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~wildlife education~ In the dead of winter, most of us are lucky to have heated homes and warm clothes to keep us cozy, but how do wild animals survive in frigid conditions?   Photo credit: istock.com/   Byrdyak Many animals hibernate or go into “winter sleep”. During hibernation, an animal appears to be dead and its heart rate and body temperature and movements slow down.  Creatures like the jumping mouse, little brown bat, and some species of ground squirrels are true hibernators.   Hibernators have regular white fat and special brown fat around the animal’s brain, heart and lungs that sends a quick burst of energy to the vital organs to let the animal know when it’s time to wake up.   Bears do not actually hibernate; instead they go into torpor.  Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually marked by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. Bears, raccoons, and skunks are all "light hibernators" that use torpor to survive the winter.  What is unique about bears is that they may not eat, drink, urinate or defecate for up to six months during their winter sleep. Most B.C. black and brown bears den for four to six months every year, entering the den in November or December and emerging in March or April. However, Vancouver Island bears may sleep for a much shorter time as our climate tends to be more temperate.    During torpor, the animal can wake up quickly to avoid danger, defend its territory or if there is an opportunity to feed.   Hummingbirds and the little brown bat practice another type of hibernation -- they become dormant during the day to conserve energy.  They may not have consumed enough food to get through the day, so their systems just shut down.   Brumation is another form of becoming dormant; it is hibernation for reptiles and amphibians. Ectothermic or “cold-blooded” animals such as fish, frogs, snakes and turtles burrow themselves in the mud or under leaves and rocks in the winter. Insects find shelter in holes in the ground, under the bark of trees or inside rotting logs.   You can help wildlife in your garden by leaving leaves on the ground to provide coverage for small creatures. And a heated bird bath can be a vital source of drinking water.   You can learn more about wild animals by visiting the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. 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~ Wild animals face calamity from many sources.  Injuries from motor vehicles, power lines, window strikes, cat or dog attacks, wildfires and deforestation, encroachment, hunting… the list goes on.      Photo credit: istock.com/ Santi Wiwatchaikul How do you know if an animal needs help? Here are some signs that an animal is sick or injured:   ·         There is blood, wounds or swelling on the body ·         It is vocalizing and/or following humans around ·         It has been attacked by a domestic cat ·         It has difficulty breathing ·         It has a dangling appendage ·         Its eyes are closed ·         Its head is tucked under a wing.   A good rule of thumb, if a wild animal allows you to walk up to them and pick them up, they are in need of medical attention. Catching injured wild birds or animals can be tricky but here are a few helpful pointers.  If you find a small, injured bird, carefully throw a towel or blanket over it.  Gently pick it up and take it to NIWRA or your local wildlife rehabilitation centre.  Some wounded mammals can be treated in the same way.  However, if you come across injured wildlife with dangerous teeth and talons, you should get some help and not try to deal with them alone.  The occasional brave soul has brought in bald eagles on their own to NIWRA, but that’s because there was no help around.    Keep rescued wildlife in a dark ventilated box away from human contact until you can get to the rehabilitation centre.  Stress can be harmful or even fatal to a wild animal.  The animal could die of a heart attack.  Gently covering the head with a towel should calm it down.  Do not put injured animals in the trunk of your car or leave them in an unventilated hot back seat.     It is stressful for an animal to be taken away from their own species or when improper handling or feeding techniques are used.    A stressed animal may exhibit behaviour such as struggling, screaming, or biting. Parasites will flourish on a stressed animal. Stress can make an animal go into shock and die, a syndrome known as Capture Myopathy .  When rescuing an injured animal, be gentle and do your best to keep it from becoming stressed.    You can help care for future generations of wild animals by leaving a legacy in your will to a rehabilitation centre like NIWRA. 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/John  Kevin Millions of birds die each year in North America from collisions with windows. In Canada, estimates range from 16 to 42 million migratory birds killed annually. These collisions are primarily due to birds not recognizing glass as a barrier, whether it's transparent or reflective.   In the daytime, reflected light poses a severe threat to birds. Birds 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 of birds migrate at night in the spring and the fall, using light from the moon, the stars, and the setting sun to navigate. The bright lights of our urban areas confuse these birds. Birds migrate in the fall between August 1 and November 15. 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, making sure it won’t be towards a window. If it does not fly out, call your local wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice. If a wing is drooping, you may want to bring the bird into the rehabilitation centre for care.    