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Our Education Skunk, taking a break after wrestling with one of his favorite toys. 

Skunks are a very common urban animal in Central Alberta, and the wildlife centre receives over 400 calls a year from people concerned about them being around. Having a skunk as an education animal allows us to better teach people about these unique and beneficial animals.

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These American Kestrel chicks were found on the ground after a wind storm damaged their nest. We were able to repair the nest and after the babies were assessed and deemed healthy, they were returned. Careful monitoring ensured the parents had returned and continued caring for their young. Success!

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Can you believe that these photos are of the same owl?

This poor dude landed in a bad (and very stinky) spot, covering himself from head to toe. After only one wash and a bit of time, he looks like an owl again!

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After dark one evening we were called out to a report of a fox caught by his tail in a barbed wire fence by a public roadway. But when our staff arrived on scene, it turned out that the poor fox was actually caught in a snare! Luckily he had managed to get snagged by his hips, and not by the neck, so he was still quite healthy. 

After being freed from the snare he was given a quick check-up on site, and deemed healthy enough for release. Hopefully he’s learned a valuable lesson on avoiding snares in the future!

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Three days ago we admitted this Bald Eagle into our hospital. It was hit by a car... twice! We thought it was dead on arrival. It was completely limp, barely responsive, and had blood pouring from its mouth. Today it is standing, the lungs sound clear, and it has an attitude!

www.mrwc.ca

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The first of the spring babies arrived this week! Three hares and this nest of baby squirrels are now without mothers.

You can support these and the many more babies we will receive over the next many weeks by contributing to our Baby Shower. Find out more at http://medicineriverwildlifecentre.ca/about/news/item/447-baby-shower

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A tiny saw-whet owl recovers after flying into the side of a moving truck. 

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Carol Kelly runs the Medicine River Wildlife Centre for animal rehabilitation and is a leader in fostering practices for orphaned animals.

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Can you spot the owl?

Injured wildlife often try to conceal themselves as best they can, which can make finding and rescuing them more difficult. Even a bird that cannot fly, like this owl, can often manage to move long distances from where they were first located or injured. 

If you find an injured animal, and cannot safely capture it yourself, either keep an eye on it or place a box over it so it cannot escape before help arrives.

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This morning, our staff and international volunteers arrived to a horrific scene. Inside one of the outdoor flight pens, all of the resident and soon-to-be-released crows and ravens were found, shot in their heads. In total, six crows and two ravens were targeted. Two are clinging to life while the others were already dead.

Medicine River Wildlife Centre prides itself on its education programs. For more than thirty years, we have given information, attempted to abolish myths, provide humane options, and encourage a general respect for life. We teach how every wild creature has its place in nature and is here for a purpose. Some species may create challenges for humans at times, but many times it only takes some simple changes in our lives to stop the problem. We believe strongly in proactive measures as a reactive approach rarely solves the problem for long. This act of violence is extremely disappointing and frightening.

This invasion on our property has left staff and volunteers feeling uncomfortable for their own safety. Police are investigating.

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Every year the Medicine River Wildlife Center receives orphaned deer fawns, like this super tiny whitetail/mule deer cross! With the support of people like you, we successfully rehab these fawns and foster them to wild does so they can grow wild and free!

Please support our hospital upgrade! 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/otis-s-extreme-home-makeover#/story

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An update on our orphaned Pine Marten!

She has grown well, but a wild family of martens could not be located for fostering purposes. So, rather than having her grow in isolation we have given her a weaselly friend! Newt the Ferret has been teaching her general weasel behaviors and acting as a companion, keeping the marten from becoming too accustomed to her human caretakers. 

The Pine Marten will be released later this month in prime marten habitat.

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This summer, will you be someone who helps save wildlife?

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/otis-s-extreme-home-makeover#/story

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Our Indigogo campaign is live! Will you help us to rebuild our hospital, and save injured and orphaned wildlife?

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/otis-s-extreme-home-makeover#/story

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Orphaned Common Raven hatching out.

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Meet our newest baby! This tiny Pine Marten was found under someone's shed after its dead mother was spotted on the road nearby. This little girl is very hungry and eating well.

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An orphaned moose and white-tailed deer fawn rest together while awaiting fostering to new wild mothers.