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BC Wildlife Park
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  • About Us
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  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
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  • Plan
    • Accessibility
    • Park Map
    • Ticket Information
  • Things to do
    • Our Wildlife
    • Upgraded Experiences
    • Discovery Centre
  • How We Help
    • Sustainability Commitment
    • Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre
    • Injured Wildlife - What To Do
    • Conservation Projects
  • Learn with Us
    • Educational Programs
    • FREE Learning Resources
    • Kids Camp
    • Wild Questions & Wild Answers
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    • BCWP Events
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Purchase Day Passes

injured wildlife

Have you found injured or orphaned wildlife and aren't too sure what to do?

 Park Hours

Open Daily
9:30am to 4:00pm | Last Admission: 3:30pm 

  • Plan
    • Accessibility
    • Park Map
    • Ticket Information
      • Day Passes
      • Annual Passes
      • Memberships
  • Things to do
    • Our Wildlife
      • Animal Stories
      • Arachnids and Insects
      • Bears
      • Birds of Prey
      • Canines
      • Felines
      • Home Hardware Family Farm
      • Hoofstock
      • Reptiles and Amphibians
      • Small Mammals
      • Waterfowl
    • Upgraded Experiences
      • Birthday Parties
      • Private Animal Encounter
    • Discovery Centre
  • How We Help
    • Sustainability Commitment
    • Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre
    • Injured Wildlife - What To Do
    • Conservation Projects
  • Learn with Us
    • Educational Programs
    • FREE Learning Resources
    • Kids Camp
    • Wild Questions & Wild Answers
  • News and Events
    • BCWP Events
  • support us
    • Financial Support
    • Food Donations

Before you do anything

contact numbers

 

BCWP Rehabilitation team 

250-573-3242 ext. 230

Conservation Officer Service
1-877-952-7277
SPCA Wildlife Hotline
1-855-622-7722 

What animals do we accept?
 

what animals do we accept?

The Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre cares for more than 400 animals, annually. We can accept most birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals.

Due to permit restrictions and resource limitations we are unable to rehabilitation the following species:

  •  Bears (grizzly or black)
  • Cougars
  • Wolves
  • Deer and moose (adults and fawns/calves)
  • Nestling songbirds
  • European starlings
  • House sparrows
  • Rock doves/pigeons
  • Eastern gray squirrels
  • American crows
  • Black-billed magpies
  • Yellow-bellied marmots
  • Raccoons
  • Skunks
  • Coyotes
Bird Might Need Help If

a bird may need help if it is...

  • Not flying, or appears to be struggling to fly (unless it is a fledgling)
  • Fluffed up and appears weak or sleepy
  • Wounded/bleeding
  • Laboured breathing
  • Limping, has a drooping wing, or appears to have any improperly positioned limbs
  • Oiled or has contaminated feathers
  • Caught by a cat
 
Mammal Might Need Help If
 

a mammal may need help if it is...

  • Disoriented/uncoordinated
  • Lethargic
  • Wounded/bleeding
  • Missing lots of fur, or if the fur appears contaminated
  • Caught by a cat
  • Limping or appears to have any improperly positioned limbs
Reptile / Amphibian Might Need Help If

a reptile / amphibian may need help if it has...

  • Obvious wounds or is bleeding
  • Cracked shell
  • Improperly positioned limbs
  • Accidentally dug up or uncovered during the winter or when temperatures are below 10 degrees
 
How to safely capture wild animal
Rehabilitation, birds of prey, rescued animals 

capturing an animal in need... 

 Make sure the situation is safe - do not put your safety or the safety of anyone else in jeopardy while attempting a rescue.

 Choose a suitable container and have it ready
  • Cardboard boxes are ideal for most animals, just make sure they are sturdy and don’t have holes large enough for the animal to escape through
  • Storage totes with holes for air circulation (be sure to poke holes before placing the animal in the container)
  • Dog or cat crates/kennels
Safety gear
  • Thick gloves - especially important when dealing with birds of prey and mammals
  • Eye protection for species like herons/loons/etc.
  • Be sure to practice good hygiene and wash your hands after handling any wild animal
  • Towel or blanket (ideally not nice linens, they will likely become soiled in the process)
Procedure
  • Wear safety gear appropriate for the animal and the situation. Approach the animal calmly and toss the towel or blanket over it. You may need to corral it against a wall or into a corner to get close enough. Scoop up the animal with the towel and place it into the secure container - you may need to place the whole towel/blanket in the container with the animal, or pull the linen out through a small gap between the lid and the container.
  • Alternatively, place a box or container over the animal and use a stiff piece of cardboard, plastic, or wood to slide under the container and secure with rope or a bungee

Temporarily Caring for Wildlife

how to temporarily care for an animal...