There are various things you can do to try to prevent window strikes at your home, cottage or business: apply decals or a tight spacing of dots to windows, hang streamers, or cover the whole window on the outside. One method that does not work is closing your curtains.  Bird proofing must be applied on the outside of the window. Window decals with UV reflecting properties which can be seen by birds but not by people may help reduce collisions. “Zen curtains” are closely spaced cords that hang down over windows. They do the work of tape or decals but are easier to install and can be aesthetically pleasing. One-way transparent film enables people on the inside to see out, but makes the window appear opaque on the outside. They can reduce the amount of light that comes into your window (and provide the benefit of reducing your cooling costs).   Many window decal options are available in the NIWRA gift shop. 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!

~sourced from an article by BC SPCA~ Photo credit: Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department The devastating Wesley Ridge (Cameron Lake) wildfire that our brave firefighting crews are trying to control affects not just humans but many wild creatures as well. While wild animals can escape from fires, the resultant change to their habitat and food resources will impact generations to come. Wild animals can sense the danger of wildfire. Bigger and faster animals can run or fly away from the flames or seek refuge in water to avoid injury, while smaller animals may try to shelter in logs, under rocks, or by hiding in their burrows. Predators may take advantage of the chaos and hunt fleeing small or young animals unable to keep up. Sadly, wildfires do kill animals -usually slower moving species, like nestling or fledgling birds. Animals may succumb to smoke inhalation, oxygen deprivation, or serious injuries. They may also suffer from heat exhaustion and dehydration. It is after a wildfire has moved through an area that the biggest impact is felt. Wildlife may die due to habitat loss as food sources and nesting sites are burned in the fire. The burned landscape left after a wildfire often results in a new type of habitat, replacing forests with shrubs and grass. Invasive species may move in before native species get the chance and have harmful impacts on the landscape. Species that depend on old growth forests for their diet and shelter are hurt the most. Wildlife that relocates to a new region must compete with other wildlife for the same resources and potentially fight over territory. This forced migration may also cause animals to wander into urban and suburban areas they would normally avoid. Here are some ways you can help wild animals during wildfire season: Prevent forest fires - obey campfire bans and do not smoke in or around forests. Don’t feed wild animals -- it is not good for them to become dependent on humans. They can find food on their own, even in severe conditions. Don’t scare the animals – if they’re fleeing a fire, they are already scared and tired. Be patient as they rest before moving on. Keep your pets on a leash or inside to prevent clashes with wildlife. If you find an injured animal or suspect they need help, contact your local wildlife rehabilitation centre. 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~ Elsa, NIWRA's beloved longtime resident Snowy Owl Sometimes Snowy Owls make remarkable yet often perilous journeys; they may venture far from their Arctic tundra homes due to challenging environmental conditions and end up in unexpected places like Vancouver Island. Snowy owls are iconic birds of the far north, where they primarily hunt lemmings and other small mammals across vast, open landscapes. When poor weather conditions — such as severe storms, unusual cold snaps, or heavy snow cover — combine with a lack of food, these owls may be forced to migrate southward in search of better resources. This phenomenon is known as an irruption , when there is a sudden increase in the population of a species within a region, often triggered by factors like changes in food availability and/or environmental conditions. Smaller irruptions tend to take place every 3 to 5 years on average, while larger, more widespread events might happen every 7 to 8 years, depending on population cycles and regional factors.  Sightings of snowy owls are relatively rare on Vancouver Island, especially along the west coast, but these migrations can bring hundreds or even thousands of owls south. Once they arrive in areas like Vancouver Island, snowy owls often struggle to adapt. They’re not accustomed to the milder coastal climate, denser forests, and different prey availability. This can lead to rapid exhaustion and starvation. Many of these birds are found in a weakened state by concerned citizens and are taken to wildlife rehabilitation centres where they can receive essential nutrition, medical treatment, and a safe space to recover. The owls’ lack of familiarity with the local ecosystem means survival rates can be low without intervention. Elsa was a beautiful snowy owl who arrived at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRA) many years ago, near death from starvation after making the long journey from the tundra.  