Photo credit: istock.com/Jennifer Yakey-Ault Songbirds on Vancouver Island fledge on the ground, so they’ll spend three to four days on the ground. You may see a fully feathered bird that’s hopping around on the ground that can’t fly but it’s not in any sort of distress, it’s just the natural progression of things. Sometimes people intervene when they don’t necessarily need to and can cause harm. What’s the most important way the public can help young songbirds? Keep your dogs and especially your cats inside. Healthy fledglings can stand upright and will tuck their wings tightly against their bodies. If you should find a fledgling on the ground, answer 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? If you come across a fallen nestling who 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. If you can’t see or reach the original nest, make one out of a small basket or box. Ideally the “nest” should be cereal-bowl shaped, well padded with tissue paper, and of a non-slippery material, otherwise the bird’s legs could spread out sideways and become deformed. Fasten the nest in a sheltered area of the tree closest to the bird’s original location but out of range of any cats or dogs. Parents of nestlings will continue to feed them as long as they remain within 9.14 metres (10 yards), they’re responsive, and no people or threatening animals are lingering nearby. Watch quietly for a few hours to make sure that a parent comes back to feed the nestling. If the parent doesn’t return, contact NIWRA for advice. Do not offer the bird any food or water and do not attempt to care for it yourself. 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~ MICHAEL BRIONES michael.briones@pqbnews.com Peter Karsten couldn’t help being emotional when he cradled a rehabilitated eagle in his arms before releasing it back to the wild. Photo credit: PQB News The former Calgary zookeeper was given the honour of freeing a one-year-old bald eagle that was rescued from Nanoose Bay near a nest by Derek Downes, animal care supervisor at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRC), and nursed back to health. The release celebration was held on Saturday afternoon at the NIWRC in front of a huge crowd, with some capturing the joyful moment with long-lens cameras while others videoing the release using their cellphones. Karsten, who is from Denman Island and worked at the Calgary Zoo for more than 30 years, was tearful when he tried to calm down the eagle in his arms while walking around to show off the healed bird of prey, who suffered from injured radius and ulna. Following that, he let go of the eagle, which spread its wings and soared above the crowd, who were awed and excited to see the bird fly off to the skies. “It was a very emotional experience,” said Karsten. “I must say, I had to wipe some tears off my eyes because it’s such an incredible accomplishment. It’s such a wonderful event. Robin and Derek were of great understanding that I wanted to hold the eagle with my bare hands and not in gloves so you can feel the eagle.” Karsten said he has handled eagles in the past but this occasion was different and difficult to match. “To have an eagle that is destined to die, starve to death and unable to survive being taken here and rehabilitated to fly off again,” said Karsten. “That is so extraordinary.” The invitation to release the eagle has inspired Karsten to create a piece of art, a seven-foot steel depiction of an eagle release. “It’s just a highlight in my life,” said Karsten. “I was a zookeeper and zoo director for 30 years and it’s still very, very special. I am so very grateful.” The event kicked off with a First Nations drum beating ritual and a raven song led by artist Bill Helin. The NIWRC has been busy and continues to receive injured eagles and other animals, including bears. They are a non-profit society that relies on fundraising, donations and sponsorships. See the original article and photographs in the April 10, 2024 edition of PQB News at https://www.pqbnews.com/e-editions 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~ Did you know that the domestic cat is an alien species originally from ancient Egypt at least 4,000 years ago? Photo credit: istock.com/Astrid860 Cats have lovely soft fur and can be cute and cuddly if they feel like it, but they are considered the most widespread alien predator in the world.  Domestic cats have been largely responsible for the extinction of 33 bird species since the 1600’s.  Scientists estimate that free-roaming cats kill hundreds of millions of birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians each year, including endangered species.  The impact of feral and free-range cats has been a recognized problem in wildlife rehabilitation. 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 have declined by up to 90% 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 septicemia (infection in the bloodstream) in birds and small animals. How can pet owners 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 have someone handy build a secure outdoor enclosure fit for a feline king or queen.  Not only will you keep birds safer, but you’ll also keep your pet safer too. Outdoor cats can be exposed to many dangers, including cars, fights with other cats and wildlife, and diseases. Keeping cats from roaming freely also reduces human exposure to diseases such as toxoplasmosis and can reduce neighbour conflict. Domestic cats that hunt can contract and spread avian flu. In some cases, cats have been found to be 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. Domestic 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!

