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Emergency Info Wildlife Emergencies Direct Line for ANIMALS IN DISTRESS | 250-927-6025 Wildlife drop-off is available on-site every day, year-round. Staff are on-site from 9am – 4:30pm. After hours, place wildlife in the red animal admissions drop-off building (east end of parking lot). Please DO NOT use email or Facebook message to send wildlife emergency information. Circumstances regarding injured bears or suspected orphan bear cubs : Please report to the Ministry/Conservation Officer service at: 1-877-952-7277 Also report to NIWRA at: 250-927-6025 or animalcare@niwra.org What to do if you encounter injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife Once you have determined an animal is orphaned or injured … If it is safe to do so, capture the animal using a towel or blanket. You may wish to wear gloves as well. If you need assistance or advice (e.g. handling raptors), call the Emergency number. Transport the animal to the Centre in a well-ventilated box that is lined with a towel. Keep contact with wildlife to a minimum to eliminate stress. Do not give the animal any food or water. Do not place the box in your vehicle trunk or leave in a vehicle with the windows closed. If you come across an injured seal, the first thing to do is call for help. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Pacific Region), seal pups should be left alone unless intervention is necessary. Please call their “Observe, Report and Record” line at 1-800-465-4336 if you need help. NOTE: The Centre is not permitted to admit domestic or farm animals, including rabbits. Leave fawns where they are unless they are injured or you know their mother is dead. If you find a baby bird that has fallen from its nest, you can return it to the nest unless it is injured, cold or wet. After returning it to the nest, watch from a discreet distance to be sure the parent accepts it. Don’t alarm the parent more than necessary. IMPORTANT : Wildlife rescue is ONLY NECESSARY when an animal is clearly orphaned or injured . In many cases, baby animals appear to be alone but the parents are nearby — just not visible.

Summer Front Desk Position Join Our Team! Front Desk Gift Shop staff (full-time, eight weeks ) The Organization: North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, a world-class wildlife rehabilitation centre, located in Errington, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, cares for ill, injured and orphaned wildlife, and educates the public on wildlife and environmental issues. The Position: The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre is accepting applications for full-time summer Front Desk staff to work in our gift shop, meeting and greeting visitors and offering outstanding customer service and sales to visitors. Successful applicants should possess previous experience in customer service and retail sales. The position works under the direction, support and supervision of the Gift Shop Manager and the executive Director. Responsibilities: Welcome visitors to the Centre, presenting a positive, professional deportment as a first point of contact Sell admission tickets, annual passes, animal adoptions and process donations Stock and sell merchandise, handling cash, credit and debit transactions on a Point of Sales system Answer phones and perform other administrative tasks as required Perform duties in other departments as needed Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Requirements: This rewarding position requires a mature person who works well within a team and independently and can readily adapt to changing circumstances. It is physically demanding and requires attention to detail. Must be able to communicate fluently in English Must be able to work 5 days a week with 2 consecutive days off Must be reliable and dependable Previous retail and merchandising experience preferred Self motivated, demonstrates initiative, ability to work alone and in teams Flexibility to work weekends, weekdays and holidays Strong time management skills Eligibility: These positions are funded through the Government of Canada Summer Jobs Grant. Must be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment Must be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment Must have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada Number of Weeks: 8 weeks (May & June OR July & August) Hours: 35 hours per week Wage: $22.60 per hour To apply: Please email a cover letter stating availability dates, your resume and 2 references to wildlife@niwra.org Attention: Joyce Lee . Please write "Front Desk Summer Position" in the subject line. We appreciate all applications, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We reserve the right to close the vacancies early depending on the number of applications received, so you are encouraged to submit your details as soon as possible if you are interested.

Summer Educational Assistant Position Join Our Team! Education Program Assistant (full-time, eight weeks ) The Organization: North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, a world-class wildlife rehabilitation centre, located in Errington, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, cares for ill, injured and orphaned wildlife, and educates the public on wildlife and environmental issues. The Position: The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre is accepting applications for a full-time summer Education Program Assistant staff (8 weeks) to work in our education program, providing educational presentations and opportunities to visitors and assist the Animal Care team as needed. The position works under the direction, support and supervision of the Education Program Coordinator and the Executive Director. Responsibilities: all training provided Guide diverse groups through the wildlife centre Deliver Bear Aware programs Support youth docents onsite Manage microscope stations and wildlife biofacts during educational activities Other duties as needed Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Requirements: This rewarding position requires a mature person who works well within a team and independently and can readily adapt to changing circumstances. It is physically demanding and requires attention to detail. Must be able to communicate fluently in English Must be able to work 5 days a week with 2 consecutive days off Must be reliable and dependable Self motivated, demonstrates initiative, ability to work alone and in teams Flexibility to work weekends, weekdays and holidays Strong time management skills Eligibility: This position is funded through the Government of Canada Summer Jobs Grant. Must be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment Must be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment Must have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada Number of Weeks: 8 weeks (May & June OR July & August) Hours: 35 hours per week Wage: $22.60 per hour North Island Wildlife Recovery Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences. To apply: Please email a cover letter, your resume and two references (one must be a work reference, with contact information) to wildlife@niwra.org Please write "Educational Assistant Summer Position" in the subject line. We appreciate all applications, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We reserve the right to close the vacancies early depending on the number of applications received, so you are encouraged to submit your details as soon as possible if you are interested.

