosis. Domestic cats that hunt can contract and spread avian flu. Some cats have been infected with the H5N1 virus after coming into contact with sick birds or their contaminated environments. Avian flu can have severe health implications for domestic cats. Cat owners should be vigilant and seek immediate veterinary attention if their pets show any signs of illness, especially if they suspect exposure to sick birds. Our pet cats do have a reputation for liking things their way, but you will be doing them and birds and other small wildlife a big favour by keeping them safe indoors. You can help the wildlife in care at NIWRA by making a financial contribution on our secure website. Thank you so much for caring about wildlife!