Toronto Wildlife Centre
4 - 60 Carl Hall Rd. M3K 2C1 Toronto, ON, Canada

TWC’s incredible General Support Volunteers are vital members of our team! From tasks like doing laundry, cage washing, and keeping our centre clean, organized, and more, General Support volunteers demonstrate everyday that they are champions for wildlife! When a patient was recently admitted after being found entangled in this collection of waste, General Support Volunteer Alex kindly dismantled the mess of garbage before properly disposing of it. Alex’s seemingly small act will make a big difference, helping to ensure this garbage doesn’t negatively impact the health and wellbeing of any other wild animals. Like this amazing volunteer, we all can do our part to protect wildlife by cleaning up litter and making sure all waste is disposed of properly. Join us in thanking Alex and our wonderful team of General Support volunteers!

Are you passionate about local wildlife? Do you want to help TWC patients through their final stages of recovery at our secondary location? We are currently seeking Wildlife Care Volunteers who are rabies-vaccinated to cover Monday and Tuesday shifts. You’ll be trained by experienced wildlife rehabilitators and learn how to properly care for different species from small hibernating bats to bushy-tailed red foxes! You’ll clean their enclosures, prepare their specialized diets, create enrichment items to keep the patients stimulated, and more! For further information and to apply, visit https://www.torontowildlifecentre.com//volunteer-opportu/

Brenda had been out in her neighbourhood looking for her cat when she was shocked to find a small furry animal curled up into a ball at the bottom of her neighbour’s window well. It wasn’t her cat, but a skunk! As the striped skunk lifted her head, Brenda saw she was shivering, and knew she had to put her cat search on pause to help the trapped animal. She called TWC’s hotline, and later that day TWC Rescue Team’s Andrew was able to coax the skunk into a kennel cab so she cou...ld be brought to the wildlife hospital. Now that one animal was saved, Brenda continued on her search for her beloved pet. At the centre, Wildlife Rehabilitators Heather and Clemence examined the skunk they were relieved to see she wasn’t injured and still had a healthy amount of weight on her; she was likely not trapped for too long. The skunk was given a couple nights to rest and nutritious food to help pack on a little more weight. Not long afterwards she was ready to return to the wild just in time for breeding season!

TODAY’S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SEND A TWC VALENTINE’S DAY ECARD! Need a last minute gift before Valentine’s weekend? Surprise someone special with a wild eCard along with a cute pun and personalized message when you make a donation to help wildlife in need. Breeding season for many local species is fast approaching, and you can help patients - like a Northern cardinal who was wounded by a cat - return home so they can rejoin or find mates of their own. These vibrant birds form... bonds this time of year that often last throughout the seasons, with both parents caring for their young in the summer. You must donate TODAY by 4:00pm EST to have your eCard sent by Valentine’s Day send one now! https://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/don/donate-in-honour/ Photo by TWC Volunteer & Wildlife Photographer Ann Brokelman

Mange continues to have a profound effect on Eastern coyote populations across North America, and over the last year we’ve received record numbers of calls about sick coyotes. While this disease is easily treatable, catching elusive coyotes who are fast and often avoid live traps is challenging. Currently, there are eight coyotes in our care recovering from mange and approximately a dozen more that were recently reported to our Hotline Team. This female is part of a famil...y that TWC’s Rescue Team has been trying to catch since early December. Out of all the family members, she was the most heavily affected by the mite-caused illness. With the help of residents, the Rescue Team was able to keep track of the coyotes, and thanks to this marvelous teamwork, the coyote is now under the expert care of TWC’s medical teams. Even when healthy, coyotes are afraid of humans and should take off when approached. There are many misconceptions about coyotes and the danger they post is often exaggerated or inaccurate. Recently, several news outlets have published sensationalized media regarding stories of coyote attacks on dogs. These infrequent tragic incidents can fuel illegitimate fears, and even inhumane actions against the species like horrific coyote killing contests. This past week, Chesher’s Outdoor Store in Belleville, ON announced a coyote-killing contest taking place this month. While the page has since been taken down, there is no word on whether the contest is continuing. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act prohibits bounties and killing in expectation of gain, so it is unclear how this contest was permitted to move forward. Not only is this contest cruel, it also further threatens Algonquin wolves, a Species-at-Risk who look identical to Eastern coyotes. Please help shut this contest down and help prevent future contests like this from being organized by emailing the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Enforcement and Wildlife Management: Lisa Foucault and Jamie Stewart ([email protected]) and letting them know you don’t support practices like this. You can send an email through this campaign run by Earthroots once you fill out the form and send the email, contact information by phone will be provided. https://earthroots.good.do/killingcontest/email/