She was nursed back to health through dedicated care, but after an initial recovery and release attempt, she was found just two months later, once more suffering from severe starvation. This heartbreaking cycle underscores how challenging it is for these Arctic nomads to thrive in our region, which is why Elsa remained at NIWRA as a permanent resident, serving as an ambassador for her species and educating visitors about the impacts of climate and habitat pressures on wildlife. Sadly, she passed away in July 2025. Stories like Elsa’s remind us of the vital role rehabilitation centres play in supporting these magnificent birds during irruptions. By raising awareness, we can help ensure that snowy owls, and other wild creatures, have a fighting chance when nature forces them into unfamiliar territories. 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/BrianEKushner Bald Eagles aren’t hairless so why are they called bald? The name comes from an older meaning of the word "white-headed", referring to the white head feathers of adult birds that contrast with their darker body. The bald eagle builds some of the largest nests of any North American bird, sometimes up to 8 feet (2.4 m) wide and deep. The same nest may be used for several years in a row, becoming larger as new material is added each year. Bald eagles are sexually mature at the age of four to five years and are early breeders. They often build or reinforce their nests by mid-February, egg laying is often in late February, and incubation is usually mid-March to early May. Eggs hatch from mid-April to early May, and the young fledge from late June to early July. Eagles produce one to three eggs per year; two are typical. A young eaglet can gain up to 170 g (6 oz) a day, the fastest growth rate of any North American bird. The young fledge anywhere from 8 to 14 weeks of age but remain close to the nest and are cared for by their parents for another 6 weeks. They learn to fly at three months of age. Not all eagle eggs hatch, and the death rate of young eagles is high. Stronger siblings often kill or cause the weaker ones to die of starvation. Losses due to exposure, diseases, parasites, and predation can also occur while the young are still in the nest. More than 90% of eagles that fledge do not survive to adulthood. Nearly 60% die during their first year, usually due to starvation, disease, or human causes. Young bald eagles undergo as many as six plumage changes before getting their adult plumage at about five years of age. Juvenile bald eagles generally are mottled brown or nearly black and resemble adult golden eagles. These juveniles have no distinct white patches. Their tail and wings are mottled brown and white on the underside in contrast to the characteristic white patches under the wings and the white-banded tail of juvenile golden eagles. While they are no longer considered an endangered species, continuing threats to bald eagle populations include lead poisoning from shot prey, collisions with motor vehicles, and development-related destruction of shoreline nesting and foraging habitats. 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/Wirestock It’s baby deer season, and the more you know about the habits of deer, the better the chances baby deer will remain 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 common. Until the babies are strong enough to keep up with their mom, they are hidden and left alone for most of the time to keep them safe from predators. Fawns have no scent which is why a doe will leave her baby alone while she browses.  Her scent will attract predators away from the fawn. As well, the spots and colouring of fawns help camouflage them from predators as they lay motionless in tall grass or in the forest.  In the past, well-meaning members of the public have brought fawns to North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRA), thinking they were orphaned.  Sometimes, people walking through the woods would find a fawn nestled in tall grass and, thinking it abandoned, bring it into the centre.  They did not understand that mother deer leave their fawns alone for a reason.    Our natural emotional response when we find a fawn alone is to pick it up and feed it.  But what should you do 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.   If your children bring a baby deer home, take it back to where it was found.  The mother will return.  Even if a fawn has been taken from its mother for many 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 when 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 the centre, do not try to feed it.  Please leave that to the professionals at NIWRA. 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/photoguns In late spring, you might see fully feathered birds hopping around on the ground that can’t fly but are not in any sort of distress. Songbirds on Vancouver Island fledge on the ground, so they’ll spend three to four days on the ground. Sometimes people intervene when they don’t necessarily need to and can cause harm. Healthy fledglings can stand upright and will tuck their wings tightly against their bodies. If you come upon a fledgling on the ground, consider the questions below. If the answer to any of these questions is yes, contact your local wildlife centre as soon as possible for advice: ·         Are there bloody wounds, wet feathers, legs that aren’t bearing weight, drooping wings, or matted or highly ruffled feathers? ·         Is the bird lying on its side or back or scooting along the ground on its stomach? ·         Is the bird’s body or head tilting to one side? Is there blood around the nostrils? ·         Is the bird cold to the touch and/or noticeably shivering? ·         Is the bird in the wide open, nowhere near trees or bushes? ·         Are other animals, such as dogs or cats, stalking the bird? What’s the difference between a fledgling and a nestling? A nestling is still in the nest, usually with little to no feathers, and completely dependent on its parents for care. A fledgling has left the nest but can’t fly and is still being cared for by its parents. If you come across a fallen nestling that isn’t injured, shaking, or weak and you can locate the nest, use clean or gloved hands to place the bird back into the nest quickly. Parents of nestlings will continue to feed them if they’re responsive, and no people or threatening animals are lingering nearby. What’s the most important way you can help young songbirds? Keep your dogs and especially your cats inside. 