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BBC Discover Wildlife Feature

Wildlife Rescue is featured in the BBC Discover Wildlife Spring 2024 issue. The article gave an inside look into the Wildlife Hospital. Subscribe to the magazine here.

Spring is here—temperatures rise, the sun shines longer, and nature bustles with excitement after a long winter slumber. But, for wildlife in search of food, mates, and places to raise their young, this beautiful season is also full of peril.

For babies like the trio of Dark-eyed Juncos featured in this story, competing human activity can make urban areas an especially challenging place to grow up.

Thankfully, a generous group of donors has an incredible opportunity for you to make your gift go even further. From now until May 31st, every dollar up to $30,000 will be MATCHED, which means you can double your impact for wildlife in need this spring!

Friend, your generosity changes everything for sick, orphaned, and injured wildlife. Thank you for giving them the specialized care they need to live full lives in the wild. As animal activity ramps up this spring, Wildlife Rescue needs to be prepared for anything—and your help is essential to respond to the growing number of emergencies.

Will you give a special gift that gets matched today?

Early one spring morning, a local woman heard twittering calls outside her home. Curious, she opened her door to find three little birds nestled sweetly in a hanging flower pot on her doorstep. They were baby Dark-eyed Juncos! For days, the finder watched in awe as the parents swooped in and out of the nest, stopping briefly to feed them meals.
Three baby Dark-eved Junco in a Planter
Activity at the nest was non-stop, until one morning they seemed to miss their breakfast feedings. Then lunch came and went. When she checked on the babies, their tiny beaks opened and closed as they waited for their parents to return with food. As the day wore on, their chirps grew louder and more desperate.

By dinner time, the woman was starting to worry. “The parents have been gone too long…Something terrible must’ve happened,” she thought. Wild parents never abandon their nests without a serious cause: sometimes they’ve been hit by a car, caught by a cat or had a fatal collision with a window. Whatever the reason, when babies appear to be left alone it’s important to confirm with an expert before intervening.

The following day, the young birds were noticeably quiet. They no longer had the energy to call for food. The woman knew they must be starving. After a quick call to our Helpline, it was decided that the whole basket should be brought to our hospital to ensure the nest was not disrupted. These babies simply wouldn’t survive without immediate care.

When they arrived, the nestlings were handed to our expert wildlife team, who confirmed the babies were dehydrated and starving. This team was ready to provide urgent medical intervention and the round-the-clock care they needed to survive!

Please give and get MATCHED today to ensure as many animals as possible receive treatment and support, so they can recover and thrive in the wild!

Gifts like yours meant everything to these vulnerable Dark-eyed Juncos. Time was of the essence for their first week in care. Initially, they had to be fed an expensive insect-based diet every 15 minutes over the course of a 14-hour period. That’s about 500 mealworms a day!

Thanks to people like you, all three babies received the care and attention they needed. And after 24 days, the little trio was deemed healthy enough to be released back into the wild! Many more baby wildlife will need help over the coming months, which means your support today is urgent.

By donating today, you can double your gift and help ensure that every baby animal has the opportunity to thrive. Please give generously!

How to Safely Drop Off Wildlife

Hundreds of injured and orphaned wildlife patients arrive at Wildlife Rescue due to window and car strikes, nest disturbances, and natural and human disturbances.

Below is your step-by-step guide that takes you through the process of dropping off rescued animals.

Found an animal in distress?

If, at any time, you are unsure what to do please contact our Support Centre for advice on how to handle injured wildlife. This is the fastest way to get in touch with our Support Centre staff and volunteers who can help assess the situation and guide you through it. Never attempt to handle anything dangerous such as a bird of prey or bat yourself.
If you are going to handle small songbirds or waterfowl, we suggest wearing gloves and a mask for the safety of animals and yourself. Use a cardboard box with small ventilation holes and a completely secure top. Place a towel inside and put the animal on the towel, closing the top quickly and securely. Place a towel over the box.

Dropping off at Wildlife Rescue:

Please notify our Support Centre team by reporting a wildlife emergency.
Our drop off hours vary seasonally, but our Support Centre is available to answer questions from 9:00-3:00 pm daily, 7 days a week (including holidays).

If you plan to drop wildlife at the centre during operating hours, please follow these instructions:

Proceed to 5216 Glencarin Drive, on the south shore of Burnaby Lake.
Please park in any of the parking spots in either parking lot.
Follow the signage to our Admissions Centre where Wildlife Rescue personnel will guide you on next steps.