TWC is in urgent need of heat lamps to help keep baby turtles warm! Recently, 27 baby painted turtles were admitted for care after they had been raised in captivity which is illegal to do without a wildlife rehabilitation license. These young turtles are malnourished, and five have swelling around their eyes. Thankfully each one is now receiving the best care possible and being fed the proper, nutritious food that will help them develop properly as they grow. With the sudde...n influx of turtle patients, TWC is seeking Exo Terra Solar Glo Sun Simulating Bulbs (80 Watts only, see link below) so the Wildlife Rehabilitation Team can provide them with both the UV rays and heat they need to grow healthy and strong. If you’re able to donate or have any questions, please call our donations team at (416) 631-0662 ext. 3207, or email [email protected]. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, appointments need to be made to drop-off donations (unfortunately we are unable to offer pick-up services). Thank you! https://www.petsmart.ca//exo-terra-solar-glo-sun-simulatin

Meet Adi, one of Toronto Wildlife Centre’s dedicated Wildlife Hotline volunteers! 2021 is #InternationalYearoftheVolunteer, and here is why volunteering is so important to Adi: Volunteering is important because funds are scarce in environmental organizations, but the work that they do is incredibly important. They need people like us to help.... Since October 2019, Adi has volunteered close to 300 hours of her time supporting TWC’s Wildlife Hotline. With our hotline being the busiest in Canada, volunteers like Adi play a very important part in transcribing emergency calls (remotely due to the pandemic) from the public. This key role ensures Hotline staff have all the details they need to properly provide advice for each caller and get animals who need our help to TWC. Adi's most memorable call involved a duck who was trapped on ice and unable to take off. She contacted the local fire department and helped to coordinate a successful rescue! Outside of the time she dedicates to TWC each week, Adi loves to sing, spend time with her chow-chow and has put the extra time she has due to the pandemic to great use teaching herself how to cook and even starting her own podcast called The Environmentalist! Please join us in thanking Adi and the hundreds of volunteers who dedicate their time and passions to TWC and our mission! We are currently looking for Wildlife Care Volunteers for our secondary location, to cover Mondays and Tuesdays (up-to-date rabies vaccination required). To learn more and apply, visit https://www.torontowildlifecentre.com//volunteer-opportu/

Celebrate wildlife this Valentine’s Day and support the care of our wild neighbours! You can make it possible for a very sick coyote to recover, so she can return home to her mate in time to have their pups in the spring. You can make a difference for a young swan healing from head trauma so he can reunite with his family.... You can help overwintering warblers mend broken wings and fly again in time for mating season. With spring on the horizon, love is in the air for wildlife too! Show your appreciation for your loved ones with a TWC themed eCard to help patients return home to have families of their own. Make a donation in honour of someone special in your life, and we’ll send them a wild eCard with a personalized message. Share the love all around us and support hundreds of wildlife in need, from overwintering painted turtle hatchlings to a Virginia opossum who was attacked by a dog. Donations must be made by Friday, February 12th at 4:00pm EST. Send one now! www.torontowildlifecentre.com/donate/donate-in-honour

This Virginia opossum had sought shelter in a backyard shed, escaping the icy ground that nipped at her pink paws and the bitter cold winds that whirled around her bare ears. Mazdak saw the marsupial hiding in his shed, and after a few days, he tried encouraging her to leave but she made no effort to go back outside. Mazdak called the local animal services for help, but when they picked her up they noticed her tail was bleeding, and rushed her to the wildlife hospital. Senior... Wildlife Rehabilitator Jess examined the small animal, and she could immediately see the opossum was thin for her size. But to her relief, the opossum still had energy and was feisty! Despite taking shelter in the shed, the opossum’s feet, ears and tail were frostbitten. Jess cleaned the wound at the tip of the tail and administered medication to help ease any pain. In this photo, Wildlife Rehabilitators Ashley (left) and Taylor (right) are preparing to give the opossum fluids to keep her hydrated! While the opossum’s ears and toes have begun to heal, the tip of her tail has been slower to progress and may need surgery stay tuned for another post with an update on her recovery! See more