~wildlife education~ Nesting season on Vancouver Island begins mid-March and extends through mid-September. Clearing trees or other vegetation or draining or flooding land for development, particularly if undertaken during nesting season, can harm migratory and native birds, their nests or eggs, resulting in long-term negative effects on bird populations. Photo credit: istock.com/Simon002 Before starting any clearing activity that may affect bird nests, buffer zones should be established to protect existing nests and their surrounding environment. Keep up to date with the latest guidelines and government regulations regarding the protection of migratory birds and their nests. Migratory bird regulations protect migratory birds, their eggs and their nests, by prohibiting activities that can cause them harm. Unless you have a permit, or the regulations provide authorization, you are prohibited from capturing, killing, injuring or harassing migratory birds; destroying or disturbing an egg; or damaging, destroying, removing or disturbing a nest, unless the nest does not contain a live migratory bird or a viable egg; and the nest was not built by a species that is listed in Schedule 1 of the Migratory Birds Regulations. The nests of species listed in Schedule 1 are protected, unless notification of unoccupied nests has been submitted through the Abandoned Nest Registry; the wait time designated in the regulations has passed, and during the wait time the nests have not been occupied by a migratory bird. Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles and Pileated Woodpeckers are on the list of species whose nests and nest trees are protected year-round. The way land is cleared to remove trees, vegetation, rocks, stumps, etc., and what’s done afterward can significantly affect local ecosystems and long-term sustainability. Depending on the location and size of the project, clearing may involve bulldozers, chainsaws, or controlled burning, all of which can have major impacts on the ecosystem. Land clearing destroys natural habitats. Forests, wetlands, and brushlands are home to a wide range of plants, animals, and insects. Removing the natural habitats disrupts complex food webs and forces wildlife to relocate or disappear altogether.  No wonder wildlife often appears in our backyards! The root systems of trees and vegetation also prevent wind and water from washing topsoil away. Once vegetation is removed, rapid erosion may result, leaving the land less suitable for growing anything but invasive weeds. Please be considerate of migratory birds and other wildlife in your development plans. 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/FRANKHILDEBRAND Baby deer season is just around the corner, and the more you know about the habits of deer, the better the chances baby deer will remain where they belong - with their mothers. Baby deer (known as fawns) are born from April through July. A female deer (or doe) can have one to three fawns; twins are quite common. Until the babies are strong enough to keep up with their mom as she forages, she will hide them and may leave them alone for long periods of time. Because fawns have no scent, the doe can leave her baby alone while she browses.  Her scent will attract predators away from the fawn. Also, the spots and colouring of fawns help to camouflage them from predators as they lay motionless in tall grass or in the forest.  Well-meaning members of the public have brought fawns to North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRA) in the past, thinking they were orphaned.  Walking through the woods, people would find a fawn nestled in tall grass and, thinking it abandoned, bring it to NIWRA.  They did not understand that mother deer leave their fawns alone for a reason.    It’s a natural emotional response to want to pick up and feed a baby deer if we find one alone.  What should you do instead if you find a fawn and see no mother deer in sight?  Please leave it alone unless you can verify the doe is dead or that the fawn has suffered a life-threatening injury.   Did your children bring a baby deer home? Please take it back to where it was found.  The mother will return.  Even if a fawn has been taken from its mother for several hours, they can be successfully reunited.  If you find a fawn laying out flat on the side or in the middle of the road, stop and gently guide it off into the bush or ditch.  This will save it from other motorists.  The mother and fawn have become separated while crossing the road and she is probably watching you.  Fawns tend to lay flat instinctively, hoping you and other scares will go away.  If the doe is dead nearby and the fawn must be brought to NIWRA, do not try to feed it.  Please leave that to the professionals. 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~ Deer have microbes in their stomachs that help them digest coarse food such as lichen.  If rich foods like alfalfa or apples are introduced to these microbes, it can cause bloat and may lead to the death of the animal.  It’s best not to feed wild deer in the winter unless you have small amounts of local hay to offer. istock.com/GarysFRP Anna’s Hummingbirds don’t migrate in the winter; they become dormant daily to conserve energy, entering a state of torpor on cold nights. Their body temperature lowers, and their heart rate slows. Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned weekly and stocked with sugar water made of four parts water and one-part white sugar. Hummingbirds depend on this for energy when their usual food sources are unavailable. Bats are natural pest controllers. All BC bats feed exclusively on insects and are vital for maintaining healthy and balanced ecosystems. Our local bats eat night-flying insects including mosquitoes, beetles and moths. A nursing female bat can consume up to 600 insects an hour and 100% of her body weight in a night! Owls have very large eyes in relation to the size of their bodies. Their eyes gather and concentrate much more light than ours do. Owls have forward-looking eyes, giving them binocular vision and excellent depth perception, which is an advantage in hunting. They can focus on both near and distant objects at the same time, a special adaptation allowing them to accurately gauge distance when they are pursuing prey. Turkey vultures are often called “Nature’s garbage collectors”. While it’s believed they will eat anything dead, they prefer their ‘meals’ to be no more than three days old. Turkey vultures have keen eyesight and a razor-sharp sense of smell. A large nasal cavity in their beak helps them detect a carcass from great distances. The vulture can put its featherless head into a rotting carcass without soiling or damaging its feathers. It is thought that their strong digestive juices counteract most harmful bacteria. They defecate on their legs to disinfect them. The American bullfrog, the largest frog in North America, is an invasive species due to its voracious appetite and the large number of eggs it produces. Frogs eat any animal that can be captured and swallowed, including all kinds of vertebrates and invertebrates. Bullfrog adults eat insects, snakes, small mammals, birds, and smaller native frogs. 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!