If you plan to drop wildlife at the centre after operating hours, please follow these instructions:

Proceed to 5216 Glencarin Drive, on the south shore of Burnaby Lake.
When you are within sight of the end of Glencarin Drive you will notice the Administration Building on your left with the clearly marked Intake Shed to the left of the stairs.
Please park in any of the parking spots in either parking lot.
Place the bird in a secured and ventilated box on the shelf inside the Intake Shed.
Completely fill out the front side of the white intake form (located on the clipboard) so we know where the bird was found and what happened to it.
Place the form under the box.
Ensure the door to the Intake Shed is securely closed when you depart.
Please consider donating to help care for the patient you have found here.

2023 Wildlife Calendars on Sale Now!

Our 2023 Calendar is full of inspiring photos of species of concern in Wildlife Rescue’s care. Each month gives you a small glimpse of the day-to-day care Wildlife Rescue provides for animals in need. Not only that, you’ll also get informative facts and conservation status information.

With 13-months of beautiful wildlife photography, this calendar will look great on your wall, and makes an excellent gift for friends and family alike this holiday season. Best of all, each calendar sold will support the rescue and rehabilitation of thousands of wild animals in the coming year!

Act now, because we sell out of calendars every year! Don’t miss out on this limited edition piece of Wildlife Rescue Association history.

Admissions Centre Closed

After a successful summer, we are happy to announce that Wildlife Rescue’s Summer Admissions Centre has now closed. Admissions has returned to our Main Site at 5216 Glencarin Drive.

We would like to thank our community members for their unwavering support during this disruption to our regular service. We were pleased to connect with more people than ever at our temporary location, with nearly 1,000 patients admitted through the centre during operations.

We would like to thank FortisBC and Kiewit Corporation for their partnership during the Patullo Gas Line replacement project. Thanks to their help, our Temporary Admissions Centre was made possible.

If you have found an animal in distress, we are happy to assist you at our Main Site at 5216 Glencarin Drive. Please contact our Support Centre for assistance before traveling with the animal.

Admissions Centre Closing Soon

After a successful summer, we are happy to announce that on October 19^th Wildlife Rescue’s Admissions Centre will be returning to our regular location at 5216 Glencarin Drive. The Summer Admissions Centre will be permanently closed as of this date.

Since opening the Summer Admissions Centre, Wildlife Rescue has admitted over 1,000 patients! We are pleased to welcome you back to our permanent address after almost half a year of construction on Glencarin Drive. Our work is only made possible with your support, and we were happy to connect with so many people over the summer at this temporary location.

We would like to thank FortisBC and Kiewit Corporation for their partnership during the Patullo Gas Line replacement project. Thanks to their help, our temporary Admissions Centre was made possible.

If you have found an animal in distress, please contact our Support Centre for assistance before travelling with the animal.

Wildlife Rescue Admissions Centre is now open!

Thanks to the support of our incredible community, and the integral partnership of FortisBC and Kiewit Corporation, Wildlife Rescue’s Admissions Centre is officially OPEN.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new location, whether you have found an injured or orphaned animal in need of care, or you are visiting to provide essential support through donations or in-kind gifts. Our work is only made possible with your support and we know this new location will give us the opportunity to connect with you better than ever!

With our animal intakes increasing every day, your continued support is needed now more than ever. Thank you for all you do!

Wildlife Rescue’s Admissions Centre is located in front of the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club at 3760 Sperling Ave, Burnaby, BC V5B 4X5. Follow the Wildlife Rescue signs!

If you have found an animal in distress, please contact our Support Centre for assistance.

Wildlife Rescue’s new Admissions Centre will be operating from this location through the rest of the summer and joining the Wildlife Rescue Hospital at 5216 Glencarin Drive this fall.

A Day in the Life of a Waterfowl Rescue Volunteer

Volunteers are an integral part of Wildlife Rescue and they are involved in every aspect of the work that we do. We deeply appreciate each and every person that generously gives their time to help give our wildlife patients a second chance at life. Join us this week as we take a sneak peek into an average day for volunteers at Wildlife Rescue!