Even though it’s cold out and many species are hibernating or down south for the winter, TWC’s Wildlife Hotline staff continue to be busy helping wild animals that remain active this winter. We are receiving dozens of calls each week specifically about raccoons! Members of the public are often concerned when they notice them curled up on a deck or rooftop during the day. But this is common behaviour for raccoons they are nocturnal (so they sleep during the day) and roofs, ...windows, walls and decks are appealing during cold spells as some heat emits, keeping them warmer. They will also sleep in areas that shield them from the weather, like window wells, sheds and garages; or spend the day in spots high up off the ground, like the branches of a tree. Raccoons found in these situations typically don’t need help. They will leave again once night falls to go out foraging. Raccoons mostly move about at night but there are reasons why they come out in the day, including being evicted from their previous sleeping spot, or to find food at a time when there is less competition (e.g. if the raccoon is injured or weak for any reason). A raccoon found wandering in the day can also be cause for concern, especially if exhibiting other signs of poor health. At this time of year, TWC sees two main health issues with raccoons: 1) wounds and infections as a result of fighting each other to secure mates, and 2) canine distemper virus (CDV). Rehabilitation and veterinary staff at TWC regularly treat sick and injured raccoons, however, CDV is in an incurable disease that creates permanent neurological damage. Common signs of CDV include crusty eyes, staggering or drunken walking, repetitive behaviours (e.g. circling, pacing), lack of fear of predators (e.g. humans, dogs), excessive thirst, and seizures. You can help your #BackyardBiodiversity by calling our Wildlife Hotline if you come across a raccoon that appears to be sick or injured. Hotline staff will assess the situation and advise the best way to move forward to get the animal help. #BackyardBiodiversity is a campaign run in partnership with LEAF - Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests and Ontario Power Generation.

While his house was undergoing renovations, Marius came across an unusual visitor. A big brown bat (who wasn’t so big) was in his living room, which isn’t where bats should be! Marius was aware there were ways for animals to get in through his attic due to the construction, and figured the bat had found his way in through an opening. The bat may have also chosen the attic as a warm and cozy place to hibernate, and had been woken up from his roost during the renovations. Mar...ius safely contained the bat, and brought him to TWC. Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator Heather gently held the small animal, and could tell he was very thin. This little guy weighed only 14.5 grams, and his soft brown fur was covered in dust, likely from the renovations! After a quick clean the bat was fed some nutritious mealworms to help him gain a healthy weight. He’s doing well, and will have a temporary home here at TWC until spring comes around and it’s warm enough for him to be released. See more

Not only are rock pigeons intelligent birds, they are also magnificent fliers. Even with their short legs, they are also able to walk and run on the ground, with their heads bobbing back and forth. Their flight muscles make up nearly a third of their body weight, giving them the strength and endurance to sustain flight for hours. These photos are another contribution from TWC Volunteer Ann, as she watched a group of pigeon patients from TWC take their first few steps back to the wild. While hesitant at first, they soon launched into the sky, and well sometimes even these small, graceful birds can have their clumsy moments!

Have you ever wondered how a turtle survives the winter? They go subterranean! Beginning in October, they head to the bottom of ponds and lakes, below the frost line where they remain for several months. To maintain energy stores, their metabolism slows way down. No air is no problem because turtles obtain oxygen through their skin during hibernation! Sometimes a turtle doesn’t quite make it to their hibernation site on time like this wee painted turtle that was found next ...to a trail path quite a distance from water and admitted to TWC last week. She will stay at the centre until she can be released when the warm weather returns in spring. You can help support #BackyardBiodiversity this winter by keeping an eye out for wildlife that have come out of hibernation too early. Animals such as turtles, snakes and bats are regularly admitted to TWC and often won’t survive if found out and about between October and April. Want to learn more about turtle hibernation? Visit our friends at Adopt-A-Pond: https://adoptapond.wordpress.com//winter-is-here-and-many/ #Backyardbiodiversity is a campaign run in partnership with LEAF - Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests and Ontario Power Generation.

