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Home to more than sixty resident, non-releasable animals as well as raptors, bears, and other Vancouver Island wildlife who will return to the wild, we welcome families, individuals, school tours, and community groups to visit us 7 days a week. Hours 9:00 am - 4:30pm Daily Admission Adult $15 Children 4–16 $6 Children 3 & under FREE Veterans & Military FREE Our Location 1240 Leffler Road, Errington, BC Locate Us on Google Maps Plan Your Visit Our self-guided map will show will help you make the most out of your visit. NIWRA Map Download Map Learn More Find out about our facility, accessibility, parking, picnic areas, and more. Onsite Services Book a guided tour for your group or organization (15 to 45 people) . Group Tours Request Your Group Visit Meet Our Animals Home to more than sixty resident, non-releasable animals as well as those who will return to the wild Eagles - Owls - Black Bears - Hawks - Turtles - Ravens - Turkey Vultures and more! Symbolic adoptions support the care of our non-releasable animals View Adoption Animals in Shop Dan's Nook Wildlife Garden Visit Our Garden Enjoy local wildlife in their natural habitat, including a mini-wetland, featuring: tadpoles hatching dragonfly nymphs emerging bees pollinating Marsh Marigolds blooming hummingbirds feeding Bear Den Gifts Looking for the perfect gift for the animal lover in your life? Or just looking for a unique gift? Bear Den Gifts has you covered: books on animals and the environment local wildlife-themed art clothing home decor and much more... Visit us in person or online! Let's Get Shopping!

EDUCATION > Animals Among Us Animals Among Us Use Our FREE Classroom Resource Today! (If you are unable to view the videos below, please visit Animals Among Us on Youtube ) This 21-minute video can be presented in its entirety or shown in 4 parts: What to do when you find a fawn (at 0:40) What to do when you find a baby bird on the ground (at 3:30) Invasive Species – Leave Bullfrogs where they are (at 7:13) What makes a good pet? (at 18:03)

Robin & Sylvia Campbell Scholarship to Benefit Wildlife 2025 Recipients Announced The Robin & Sylvia Campbell Scholarship to Benefit Wildlife is awarded annually to five university students pursuing careers in wildlife conservation and environmental conservation. These recipients exemplify passion, excellence, and dedication in their studies and future goals. The scholarship is designed to support and recognize emerging leaders who are committed to preserving our planet’s wildlife and natural ecosystems. Meet The 2025 Recipients Meghan MacIsaac Meghan currently works as NIWRA’s summer wildlife garden caretaker and has been a volunteer in NIWRA’s wildlife garden since 2018. She has over a decade of experience within the biotechnology and manufacturing fields. Since moving to the Island from the mainland in 2017, Meghan has set her focus on the environmental field and furthering her education in Environmental Practice, where she is now halfway through working towards her Master’s. Meghan holds a BSc in biology and certified in environmental monitoring from the University of Northern British Columbia. She also volunteers for Save Estuary Land Society and loves to garden and learning about plants! Jayden Emery Wildlife conservation has been a lifelong passion for Jayden, beginning in childhood as she explored the creek behind her home in the Comox Valley and participated in programs like Earth Rangers and Scouts. After moving to Nanoose Bay, her dedication to the environment led her to begin volunteering with the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in 2019, where she has since grown into the role of a youth mentor in the Green Teen program. She has also brought her environmental values into her current workplace, contributing to sustainability efforts through their programs. Currently, she is employed by RLC Park Services at Englishman River Falls and Little Qualicum Falls, where she conducts park patrols. At the same time, she is studying in the Resource Management Officer Technology diploma program at Vancouver Island University, with plans to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Protection by 2027. As she builds her career in environmental conservation, her focus remains on giving back to the Oceanside community that has supported her along the way. She looks forward to the opportunities the future holds. Laura Kennedy Laura has harbored a deep love for animals since childhood, having grown up surrounded by dogs and cats and frequently watching documentaries about large carnivores such as wolves and lions. Her fascination with wild animals was sparked during a visit to Toronto, where she observed a raccoon family on a rooftop—an experience that left a lasting impression. This passion for nature led her to pursue a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Geography at the University of Calgary. Driven by a desire to support local wildlife, she later enrolled in a Master’s program at Royal Roads University, where she is currently conducting a post-release monitoring study of rehabilitation-reared raccoons. Her research focuses on collecting preliminary data regarding the survival, movement patterns, and causes of mortality among orphaned raccoons. The goal is to inform best practices that improve the survival rates of juveniles released back into the wild. As urbanization, habitat loss, and climate change continue to increase the frequency and complexity of human-wildlife interactions, the field of wildlife rehabilitation is gaining importance. Grounded in the welfare of individual animals—caring for the sick, orphaned, and injured—it also emphasizes education and advocacy, providing broader benefits for animal ecology, conservation, and human-wildlife coexistence. Laura remains committed to promoting urban wildlife coexistence and conflict mitigation, as well as fostering public support for wild animal welfare and urban conservation initiatives. She also intends to continue volunteering or working in wildlife rehabilitation and to stay actively involved in local habitat restoration projects. Carys E. Hughes Carys is entering her second year as a student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. She hopes to find opportunities as a future vet to work in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation with a focus on veterinary medicine and education. Raised in Nova Scotia, Carys relocated to Vancouver Island in 2019 with her family to pursue university studies. Naturally falling in love with this beautiful island, she now calls Nanaimo home. While studying at the University of Victoria, she participated in a practicum at the BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre, earning a certificate from the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in 2023, she travelled to Australia to gain further experience in wildlife rehabilitation, working on an island in Queensland caring for and releasing injured sea turtles. Carys has benefited from opportunities over the past five years to study, work and volunteer in marine science research and in aquaculture in British Columbia and Alberta. Carys is a member of several clubs at vet school in Saskatchewan, including the Wildlife Disease Association and the Wild and Exotic Animal Medicine Club. One of her favourite activities last year was capturing, banding and releasing Saw-Whet Owls. She is currently working at a local vet clinic in Nanaimo for the summer, learning about small animal veterinary practices. These varied experiences have cemented Carys’s passion to build a career and volunteer path in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation, both on Vancouver Island and internationally. Donald Miller Donald Miller is a recent graduate of the Resource Management Officer Technology diploma program at Vancouver Island University and is continuing his education by pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resource Protection at the same institution. He is sincerely grateful for this award, which will greatly support his efforts and passion for conservation. He is currently working in Valemount, BC as an Aquatic Invasive Species Inspector with the Conservation Officer Service of BC , where he helps ensure that all watercraft entering BC are thoroughly inspected to prevent the spread of invasive species by both commercial and recreational vessels.