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. Some bird species are in serious decline as a result. Cat attacks are one of the primary reasons birds, especially smaller species, are admitted to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRA). Bacteria found in the saliva and mouth of a cat can cause swift and fatal infection in a bird’s bloodstream. 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~ A bear looking for food in a garbage container. ( Photo credit: istock.com/Reid K Dalland) Problem bears aren’t born, they are made that way by human mistakes.  Bears require large amounts of food to prevent starvation during hibernation and to produce offspring, so they are continually looking for food. That sometimes brings them into contact with humans. Bears may travel hundreds of kilometres daily in their search for food. A bear’s sense of smell and hearing is far superior to humans.  If a hungry bear smells a barbecue or trash receptacle containing food waste, it will go after it.  Bears are natural scavengers and have good memories, so they will return to sites where they have found food before.  Bears are strong and have been known to bend open car doors and pry open windshields in their search for food, so don’t leave food or food waste in your vehicle. If you go out hiking in bear country, make sure you are prepared. Carry bear spray; avoid wearing strong perfumes; keep your children close to you and always keep your pets on a leash.  If you see a bear, stay calm. Speak in a calm, firm voice and back away slowly. NEVER run. A black bear can run up to 48 km per hour, which is faster than the average human. To prevent attracting bears to your cottage, home or campsite, don’t leave any type of food, garbage or pet food where a bear can get at it.  Store them inside or in a bear-proof container.  Many nuisance bear calls are due to garbage attracting them. Take your garbage away immediately and put it out at the curb just in time for your regular collection time (not the night before).  Cooking grease, bones and waste parts of meat should be stored in the freezer until your garbage day. Do not put any meat or fish in a backyard compost bin. Barbecues attract bears. Clean up cooking and eating areas promptly when finished and keep your grills clean and free from grease. Birdseed and suet may also attract bears. If you have fruit trees, pick fruit and windfall every day when ripe. If necessary, enclose composts, fruit trees, vegetable gardens and beehives with chain link or electric fencing, and keep pets inside at night. Sadly, nuisance calls can lead to the death of a mother bear and orphaned bear cubs. NIWRA has been operating a Black Bear Rehabilitation Program for almost 30 years to care for orphaned bear cubs. The program was designed to prevent habituation and ensure the successful return of bears to the wild. 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~ Recently, North Island Wildlife Recovery (NIWRA) centre staff were called out to retrieve a dead blue heron that was hanging from fishing line dangling in a tree over a pond. What a tragic, cruel and senseless death! Photo credit: Deborah Freeman Fishing lines and hooks left on the side of waterways can be swallowed or become entangled in an animal’s feathers or legs.  Unwanted and carelessly discarded fishing line, hooks and netting cause entrapment, pain, injury and death to many fish, birds, turtles and other animals who live on or near the water.  Waterfowl, fish and turtles can become entangled when swimming. Birds sometimes use discarded  fishing line to build nests, which can entrap both the parents and the chicks, causing feather damage, lacerations and/or death. Ingested fishhooks are painful, dangerous and potentially fatal for the animals that eat them as well as for predators such as larger birds or animals that feed on the smaller animals. Animals can become entangled in fishing line while trying to escape. The line can cut into the animal's skin, causing infections or amputation. Or the line can wrap around limbs, cutting off blood supply. Entangled animals are unable to move, find food, or escape predators. Birds and animals often can’t see discarded fishing line and get too close and become entangled. If entanglement doesn't kill the animal right away (typically by drowning), wounds caused by the fishing line can be ghastly. Over time, the hard material can cut into the skin and muscle, and the animal lives in a tortured condition. If swallowed, hooks and sinkers can lodge in the animal's mouth, esophagus, or stomach. This can cause internal bleeding, tissue damage, pain, and death. Lead hooks and sinkers can cause lead toxicity in raptors. What can you do to help? Pick up and properly discard your fishing gear. Dispose of fishing line by cutting it into pieces and putting it in a covered trash can. Volunteer at a shoreline cleanup event and retrieve any fishing line you discover. If you find an animal caught in fishing line, call a local wildlife rehabilitator for assistance. If you see an animal that is entangled, has swallowed a hook, or is injured by fishing line, contact a wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice. 