While striped skunks are excellent diggers and scavengers, they aren’t the best climbers. If they accidentally fall into a hole, like a window well or excavation at a construction site, their strategy to escape is also to start digging! That’s exactly what Chris saw this skunk doing when he found him at the bottom of a 5-7 foot ditch that was dug for a new swimming pool in his backyard. Concerned for the trapped animal, Chris lowered a large wooden plank against the side of t...he dirt walls and hoped the skunk would crawl out. But the animal didn’t recognize the platform as a way out and continued to burrow at different ends of the pool as he searched for an escape route. Chris called TWC’s hotline for advice and tried suggested strategies to help free the skunk, until TWC’s Rescue Team could be available to help. But no matter what Chris did, the skunk remained dedicated to digging instead of attempting to climb. Still, Chris wouldn’t give up on him and could tell the skunk was getting tired; he had likely been down there since the night before. Just as TWC’s Rescue Team was able to head over to help, Chris decided to try one more thing. He lowered down a ladder, leaning it against the wooden plank at the side of the pit, after slathering a little peanut butter on each individual rung. Rescue Team’s Andrew and Sara got there just in time to see the hefty skunk slowly climb up one step after another, licking each rung clean of peanut butter before moving up to the next. It’s interesting to see how the food is more important than the escape, Andrew said to Sara, who laughed as they watched to make sure the skunk made it out. After a leisurely climb and a hearty snack, the skunk topped the last rung and waddled away before digging himself an exit under a nearby fence and disappearing underneath it!

What do you do if you come across an evening grosbeak who’s been hit by a car? A little mink who’s lying wounded on a rocky shoreline? A great snapping turtle who’s entangled in fishing line? Contact the only wildlife hospital in the GTA! Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Toronto Wildlife Centre continues to help patients like these, along with many other wild animals who are rushed through our doors every day. Our experienced and skilled Rescue, Rehabilitation and Veterina...ry Teams are only able to save wild lives with the help of generous supporters who could be you! You can help us to help all of them on GivingTuesday! On TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1ST, your donations will be matched up to $100,000, thanks to our generous matching donors Sokoloff - Personal Injury Lawyers and MapleCross. This means double the amount of resources available to provide wild patients with the best care possible, ensuring the sick are medicated, the hungry are fed, the injured are treated (like this grosbeak) and more! Your matched gift will go far in helping these animals recover and return to their wild lives. Please save the date and share with your fellow animal lovers don't miss your chance to help wild patients twice as much this Giving Tuesday!

Emilio hurried to help the mallard he had just found struggling in the fishing line she was entangled in. The line was tightly wrapped around the poor duck’s body, and a fish hook had pierced her left wing. Luckily he saw a member of the local humane society passing by and immediately flagged her down. The Animal Protections officer knew to contact TWC and the duck was rushed to the wildlife hospital. At the centre, Registered Veterinary Technician Naschelly carefully examine...d the bird. She was relieved to see the hook wasn’t deeply embedded in the wing, and she was able to carefully remove it. She then cut away and unwrapped the fishing line so the bird could finally stretch her wings. It wasn’t until Naschelly took x-rays that she saw a second hook, shockingly deep inside the duck’s esophagus. TWC’s Veterinary Team needed to perform surgery to safely remove the hook. Head Veterinarian Dr. Heather Reid was able to carefully pull out the hook, and was surprised to find a small cloth bag full of bait still attached to it the poor duck had swallowed the whole thing! Thankfully the surgery was a success, and Dr. Reid stitched the incisions closed. Two and a half weeks after her surgery, the mallard could return to the wild! See more

This Eastern cottontail rabbit is pictured here resting after a frightening encounter with a dog that lead to her suffering head trauma. After treatment, she was given hay and lots of different greens to nibble on during her recovery. Human parents out there know that for some kids, getting them to enjoy veggies can be a challenge but not for Eastern cottontails, who are often seen eating a variety of greens. #DidYouKnow rabbits have an estimated higher number of taste buds than humans? They can distinguish subtle differences between sweet, sour, bitter and salty plants. In the wild, rabbits have even been known to stay away from toxic plants because of the foul taste!

Kenny was shocked to see this pie-billed grebe struggling in the parking lot of his workplace. The waterbird was flapping his wings frantically and sliding on his belly across the pavement until he toppled over. Like loons, grebes are expert divers in water and aren’t built to walk well on land (they belong to the Latin genus Podiceps which translates to feet at the buttocks), and it was clear to Kenny that this poor bird needed help. The pie-billed grebe was soon brought... to TWC for care, where Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager Ashley could examine him closely. The diving bird’s webbed feet had sores underneath them, and as Ashley placed him in water to swim she could see his feathers weren’t as waterproof as they needed to be to keep him dry and warm. Throughout the week, the grebe was given time to swim and preen (groom his feathers). Everyday, he dove after minnows in his pool, and his feathers began to remain dry his waterproofing had returned, and his feet had healed. Finally, he was ready for release, and was set free to swim out in a lovely pond not far from where he was found. See more