  • Keep it contained in a secure container - for most animals, cardboard boxes with paper towel or towel on the bottom works great
  • Keep away from pets and children
  • Keep in a dark, quiet area away from activity
  • When in doubt, do not offer food or water unless instructed to do so
  • Remember that wild animals are not comforted by petting, cuddling, or talking. For most wild animals it will cause further stress, for others it may jeopardize their wild behaviour and chances for release.
  • For baby animals, keeping them warm is of the utmost importance. You can keep them warm by placing half of the box or container on a low-setting heating pad, or by making a heated bag by placing uncooked rice in a sock and microwaving it for 1 minute.
 
Keeping Wildlife
 

keeping wildlife

Rehabilitating wildlife requires extensive knowledge, sometimes specialized equipment, and a substantial amount of time. Although well-intentioned members of the public may want to try and rehabilitate or care for wildlife that we are unable to accept, this often leads to increased pain and suffering for the animal.

Please note it is illegal to keep a wild animal, as outlined in the British Columbia Wildlife Act.  

You've found injured or orphaned wildlife, now what?

 

Deer Fawns

 

 

 

deer fawns 

People have the best intentions for deer fawns that appear helpless and abandoned unfortunately they are not in need of a rescue.

The best choice is to leave it alone. 
BUT THERE'S NO MOTHER!

Mother deer do not often visit their newly born fawns during the day, because they are trying to avoid attracting predators like wolves, bobcats or humans. They will keep their twins separated for the same reason. Mother deer will leave their fawns for long periods of time; eight hours or more is not unheard of and the mother will not return if humans are around waiting and watching.

BUT THERE ARE PREDATORS!

Deer fawns have very little smell so they are nearly invisible to a passing coyote. They lay still with their ears flat and go limp if they suspect a predator nearby. This is how we find them, and the public often perceives this as a deer fawn in need of rescue.

BUT IT'S ON THE ROAD!

Occasionally deer fawns will wander onto highways or roads and then lay down because they now realize they are in the open and exposed. Gently pick up the deer fawn, touching it as little as possible, and place it off the road and in the nearby grass or trees. If it is not a busy road, leave it alone and continue on.

BUT IT's CALLING AND FOLLOWING ME!

This is very rare and requires a call to a rehabilitation facility for more advice. Do not interact with the fawn. The more this deer fawn is habituated, the less chance it has to survive in the wild. 


 

Fledgling Birds

 

 

 

fledgling birds 

Barred owl chick.jpg

Fledgling birds are young birds that have left the nest but are not yet able to fly. It’s a normal stage of development for most birds, and it can be a very vulnerable time for them.   

If you find a fledgling on the ground, it is best to leave it alone unless:
  • You see any obvious injuries (blood, drooping wings, etc.)
  • It has been caught by a cat. This is an emergency, especially for young birds
  • If appears to be especially weak or lethargic
  • If after watching for about 2 hours, there is no sign of activity from the parents. Typically the parents will come and feed the fledgling every 15-30 minutes, but don’t intervene too prematurely, and remember to watch from a distance so as not to deter the parents from returning.
if you find a fledgling on the ground, it is best to leave it alone unless, cont':
  • It appears to be covered in bugs
  • It is unable to hop or walk around
  • Most fledgling are totally fine on their own, but if it seems like it is in a dangerous spot, it is okay to move it to a more sheltered/safer location as long as it is within eyeshot of where it was found
  • If birds are fledging in your yard, be sure to keep pets and children away until the birds are off the ground and flying.

 

common occurrences, and what to do

 

Birds

birds fallen out of their nest

If you find a baby bird that has fallen out of its nest, try and locate the nest. If you can safely replace the baby bird, do it. A bird's sense of smell is not as important to them as it is to mammals. Do not over handle the bird, but simply return it to its nest. Observe the nest from a distance to see if the parents return. 

 
Window Strikes
 

window strikes

If a bird hits your window and does not immediately fly off, take these steps to help it out:

Look for any immediately obvious injuries (drooping wings, bleeding, or difficulty breathing). Collect the bird into a box and contact a rehabber immediately.

If the bird appears stunned and is not flying away, but does not appear to be otherwise overtly injured, you can place it in a secure box or container with air holes and keep it in a dark, quiet room for a few hours. You can periodically check on its condition and look for improvement, but otherwise give the bird lots of space and privacy so that it can recover comfortably. If after some time it is fluttering around in the box and appears normal, take it back outside and attempt to release it. If it does not show signs of improvement after a few hours or does not fly away when attempting to release it, call a rehabber for assistance.

If window strikes are a common occurrence at your home, consider making your windows more bird friendly.

Cat Attacks

Cat attacks

 Domestic cats are not natural predators in our landscape, and many birds and other small mammals die each year as a result of cat attacks. If your cat attacks or injures an animal, it is an emergency and the animal will likely require antibiotic therapy to survive. Call a rehabber right away for advice, even if the animal does not appear to be significantly injured.

Please consider finding ways to keep your cat indoors, or check out Cats and Birds for more tips.

 

Are you looking for a way to help out our park animals?

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9077 Dallas Dr.
Kamloops, BC, V2C 6V1

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