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~ istock.com/Chantale Ouellet Winters can be tough for wild birds, but backyard bird enthusiasts can help by providing birdseed and water, and sugar water for hummingbirds. 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. If you like to feed birds during the winter, you know that as temperatures drop and it gets colder, the water in hummingbird feeders can freeze, preventing the hummingbirds from getting the nutrients they need and potentially causing them bodily harm. There are special heaters designed for hummingbird feeders to prevent the sugar water from freezing. Feeders should be 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 (insects and floral nectar) are unavailable. It’s easy to make a batch of sugar water by boiling four cups of water in a clean glass container and adding a cup of white sugar. Be sure to stir the mixture and then let it cool to room temperature before filling your feeders. Store left over liquid in the refrigerator. Hummingbird feeders should be carefully cleaned at least once a week to avoid nectar buildup or mold growth. Keeping all bird feeders and bird baths clean is key to preventing and spreading diseases such as salmonella, trichomoniasis, aspergillosis, and avian pox among our other feathered friends. Once a month, take down your bird feeders and soak them in a 10% bleach solution.  Rinse thoroughly and dry the feeders before refilling them. Discard old seeds and remove seed from the ground. Some diseases can be spread to humans, so protect yourself by wearing gloves while doing the cleaning or wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Heated birdbaths designed to keep the water from freezing are available so birds can access water in the colder months. Please keep the birdbath clean by rinsing and scrubbing it with nine parts water and one part vinegar before refilling it. And refill the water regularly. If you see a bird with illness symptoms such as a lack of energy or movement, tremors, lack of coordination, or swelling around the head, neck, and/or eyes, call North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRA) or your local wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice. 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~ Here are some tips on how to help bears, birds, and our other native wildlife this year. istock.com/ AwakenedEye Most human conflicts with black bears are due to garbage and other human-caused attractants. Bears can receive as many calories from our garbage in 10 minutes as from foraging in the forest all day. To prevent bears from being labeled as nuisances and at threat of being killed: Only put your garbage and green bin out on the morning of pick-up, not the night before. Feed pets indoors, and don’t leave pet food outside. If you have a backyard compost, maintain it properly. Don’t add meat, fish, dairy, bones or fatty foods to it. Clean your barbeque by burning off the grill, cleaning out the grease trap, and storing it covered and in a locked shed. Please do not throw litter out of your car window. It can attract wildlife to the road edge, where they can be injured or killed. Take a container with you to hold your scraps and garbage to be disposed of properly later. Keep pet cats inside to help protect our native birds. On average, cats kill more than 100 million birds each year in Canada. If a bird isn’t killed outright in a cat attack, bacteria in the saliva and mouth of the cat can cause swift and fatal infection. If you feel it’s cruel to keep your pet inside, ask someone handy to build an outdoor enclosure fit for a feline king or queen. That way, your pet can enjoy the outdoors without harming birds. It’s important to keep bird feeders and bird baths clean to prevent or spread diseases among our feathered friends. At least once a month, take down your bird feeders and soak them in a 10% bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly and dry the feeders before refilling them. Discard old seeds and remove all seeds from the ground. Consider taking down bird feeders during the summer months. Bird baths should also be cleaned as frequently as possible. Sadly, window strikes happen quite frequently for our native birds. Birds see the window reflection as a continuation of their environment. You can lessen the chance of window strikes by applying UV reflecting decals or dots or hanging streamers on the outside of the window. There are many helpful options available. Thank you for caring about our 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~ Blizzard, one of our resident white ravens The North Island Wildlife Recovery Association (NIWRA) became internationally known in January 1989 when a local farmer unwittingly left a euthanized cow in a field. Eagles fed on it and ingested barbiturates. Neighbours began calling NIWRA when they discovered eagles lying on the ground, dead or on the brink of death. With tremendous support from the community and media, NIWRA volunteers and veterinarians were able to save and release 25 of the 29 eagles that were found. Today, NIWRA has evolved into a remarkable wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility specializing in black bear cubs and birds of prey. NIWRA’s mission is to care for ill, injured, and orphaned wildlife, and to educate the public on wildlife and environmental issues. Years of dedication and hard work have resulted in thousands of animals being rescued, rehabilitated and released, but our resident animal ambassadors cannot be released back to the wild. Here are a few of the wonderful animals you can meet when you visit the Centre. Sandor (Bald Eagle) Sandor was brought to NIWRA in June 2006 as a young bird. He was found on a roadway near Port Alberni where he may have been hit by a car. He suffered from a crushed wing, starvation and seizures. Because of his wing injury, Sandor cannot fly. Rae (Black Bear) Rae is a female bear who was found in the Woss area alongside the highway. She was starving and unsteady on her feet, likely due to head trauma. She will require ongoing care for the rest of her life.  