Holly's Haven Wildlife Rescue

Donations are always welcome! Current Fundraiser: https://gofund.me/75593f59... Wish List: https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/1M4ZA883MAHPX PayPal and e-transfers: [email protected]

Our overwintered gang, practicing fishing for milkbones. A couple more weeks and these lovely raccoons will start their new life in the wild.

Thank you to https://wildliferescuenests.weebly.com/ and the volunteers who knit and crochet nests that are safe for baby wildlife! Thanks in particular to Elizabeth from Bruce Peninsula who sent this recent set of nests. Our squirrel foster caregivers are eager to put them to use!

First raccoon orphan intakes of the season. Umbilical cords still attached, weights 80 to 100g.

Sometimes people who contact us get frustrated and just want us to take the animals. It would be unethical of us to not first see if babies can be reunited with the mother.

Community Mosquito Control!

We've taken in this beautiful porcupine. His eyes are infected so we'll take him to see the vet and get appropriate treatment.

Happy Valentine's Day! Kristina & Sunday

Amazon delivery? Nope! Another Big Brown Bat joining us for over-winter care. Thanks to our batwoman, Dee, for foster care!

New intake: Rosie the Eastern Grey Squirrel. She was found frozen and stuck in a fence. Her rescuers freed her and warmed her up; luckily, she came back to life and is now active, eating and energetic. We've started treatments for mange. She can enjoy comfort and food in our care until she's healthy and ready for release.

Amazing opportunity!

Andy Sloan.... they are putting the dog house to good use

Looking for dog kibble donations.

Let's talk MILK If a person is unable to breast feed their baby, the next option is NOT cow's milk. It is specially developed formula for a human baby. Each mammalian species produces a unique milk and these are not interchangeable. For example, there are significant differences between goat milk and cow milk. Goat milk has a much smaller molecular size and so is more readily absorbed. The nutritional composition is different. So if there are significant differences between ...these milks of large mammals, what does this imply about feeding wildlife orphans like squirrels and raccoons? Well-meaning people sometimes hand wildlife orphans over to us after feeding them things like cow's milk, evaporated or condensed milk, eggs, and other foods that may seem reasonable but in fact are deadly. This means we take in animals that are in more danger than if they had been given nothing. These inappropriate foods can result in blockages, malnutrition, and diarrhea. All wildlife centres will warn people not to feed the animals they find. A cold, malnourished, dehydrated, weak animal's body is not ready for food. We need to get the body working again before it can handle anything in its digestive tract. The animal may seem eager to take food it is offered, but this can have deadly consequences. Water offered to a desperate baby animal can be inhaled resulting in aspiration pneumonia and an urgent threat to survival. Experienced wildlife rehabilitators know the steps to take to give that animal it's best chance of survival. Once one of our intakes is ready for food, wildlife rehabbers have specialized formulas for each species.

Really important message! Clean and/or clip open your recycled food containers

Wildlife rehab can be tough, but it gets tricky when dealing with unpopular animals. As our communities grow, we expand into the territories needed by wildlife.... Where are they to go? Raccoons may be unpopular in urban settings, but they still play an important role. Raccoons are both predator and prey. It may be the ripped garbage bag that catches our eyes, but what you don’t see are the scores of mice they ate along the way. Raccoons love a quick meal and feast on insects, small rodents, crayfish, clams, frogs, and the young of other nuisances like prairie dogs, rabbits, groundhogs, and more. Coyotes, foxes, owls, eagles, and hawks make quick work of raccoons, and they’re an important food source for them too! Did you know that raccoons even farm? Their love of fruits, seeds, and nuts stay with them. Raccoons stash food and often carry snacks, only to leave it behind. They deposit undigested seeds as they travel, and these seeds and discarded foods become an added food source for birds and small mammals. Anything that isn’t consumed holds the chance of future sprouting, bringing more food sources into the next season. Raccoons have a place on this planet, and thanks to the fosters & volunteers at Holly’s Haven Wildlife Rescue, these five will go on to fulfill that role. They’ve been transferred to a forested soft release site to acclimatize before heading back to the wild. Their rehab is done and in a few short days, the doors will be opened. From orphaned bottle babies to forest raccoons. This is rehab done right #raccoonsofinstagram #binbandits #smarterthanyouthink #nature #balance #goeatmice

Our wonderful Lynne, founder of Holly's Haven Wildlife Rescue, has been spotlighted in a local publication this week! Lynne deserves all the recognition she get...s (and more!) for the tireless work she puts into the organization. And I'm so thankful that she trusts me as one of her fosters for cottontail rabbits, mice, and voles (she even throws the occasional squirrel at me). (Note the admission numbers in the article refer to raccoons only. This summer Holly's Haven has sent me over 100 rabbits, mice, and voles!) How you can help Lynne continue her vital work: donate via PayPal if you can to help buy specialised milk formula (go to https://lynne454.wixsite.com/ccwr for link) drop off your empty wine/beer/liquor bottles and cans at 6075 Pineglade Cres, Chapel Hill South. Empties are returned for deposit refund with funds going directly to both Holly's Haven and Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. donate straw bales to help make enclosures for over-wintering raccoons (PM me for delivery information)

Thank you to Erin McCraken of West Carleton Community Voice for the opportunity to share what we do at HHWR! http://www.ottawavoice.ca/asse/west-carleton-1015---web.pdf

Help support our friends at the Sweet Sanctuary Animal Rescue: https://facebook.com/events/s/2nd-annual-benefit-for-the-ani/652819332038215/

Some sleepy raccoons Which photo is your favourite?

Baby red squirrels, for your viewing pleasure!

Today's cuteness: Jackie enjoying a snack. Jackie is one of 13 raccoons that will over-winter at HHWR.

** I have found a sponsor, thank you!!

Update - I have found a sponsor, thank you!! Hello! My name is Munchkin and l’m another one of Holly’s Haven’s late season intakes. About me: I may be tiny right now but hopefully I won’t be for too much longer. I have recently discovered my love for fitness and I have decided to make my name ironic rather than accurate. I love being active and getting outside. Besides being of the athletic type, I’m also quite the comedian. I love seeing others smile and making them laugh.... Looking for: Now that I’ve begun my fitness journey I would love to connect with some other active raccoons. I’d like some new friends to add to my circle who enjoy getting outside and keeping busy as much as I do. Some buddies who will keep me accountable when I’m feeling lazy and who will cheer me on as I climb to the top of the biggest trees. Likes: Protein shakes, climbing trees, going hiking and watching Over the Hedge. Dislikes: Thunderstorms and leg day. Fun Fact about me: I love to hang upside down. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsorship is 50$/ month for 4 months to help us pay for special formula, proper enclosures and vaccines for our animals. If interested in becoming Munchkin's sponsor please send us a DM! ** Don’t forget to check out our ‘2020 Raccoons’ photo album to see the other raccoons in our care still in need of a sponsors.

Over the last few weeks we’ve received lots of inquiries regarding baby squirrels. This spike is quite typical for this time of year as squirrels have two birthing seasons. The first during the Months of March and April and the second during July and August. In honour of this second birthing season we wanted to share some important information about squirrels as well as what to do if you find a baby squirrel (or any small mammal) that you suspect may be in need of help. ---...Continue reading