~Wildlife education~ It is estimated that between 16,400 and 23,000 wild animals are killed annually on roads in British Columbia, and, sadly, wildlife collisions are becoming more common. Photo credit: istock.com/Pascal-L-Marius Deer are the most often struck wildlife on BC roads, involved in nearly three out of every four wildlife collisions. Other animals impacted are bears, raccoons, wolves, cougars, beavers, muskrats, moose and elk. And before highway crews can pick up the carcasses, scavengers such as eagles, hawks, ravens, and turkey vultures arrive on the scene to become the next victims. What brings wildlife close to the roads? Fawns following their mothers are frequently killed. The animals may be running from predators or searching for food. Litter thrown from vehicle windows can be a big attractant. Highways interrupt natural corridors of travel for wildlife looking for food or water. Some techniques to reduce collisions are highway lighting and signs, fencing, wildlife overpasses and underpasses, repellents, noisemakers, and reflectors. Driver education is also important; 60% of motorists do not notice wildlife warning signs. Exclusion fencing has been quite effective in preventing wildlife-vehicle accidents but is not feasible in heavily populated areas. Reflective prisms mounted on posts and installed along the sides of the highways as a means of deterring animals from coming onto the road have had some success. The reflection appears to distract the animals momentarily long enough to allow the car to pass. Infrared (heat sensing) cameras to detect the presence of wildlife on or near roads also have been used. When wildlife is detected, flashing lights are triggered, which provide a “real time” warning for drivers to slow down. It’s important for drivers to watch for and obey wildlife warning signs and speed changes, slowing down when animals are on or near the road. Animals are unpredictable and may jump out in front of your car even if they see you. Deer usually travel in groups of two or three so watch out for the animals you can’t yet see. Make sure you clean and align your headlights and use the high beams to scan the road ahead. Honk your horn to scare wildlife off the road. Dispose of your garbage responsibly; don’t throw it out the window. Drivers must be alert and drive defensively and responsibly; it could mean life or death for the motorists and the wildlife. 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~ Do you hear thumping overhead at night? You could have raccoons in your attic. Raccoons are nocturnal creatures, so they will make noise at night. Photo credit: istock.com/Westy72 If you have a mother raccoon with babies in your attic, getting them all out could be difficult. Baby raccoons, called kits, are born in the spring. When their mother is away, they will cry, chirp, and squeak awaiting her return. It would be very cruel to shut the mother out, leaving the babies inside. And it could make your invasion problem much worse as the mother may become desperate to get to her babies and cause serious damage to your home trying to reach them. There are gentle deterrent methods to evict raccoons. A few strategically placed bright lights and a motion-activated alarm would make them feel unwelcome. Also, raccoons hate the smell of mint or peppermint. Spray peppermint oil around the attic, especially near the raccoon’s entrance point to bid them adieu. Once you know they are gone, have the access holes sealed. Raccoons can carry parasites and dangerous diseases that may be passed on to humans. Always wear gloves and a mask when dealing with raccoons or raccoon waste. They can also bite and scratch if they feel threatened. An infected raccoon can shed hundreds of roundworm eggs in their feces daily which can live outside the raccoon for years, awaiting a host. If ingested by humans, results may vary from mild symptoms to potential death. Children under the age of one year who have eaten raccoon feces have died. Collecting raccoon feces to dispose of them should be done using protective clothing, rubber gloves and boots (that are left outside, not brought indoors). The feces should be flushed or burned. You may think the little critters are cute and feed them on a regular basis, but you could be threatening your health and that of others. Raccoons are part of our wildlife family, but they can be a potential risk to your health. Take precautions to keep you and your family safe. Do not feed your pets outside as their food may seem like an invitation to a hungry raccoon. If you store your garbage bins outdoors, make sure they are secure. The rule of thumb is: if raccoons are visiting, something has attracted them. 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~ 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!