The BC Wildlife Park is home to one female, orphaned badger named Bloom. Bloom came to the Park in June 2006. Interested in learning more about Bloom?
Watch her animal story here!
Badgers live in grasslands and open-canopied forests of ponderosa pine or douglas fir, that supply the right soil for burrowing, and, plenty of small mammals to prey on.
Badgers are carnivorous, consuming ground squirrels, marmots, pocket gophers, birds, fish, insects, and even the odd rattlesnake.
Breeding season occurs in August; however, due to delayed implantation the fertilized eggs do not begin to develop until December - February. 2 to 5 furry, blind 'kits', are born in March to early April.
In Canada, badgers are found in southern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.
Northern flying squirrels prefer old-growth coniferous forests with heavy tree cover.
As omnivores, flying squirrels will eat the majority of food available to them, focusing on nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and sometimes bird eggs or nestlings.
Flying squirrels nest in holes in trees, birthing 2-4 young once per year. Young are fully developed after 3-4 months.
Found across Canada, going as far north as the Northwest Territories, as well as into Alaska and the northwestern United States, this species is not at risk.
Quilla was born on April 13, 2006 at Storybook Gardens in London, Ontario. She came to the Park in December 2006.
Porcupines live in forests and tend to stay in the upper canopy of the trees.
Herbivorous, primarily consuming evergreen needles, the cambium layer and inner bark of trees, tender twigs, roots, leaves, flowers, berries, nuts, and other vegetation.
Gestation is approximately 30 weeks. They tend to have a solitary baby (called a porcupette), but can sometimes have up to 4, that can be born in a rock pile, under a log stump, or brush pile.
Found all across Canada and throughout North America, the porcupine's Canadian population is not at risk.
The Park is home to 4 raccoons. Chester and Beatrice were born in 2012, while Simon and Penelope were born in 2022. All 4 raccoons were found orphaned in different areas of British Columbia.
Interested in learning more about the raccoons?
Watch their story here!
Raccoons are adept at living in urban areas, but thrive in forests, marshes, and the prairies.
Omnivorous, consuming a wide variety of plants, fruits, insects, nuts, small reptiles, small mammals, fish, and eggs.
In Canada, raccoons typically breed in the winter months. After a 63-65 day gestation period, a litter of 2-5 kits are born in the spring.
Found across temperate regions of Canada and throughout the U.S., the raccoon wild population is not at risk.
Ms. Prickles was found in the wild near 100 Mile House, BC with injuries consistent with a vehicle collision. She had little to no function in her left hind leg and was missing a large patch of quills from her lower back. After extensive therapies in the Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre, she regained some function in her leg, but due to the need for continued treatment it was decided that she had to remain in human care.