Dean Stoltz, CHEK NEWS Mar.7, 2024 The animal care supervisor at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRC) in Errington has once again found an unusual white raven in his care. “Not only was it dealing with the debilitated health that comes with its genetic condition it actually was also involved, presumably in an eagle attack,” said Derek Downes. The sick and injured bird was found in Qualicum Beach in January and is making a slow recovery but may never be released. The experts at the centre say white ravens are simply unable to make it through the winter. “So melanin creates that dark pigment, the black pigment for them and that protects them from UV radiation and it helps them thermoregulate and it also helps them to a certain extent in camouflage, I mean a white bird is an easy target to be seen,” he added. This is now the third white raven taken in for care at NIWRC, the other two are now residents and on display for visitors. They’ve been seen occasionally in the Oceanside area since the 1990s. So if the birds can’t make it through the winter and die if they’re not rescued then how do they keep being born? “It seems to be that it’s a straight recessive gene so two black parents that carry the gene will create a white individual so it’s not white individuals breeding that are creating white individuals,” said Downes. And the gene apparently has been passed down through generations of black ravens in the Oceanside area. “The sacred white ravens of Oceanside as they’ve been dubbed, a lot of people have heard of them and there’s been a lot of prolific photography of them,” he added. The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre isn’t a zoo, all of the animals it has on display came in as a patient at one time and couldn’t be released. The money spent by visitors allows the centre to keep caring for new injured and sick animals that come in. Watch the video on CHEK+ here: https://www.cheknews.ca/north-island-wildlife-recovery-centre-caring-for-another-white-raven-1194031/ 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~ Did you know that problem bears aren’t born, they are made that way by human oversight. A bear is attracted to a BBQ. Photo (c) Sylvia Dolson Bears make daily excursions and may travel hundreds of kilometres in search of food. They require large amounts of food to prevent starvation during hibernation and to produce offspring. They are continually looking for food and that sometimes brings them into contact with humans. A bear’s sense of smell and hearing is far superior to humans. Hungry bears will enter a backyard or campground if they smell a barbecue or trash container. They are natural scavengers and have good memories, so they will return to sites where they have found food before. If you go out hiking in bear country, come prepared with bear spray. Avoid wearing strong perfumes. Keep children close to you and always keep pets on a leash. If you see a bear, stay calm. Speak in a calm, firm voice and back away slowly but NEVER run. Bears are strong and have been known to bend open car doors and pry open windshields in their search for food. There are things we can do to prevent attracting bears to our 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. Sixty percent of 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. Suet, birdseed and hummingbird mixes may attract bears. If you have fruit trees, pick fruit and windfalls 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 orphaned bear cubs. To care for them, NIWRA has been operating a Black Bear Rehabilitation Program for almost 30 years that was designed to prevent habituation and ensure the success of bears returning 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~ At last count, the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRA) had nine orphaned bear cubs in its care. Too much early contact by humans can result in a bear’s habituation or dependence on people, resulting in “nuisance bears”, looking for food in people’s backyards or garbage. Sadly, these bears, if they become repeat offenders, are usually shot to protect the public. Orphaned bear cubs often end up at NIWRA. NIWRA’s Black Bear Rehabilitation Program has been operating for almost 30 years and was designed to prevent habituation and ensure success in the wild. We work closely with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development, and our program is overseen by the Conservation Officer Service and Ministry biologists and veterinarians, who ensure that orphaned cubs who are being considered to come into our care are good candidates for release. The Ministry's Senior Wildlife Biologists and Veterinarians also have the final word on any cubs that are released back into the wild after our rehabilitation program. While here, the cubs in our care move through three stages over approximately one year before being released. When cubs are admitted, they are housed in our ‘nursery’ area. Depending on its age