Blizzard (White Raven) Blizzard came to NIWRA in extremely poor condition, starving, and riddled with infection. Leucism is the partial loss of pigmentation, in this case melanin, the pigment that makes black and brown. We were able to nurse him back to health, but complications due to his leucism prevent him from being a suitable candidate for release. Dougal (Raven) Dougal was young when he was brought to the Centre in 2018. He had been abandoned by his parents. NIWRA’s veterinarian determined he was blind. “Dougal” means “Dark Stranger.” Farley (Great Gray Owl) Farley was found near 100 Mile House, BC after being hit by a vehicle. The collision resulted in a badly broken wing which had to be partially amputated.  He cannot fly and is a permanent, non-releasable resident. 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/SuzanJohnson   When it’s cold outside, most of us are lucky to have heated homes to help us keep warm, but how do wild animals survive? Hibernation or “winter sleep” is the state of inactivity or low metabolic process animals perform during winter.   During hibernation, an animal appears to be dead and its heart rate and body temperature and movements slow down.  The jumping mouse, little brown bat, the eastern chipmunk, some species of ground squirrels, and a bird called the grey and white poorwill are all considered to be true hibernators.   Hibernators have regular white fat and special brown fat. The brown fat around the animal’s brain, heart and lungs sends a quick burst of energy to the vital organs telling it when it’s time to wake up.   Bears, in contrast, do not truly hibernate but rather go into torpor.  Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually marked by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. Bears, raccoons, and skunks are all "light hibernators" that use torpor to survive the winter.  Bears are especially unique as they do not eat, drink, urinate or defecate for up to six months during their winter sleep. Most B.C. black and brown bears den for four to six months every year, entering the den in November or December, and emerging in March or April. Vancouver Island bears may hibernate for a much shorter time.    The main difference between hibernation and torpor is during torpor, the animal can wake up quickly to avoid danger, or if there is an opportunity to feed.   Another type of hibernation is when an animal or bird becomes dormant daily to conserve energy.  They may not have consumed enough food to get through the day, so they just shut down. Hummingbirds and the little brown bat use this adaptation.    Brumation is another form of becoming dormant, and is like hibernation, but for reptiles and amphibians. Ectothermic or “cold-blooded” animals such as fish, frogs, snakes and turtles burrow themselves in the mud or under leaves and rocks in the winter. Insects find shelter in holes in the ground, under the bark of trees or inside rotting logs.   These coping strategies enable animals to survive weather extremes. You can learn more about wild animals by visiting the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRA). 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/John Kevin “Thump!”- -- it’s the sound a bird lover dreads. That’s the sound of a bird hitting a window, often fatally. Each year in Canada, around 25 million migratory birds die as a direct result of collisions with building windows. Birds migrate in the spring and fall (between August 1 and November 15 in the fall).   In the daytime, reflected light poses a severe threat to birds. Birds can see through glass and what is reflected on glass, but they cannot see the glass itself.   At night, it is artificial light from our buildings and cityscapes that endangers birds. Many species of birds 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 hits one of your windows and is stunned, give it time to rest and heal. Gently pick up the bird and place it in a ventilated box and keep it in a quiet area for up to one hour. If you don't have a box, a sturdy paper bag on its side may work.   Open the box outside and watch to see if the bird flies out, making sure it won’t be towards a window. If it does not fly out, call your local wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice. If a wing is drooping, you may want to bring the bird into the rehabilitation centre.    There are various things you can do to try to prevent window strikes: apply decals to windows, hang streamers, or cover the whole window. One method that definitely does not work is closing your curtains.  Bird proofing must be applied on the outside of the window. Window decals with UV reflecting properties which can be seen by birds but not by people may help reduce collisions.   Other more effective options are long-lasting tape products that offer an easy way to apply a tight spacing of dots across your window. “Zen curtains” are closely spaced cords that hang down over windows. They do the work of tape or decals but are easier to install and can be aesthetically pleasing. One-way transparent film enables people on the inside to see out, but makes the window appear opaque on the outside. They can reduce the amount of light that comes in your window (which can also reduce your cooling costs). 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!