Rehabilitation

 

It is the mandate of Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary to rehabilitate wildlife in order that it be successfully returned to its natural environment. No two animal species are alike each and as a result each species requires care in the form of nutrition, enrichment and if necessary medical treatment appropriate to its needs. When an orphaned or injured animal arrives at the Sanctuary it is immediately assessed for admission which includes when possible weight, gender, general health and in the event of injury, first aid. Through its progression of recovery the animal is treated according to its species requirements. Specific formulas, foods, vaccinations, and size appropriate enclosures are manadatory requirements for successful rehabilitation. Sometimes our job is completed in a few hours, sometimes days, weeks and sometimes like small bears and raccoons we care for these animal throughout an entire year in order to ensure their safety and welfare upon release into their natural environment. Sometimes, sadly in spite of all our efforts there are those occassiosn when recovery is not possible. On occasions such as this it is paramount to all of us here at The Sanctuary that no animal suffer needlessly and is treated with the dignity and respect it rightfully deserves. Every creature that reaches us at The Sanctuary is special to us, they are our raison detre.
We receive animals who are:


When the snow starts to melt and the tulips start to show their heads, the action really ramps up here at The Sanctuary. It’s baby time! Literally dozens of little orphaned baby raccoons, squirrels, foxes, coyotes, bears and beavers can arrive on a daily basis. Just like a human baby, they need and want feeding again and again and again. Naturally what goes in, well must be processed and as a result our people are on round the clock shifts to ensure that all the critters are fed and clean! It is during this period that The Sanctuary is the most need of hands on help from our supporters, be it financial or physically pushing brooms, shovels or washing bottles, lots of bottles! And so it continues through the entire spring season and well into summer.
When the summer heat has abated and we start to feel a nip in the air and the woodlands become a kaleidoscope of colour the not so little any more orphans are ready to be returned to their natural environment. It is incumbent upon rehabilitators to comply with the “Minimum Standard Requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to return the animals to within a fifteen kilometer radius from which they originated. Given these restrictions we at Aspen Valley work very hard to find a safe and suitable release site for the rehabilitated animals in which they will have the greatest opportunity for survival. Every effort is made to release the animals as far from human populations as possible while still complying with regulations.

Rehabilitation example

Aspen Valley is recognized as one of the largest Rehabilitation Facilities in the country. Animals arrive at the Sanctuary year as orphans or for a variety of reasons – drought, food shortage, poaching, hunting and loss of habitat leading to conflicts with humans to name a few. Historically, raccoons are the number one victim of being orphaned in the spring and throughout the summer. In the fall we receive a few orphans but for the most part the raccoons we receive during this time are as a result of injury. One such raccoon arrived at The Sanctuary in mid October. Upon arrival it was determined the raccoon was a female and in very rough shape. The poor thing had been out in the cold having been injured by what or whom we do not know. She was virtually lifeless, flat out, all four legs splayed behind her. The only movement that could elicited from her was a slight turn of her head to the right when approached accompanied by a pathetic growl. She was cold, scrawny and in a bad way. The work began. First get her warmed up. The get some fluids into her. Eletrolytes were administered by syringe by one of our patient :rehabbers”. In a couple of days she started to react to a “pinch” test to her extremeties. Not the time to celebrate but certainly reason to Hope, hence her name. In a few more days Hope was being hand fed some food and then raisins, grapes and nuts. Over the weeks Hope was taken out of her cage in order that it may be cleaned and sterilized and laid on the floor where our “rehabber” massaged her sore limbs and encouraged her to move. Today, Hope is happily ensconced in a fabulous cage overlooking the Sanctuary pond behind the barn. She is a real raccoon now, able to climb logs, forage for her food and move like the wind if she decides she doesn’t want to be bothered. Hope will winter over with us and when the time is right, she will be taken to a responsibly chosen release site and returned to the natural environment from which she came. Not all our rehabilitation stories are this remarkable or dramatic but every single animal that arrives at The Sanctuary is every bit as important to us as Hope. Sometimes, as in the case of Hope in the early days we must ask the question and make the determination we are doing the right and best thing for the animals in continuing treatment. Hope has shown us that we were right to continue and must do so in the future. Hope has given us hope.