when it arrives at NIWRA, a cub may need to be fed with a syringe or bottle, but this stage never lasts long. We endeavour to transition the cubs to eating independently as soon as possible. Once the cubs reach approximately 10kg (22lbs), they are moved to our ‘grow-out’ area. This area consists of four separate rooms (two indoor and two outdoor). Staff enter the grow-out area once per day and scare the bears into another room so we can clean and hide food throughout the enclosure. This is done using loud noises and yelling, and, while it’s not the most fun part of our jobs, it ensures that the cubs maintain a healthy fear of humans. We are essentially ‘training’ them to avoid humans. After 1-2 months in the grow-out area, the cubs are sedated, given a medical examination, and moved to our pre-release enclosure. There, they are fed through ports and will not have any human contact until the time comes for them to be released. The enclosure is open to the sky, meaning that eagles and ravens are also able to come down for scraps. Natural sounds such as bird calls are played in the enclosure. This is to prepare them for the variety of sounds they will hear when they are released, so they won't find the forest full of strange and perhaps frightening sounds. Artificial scents mimicking natural forest smells are also introduced into the bear cubs’ enclosure so they will get used to these odours, and find the forest a natural place for them when they are released. Their temporary home is equipped with a variety of sleeping benches, and gymnasium equipment to help the bears gain strength, balance, and agility – attributes they will need to survive in the wild. The cubs are fed a variety of food to approximate what they would be eating in the wild. Since they cannot be taught how to hunt and feed, it is hoped that the diet at the Centre and their natural instincts will serve them well when they are released. This is called “enhancement.” We try to match the seasonal availability of various food sources. They are given grass in the spring, berries in summer, apples and other fruit all year round, and fish and red meat later in the year. They are given branches with leaves throughout the year. The leaves are a natural food, and they need to gnaw the bark from the branches in the fall to help “plug them up” in preparation for their winter hibernation. Old logs are also brought into the enclosure to initiate insect colonies to provide another natural food source for the young bears. Once they are ready to be released, the cubs will again be sedated, examined, and taken to an undisclosed remote location by the Conservation Officer Service. It is important that the release site has plenty of food available and that they are not released into habitats already heavily defended by adult bears, which could threaten a cub’s survival. They are fitted with a GPS collar that will naturally break off after one year, which enables Conservation Officers to monitor the movement of the cubs after release. Thanks to this data, we know all of the bears we have released have been successful for at least their first year, with each cub successfully denning in a remote location by their first wild winter. In the nearly 30 years we have been rehabilitating black bears, we have never had a cub who displayed signs of habituation, or anything less than a healthy fear of humans. In the wild, black bears who have not encountered humans may have some level of curiosity regarding them. The cubs in our care learn to associate us with danger. Their natural response is to run away from us. This means that they are associating running away from humans with safety, and this is exactly what our program was designed to do. Because of the need to keep human contact to a minimum, viewing the black bear cubs in care at NIWRA is only via video monitors. You can learn more about black bears at the Centre, and visit Rae, our non-releasable adult bear. Please 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~ Winters can be tough for wild birds, but backyard bird enthusiasts can help. 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. 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 keep their sugar water food liquid. 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 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 down to room temperature before filling your feeders. Store left over liquid in the refrigerator. Do not use honey, brown sugar, or other sweetener alternatives in your hummingbird feeders, as they promote bacterial growth. Feeders should also be carefully cleaned at least once a week to avoid nectar buildup or mold growth. Keeping 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 as well. 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. If you also treat our feathered friends to a birdbath, please keep it fresh by rinsing and scrubbing it with nine parts water, one part vinegar, before refilling it. And refill the water regularly. Heated birdbaths designed to keep the water from freezing are available so you can continue giving birds access to water in the colder months. If you see a bird with illness symptoms such as a lack of energy or movement, tremors, lack of coordination; 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~ A great way to start the new year is to be conscious of the ways we can help wildlife. Here are some tips on how to help bears, birds, and our other native wildlife. A bear tears apart a garbage bag looking for food. (istock.com/AwakenedEye) • Most human conflicts with black bears are due to garbage and other human driven attractants. Bears can receive as many calories from garbage in 10 minutes as from foraging in the forest all day. Help protect bears by only putting your garbage out in the morning of pick-up, not the night before. Take down bird feeders during the summer; feed pets indoors; maintain your backyard compost properly, if you have one; clean your barbeque by burning off the grill and cleaning out the grease trap and store it covered and in a locked shed. • Help protect our native birds by keeping pet cats inside. On average, cats kill more than 100 million birds each year in Canada. If a bird isn’t killed outright in an attack, bacteria found in the saliva and mouth of a cat can cause swift and fatal infection. If you feel it’s cruel to keep your pet inside, have someone handy build an outdoor enclosure fit for a feline king or queen. • Keeping bird feeders and bird baths clean is key to preventing and spreading diseases among our feathered friends. At least once a month, or more frequently in humid hot weather, 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. Bird baths should also be cleaned as frequently as possible, or they can cause more harm than good. • Sadly, window strikes happen quite frequently for our native birds. Birds see the window reflection as a continuation of their environment. Lessen the chance of window strikes by applying images of hawks to the window, hang streamers, or cover the whole window. Bird proofing must be applied on the outside of the window. Window decals with UV reflecting properties can be helpful. • Keep our roadways safe for wildlife. Don’t throw litter out of your car window while out and about. Take a container with you for your scraps and dispose of them later. By disposing of waste and compost properly, you can help prevent injury to wild animals. Thank you! 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~ If while out enjoying nature, you happen upon injured wildlife in need of assistance, here are a few pointers on how best to help. Catching injured wild birds and animals can be tricky. If you find a small injured bird, gently throw a towel or blanket over it, then carefully pick it up and/or place it in a box to bring it to NIWRA. You can also use a towel or blanket on a mammal. An injured owl on a car bumper. If you find injured wildlife that has dangerous teeth and talons, it is best to get some help. We have had folks bring in eagles on their own because there was no help around, but in general it's best to get knowledgeable assistance when dealing with birds of prey, for example. Wildlife can be injured in many ways by human activity -- from boat propellers to hay mowers, automobiles, power lines, windows, deforestation, encroachment, to hunting, etc. So when you are enjoying the great outdoors, be on the lookout for animals in need. To try to minimize an injured animal's stress level, keep the rescued creature in a dark ventilated box away from human contact until you can get to a rehabilitation centre like NIWRA, as stress can be harmful and even fatal to a wild animal. The animal could die of a heart attack. Gently covering its head with a towel can help calm it. Do not put injured animals in the trunk of your car or leave them in an unventilated hot or cold back seat. What can you do if you find an injured bird on a walking trail but don’t have anything to carry it in? An ingenious hiker used his backpack. Although it was a little cramped, the bird he brought to us was fine but happy to be released. Stress occurs when the animal is taken away from their own species or when improper food, handling and feeding techniques are used. Water deprivation will also cause stress and will quickly upset the animal. A stressed animal may exhibit behaviour such as struggling, screaming, biting, and refusing to eat or drink. Parasites flourish on a stressed animal, and stress can make an animal go into shock and die. Baby birds. Do not feed baby birds. Call NIWRA to ask for advice on feeding if you can't bring in the bird right away, as some birds eat only seeds, while others such as owls, eagles, and hawks are carnivores. When rescuing an injured animal, please be gentle and try everything possible to keep it from becoming stressed. Use whatever you have available to rescue the animal, such as a towel, blanket, net or even your coat. Call a rehabilitation centre like NIWRA if you are afraid or unsure of rescuing the animal. Remember stress and shock can kill. 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~ Imprinting of a young animal means it comes to recognize another animal, person, or thing as a parent or other object of habitual trust, and starts to follow that animal or person around. Imprinting seems to be confined to a brief period after birth when there are few objects to bond to. A duck egg placed under a broody turkey will lead to a very upset mom when her offspring begins to swim in the water. Although the duck will follow the hen around, it cannot break the desire to get in that pond. Habituation is different; a habituated animal has become used to something, so that they no longer find it unpleasant or think it is a threat. Animals learn what to fear and what not to fear. Birds quickly realize that bird feeders in a protected yard are a good place to feed, while they may always be on guard in the woods where predators may lurk. Animals such as raccoons, bears and deer that are fed regularly by humans become habituated. If the people who have been feeding them move away, the animals will be left wondering where their free food went, and they may visit the neighbours to find it, which can lead to problems, usually for the animals. Most wild birds and animals fear people and try to avoid us. They prefer to hide or flee. However, some birds may show a high degree of tolerance towards humans and be considered tame. The most striking example of this is the grey jay (or Canada jay) that inhabits the forests and is extremely bold around humans. Wild pigeons can become so tame that every part of your body can be a landing platform. Usually food is involved as well. There have been cases of birds such as the wood thrush allowing humans to stroke and feed them while they incubated their eggs or while brooding their young. This fearlessness can be attributed to the strong attachment a bird has for her eggs when they are close to hatching or for her newly hatched young. Imprinting, being habituated and tame become problems when birds and animals are kept in captivity. They may not learn the skills they need to survive on their own if they are then released. Wild animals also get into trouble when they're too comfortable around people. They are more likely to be hit by cars, and trapped or killed if they're perceived to be a “nuisance”. If young birds imprint on humans, they will be bonded to humans for life and will identify with humans rather than with their own species. If the public finds a young animal in distress, it should be brought to the centre right away. It may be tempting to keep baby animals such as raccoons, squirrels or even fawns, as they can be very cute, but any young animal can become imprinted. They then become a lifelong responsibility. It is also important to note that having wildlife in your possession without a permit from the Ministry of Environment is against the law. You could be fined. Come visit the North Island Wildlife Recovery centre (NIWRA) to meet some of our animal ambassadors who are unable to be released due to imprinting or injury. Please 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~ We have our homes with heating and cooling systems to help us cope with temperature extremes, but how do wild animals survive? Hibernation or “winter sleep” is the state of inactivity or low metabolic process animals perform during winter. Aestivation or “summer sleep” is the low metabolic process animals use to cope through hot dry summers. Photo credit: Moira Rosser During hibernation, an animal appears to be dead and its heart rate and body temperature and movements slow down. True hibernators are the jumping mouse, little brown bat, the eastern chipmunk, some species of ground squirrels, and a bird called the grey and white poorwill. 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 do not 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. The main difference between hibernation and torpor is during torpor, the animal is able to 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. Hummingbirds like this little beauty go dormant daily to conserve energy Brumation is another form of becoming dormant, and is similar to hibernation, but for reptiles and amphibians. Ectothermic or “cold-blooded” animals like 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. Some insects create homes for themselves in plants, by making the plant form a small lump or "gall". The gall becomes the insect’s home and food source. In summer, aestivation is a dormant state that some animals assume during hot, dry periods. Animals that hibernate are protected from the cold, while animals that aestivate are protected from dryness. The animal’s body functions slow down as in hibernation, allowing it to survive hot dry periods. Photo credit: Moira Rosser Similar to hibernation and torpor, aestivation is characterized by a period of inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate. Many animals, both invertebrates and vertebrates, use this tactic to stay cool and prevent desiccation when temperatures are high and water levels are low. Animals that aestivate include mollusks, crabs, crocodiles, some salamanders, mosquitoes, desert tortoises, the dwarf lemur, and some hedgehogs. Northern ground squirrels prepare themselves for the outset of hibernation while ground squirrels living in the desert will aestivate in their burrows. Amphibians, reptiles, insects, snails and fish will aestivate. Various kinds of frogs, lungfish and salamanders form a cocoon before entering aestivation to prevent water loss from their skin. When water reappears in its environment, the reptile or fish awakens from its sleep. These coping strategies enable animals to survive weather extremes. You can learn more about wild animals, by visiting the North Island Wildlife Recovery (NIWRA) centre. Please 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~ Some foods that we humans think are nutritious and enjoyable to eat are actually poisonous to animals. Deer and rabbits require large amounts of cellulose and other fibrous plants for their fuel. Starches and sugars are literally poisons to animals such as these that eat~ grass, stems, leaves and/or bark. Onions and garlic can be damaging or even fatal when fed to animals such as wolves, wild cats, oxen, sheep, and apes. An unknown toxin in avocado has a negative effect on cattle, horses, goats, rabbits and birds (and pets). Birds that ingest avocado fruits and seeds experience respiratory distress. Methylxanthine toxicosis meaning “death by chocolate” has killed many dogs, cats, and birds, and also adversely affected rodents and reptiles. Overdoses of chocolate have an amphetamine-like affect that causes vomiting, diarrhea, hypertension, weakness, tremors, seizures, coma and sometimes death. Macadamia nuts are also toxic to many dogs. The leaves of parsley, parsnip, carrot and celery are quite nutritious in moderate amounts but they contain phototoxins that are activated by sunlight and cause harmful biochemical reactions in the body. Therefore the secret when feeding these is in small amounts. Soy is a common human food that is also in pet foods. Animals would not naturally consume soy. Raw soy is so toxic that it has anti-nutritive properties for animals. Diets high in soy fed to birds may result in decreased fertility, deformity, stunted or stillborn hatchlings and premature deaths. Necropsies on passerines, hummingbirds and doves that had a diet of soy show lumps of undigested food in their crops and guts, and poor muscle mass and abnormal feathering. Although legumes such as alfalfa are a natural source of food, feeding only alfalfa or large amounts of it to wildlife can be harmful or unhealthy. Most animals need a variety of whole, natural foods. What we think is healthy or tolerable to humans to ingest, could mean illness or death to an animal. To a small creature, caffeine can be fatal. Animals in the wild instinctively know what they should eat, but when they are in captivity, they are at the mercy of the keeper. The rule of thumb when feeding an animal or bird before being able to bring it to a wildlife centre like NIWRA is to find out what they eat in the wild. Deer do not drink cow’s milk and a robin does not eat seeds. If you have found an injured bird or animal, please curb your temptation to feed it. Call the experts at NIWRA first. Our animal care experts will assess the animal's needs upon admittance to the centre. Please 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~ Bats are nocturnal mammals that play an important role in the ecosystems of British Columbia. The 16 species of bats in BC are protected by the BC Wildlife Act. There are nine species of bats on Vancouver Island. Being natural pest controllers, bats are invaluable to the balance of nature and allies for farmers. 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! The possibility of being infected by rabies is small but you should take precautions if you find a bat. If bats get into your house, close the doors to other rooms, turn off the lights and open outside windows and doors. Using a pillowcase, carefully pick up a sleeping bat. Wear a leather glove if possible. Try to place the bat in a safe spot, out of the reach of cats. To prevent bats from entering the house, inspect and repair cracks under your eaves, around pipes, vents, doors and windows. If bats are roosting in a remote area of the house, you may want to leave them and provide them a home. But if having bats co-exist in your home does not appeal to you, building (or buying) a bat house is a good alternative. If you feel evicting the bats from your home is necessary, first listen for squeaks, inspect for brownish oil stains that rub off their coats, look for guano, and watch the suspected entrance at dusk. Close off the bat entrance only when you are certain they are gone. You can make a one-way escape valve from screening by installing it over the main exit or use polypropylene bird netting to make a large flap over the hole. It is illegal, ineffective and cruel to use pesticides to try to remove bats. Bats are active at dusk and dawn navigating in the dark using echolocation to find prey. They send out ultrasonic sound waves and listen for the echoes. Humans pose the biggest danger to bat populations. Harm can come to the bats if the colony is disturbed while they are hibernating. If a bat is wakened from hibernation, it uses up a lot of energy, and increases the possibility that the bat’s stored fat will be insufficient to keep it alive for the rest of the winter. Insects treated with toxic pesticides can kill bats that eat them. Deforestation is another human activity that can affect bats as logging reduces the availability of roosting places. Want to learn more about bats? Visit https://hat.bc.ca/bats Please 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~ Yes and no. Bears are not considered to be true hibernators because they maintain high body temperatures in winter; instead they are considered efficient hibernators. They will sleep for months without eating, drinking, urinating, or defecating. Orphaned baby bear cubs keeping warm at NIWRA Bears have an isolative pelt that helps keep their body temperature high while cutting their metabolic rate in half so they can survive the winter. This enables bears to react to danger faster, meaning they can be aroused from sleep and slumber more lightly. Biologists have redefined mammalian hibernation as simply a specialized, seasonal lowering of metabolism when food is less available and atmospheric temperatures are low. Most B.C. black and brown bears den for four to six months every year, entering their dens in November or December, and re-emerging in March or April. Vancouver Island bears may hibernate for a much shorter time as the climate on the island tends to be milder. Researchers study bear hibernation to try to find ways to preserve human organs, to help with kidney disorders, and determine if human hibernation could be implemented for long-distance space travel. Female bears give birth to two or three cubs in January, each weighing less than a pound (200 g). The newborns have practically no hair at first. The cubs do not hibernate but instead suckle and sleep by their mother, which helps to keep them warm. At three months, when they reach a weight of four to eight pounds (1.49 - 2.98 kg.), they leave the den. Bears will visit urban communities if they detect the availability of food. Your home may also be in their traveling corridor. Become educated about bears and bear proof your community. Avoid bear interactions by storing garbage correctly, cleaning barbeques, picking berries and fruit as they ripen, removing outdoor freezers, feeding pets indoors, putting away all petroleum products, and sprinkling compost with lime. Be aware that a bear can get more calories from your garbage than by foraging. Bears are highly intelligent and will return for a good meal. Habituation of a bear cannot be changed and may result in their death by euthanasia. It is our responsibility to change our habits to help bears. You can learn more about black bears by visiting NIWRA. Please 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~ There are some harmful myths about human/bear conflict. One myth concerns the frequency of bear attacks. In fact, bears rarely attack humans in bear country. There are hundreds of human-bear encounters in Canada, and only a very few result in personal injury. There have been only two fatal black bear attacks in Algonquin Park in Ontario in the last 40+ years. And in all of North America, there have been less than 35 fatal black bear attacks since the year 2000, or approximately 1.5 per year. According to Parks Canada, bear attacks are rare occurrences, and fatal bear attacks are even less frequent. A bear is attracted to a bird feeder. (c) Sylvia Dolson It's a myth that mother bears attack to defend their cubs. A female black bear will rarely attack defensively. She will instead send her cubs up a tree and try to intimidate you by acting aggressively while waiting for the threat (you) to pass. Grizzlies are another story. As a general rule, it is best to stay away from all cubs even if they are by themselves. It's also a myth that a bear that stands on its rear legs is getting ready to attack. Usually they are trying to catch your scent or get a better look at you. If they are going to attack, they will do it on all fours. When hiking in bear country, come prepared with bear spray. Avoid wearing strong perfumes. Keep children close to you and keep pets on a leash at all times. If you see a bear, stay calm. Speak in a calm, firm voice and back away slowly but NEVER run. Watch for fresh bear signs and maintain a distance of at least 100 metres from a bear. Avoid wearing headphones while walking or jogging. Make noise, clap or sing, or wear a bear bell. Not all bears that wander through your yard are dangerous. Bears make daily excursions and may travel hundreds of kilometres in search of food. Bears require large amounts of food to prevent starvation during hibernation and to produce offspring. They are continually looking for food and that sometimes brings them into contact with humans. A bear’s sense of smell and hearing is far superior to humans. Hungry bears will enter a backyard or campground if they smell a barbecue or trash container. They are natural scavengers and have good memories. 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. A bear enjoying an apple. There are things we can do to prevent attracting a bear to our 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. 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 your back yard compost bin. Barbecues attract bears. Clean up cooking and eating areas promptly when finished and keep your grills clean and free from grease. Suet, birdseed and hummingbird mixes may attract bears. If you have fruit trees, pick fruit and windfalls every day when ripe. Enclose composts, fruit trees, vegetable gardens and beehives with chain link or electric fencing, and keep pets inside at night. Problem bears aren’t born, they are made that way. It is up to humans to change our behaviour to live in harmony with bears. One irresponsible neighbour can ruin it for a whole neighbourhood. You can learn more about black bears by visiting NIWRA. Please help the wildlife in care at NIWRA by making a financial contribution on our secure website. Thank you so much for caring about wildlife!