Written by Waterfowl Rescue Volunteer, Cathy

As a waterfowl rescue volunteer, I’ll get a text message from the Wildlife Rescue Support Centre with the location, contact info, and a brief description of the situation. I will respond with an estimated ETA, and then contact the finder (the community member who found the animal), just to confirm the address and any other details. After a quick check of my vehicle, to make sure I have all the equipment needed (kennels, towels, blankets, nets, gloves, food for luring)-I’m off!

Rooftop rescues are usually done with a team of two or three, but there are cases when there just isn’t another team member available.

In this case there was a Canada goose family nesting on a balcony of a 4th floor condo at the east end of False Creek. The mom and goslings were on the patio, but the dad was on an upper ledge. For safety, and the least stress possible on the animals, I decided to catch the mom, get her in a kennel, then get the babies into the smaller kennel. The dad flew down to the ground, and by the time I got down with the mom and babies, he was waiting there, honking for his mate. As I carried the mom and goslings, he followed us across the street to the water’s edge where the family was released, all together again.

As soon as one rescue and release is complete, there is usually another to go to!

My next stop was to rescue a group of Mallard ducklings trapped on a ledge. The mom and some of the ducklings had made it to the ground and headed for the nearby pond. I quickly climbed up to access the ledge, scooped up the remaining babies, and took them to the pond to reunite with their family.

After that, I headed over to a downtown rooftop where a young Gull tangled up in garden netting. The parents were not happy with us being up there. We used an umbrella for protection from the dive-bombing parents and finally got the young gull free. We carefully removed all of the netting to prevent future entanglements.

My last rescue of the day was another Mallard family rescue, this time trapped in an inner courtyard with no way to get out. Female mallards are notoriously flighty, so it can be challenging to capture her without her taking off and abandoning her babies. We use a domed tent-like structure to herd her into so we can net her, then scooped up the ducklings. With the entire family rescued, we were off to the nearest suitable water source, where they were successfully released.

Throughout the busy Waterfowl Rescue season there are lots of calls about waterfowl in need of rescue. But, there are also always calls about orphaned skunks, raccoons, beavers, opossums and more! I try to fit these calls in between the roof top rescues and help as many animals as possible

At the end of the day, I clean out the kennels, replenish supplies, and get ready for another day of rescues!

Join the team! Learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to apply >

A Day in the Life of a Support Centre

Written by Support Centre Volunteer, Nancy

As a Support Centre volunteer, we help out with admitting new animals and answering inquiries that come in to our Wildlife Rescue Support Centre. It is my first spring volunteering with Wildlife Rescue and we’re heading into the busiest time of the year, so the Support Centre Coordinator is close by to help me out if I have any questions. This day, we received lots of reports about baby birds and nests! This is a Day in the Life of a Support Centre volunteer!

12:20 – Arrived at WRA and greeted my fellow volunteer, Clare, who was admitting a new patient at our animal intake shed.

Clare at the intake shed

12:30 – Signed in and got an update from another volunteer, Brenda, who was finishing her helpline shift. She filled me in about a call she was expecting to come in a bit later from a community member so I could best support them.

Brenda at her desk

12:45 – Wildlife Rescue received a about goose nests on a rooftop. I recorded information to schedule a rescue of these newborns once the eggs hatch.

Did you know: Canada Geese always return to the same place they were born to nest, even if a building or other development has popped up right on the spot! This keeps Wildlife Rescue busy year after year, safely rescuing and guiding newborns and their mums back to a safe, natural environment.

12:55 – I recorded all of the information from any voicemails that came through during other calls and responded accordingly.

13:10 – Wildlife Rescue received a call about an injured goose. I recorded the details and location for the Support Centre staff to arrange a rescue right away.

13:25 – An email came through about an injured Mallard with a video for assessment to determine the injury and if a rescue was needed.

13:30 – A call came through about an injured animal to be dropped off by a member of the community. I let Wildlife Rescue admissions staff know to expect them soon!

13:45 – I met an officer dropping off a Rock Pigeon from New West Animal Shelter to receive care at Wildlife Rescue.

Officer Phil filling in a form with information about the Rock Pigeon he dropped off

14:00 – We received a call about geese behaviour and provided information to the caller to help them out.

14:10 – An available volunteer called and we arranged for them to assess the injured Mallard from earlier in person.

14:20 – We received a call about another rooftop goose nest rescue!

15:00 – We received a call from a concerned community member asking for advice on what to do with trapped ducklings with no mother around

Did you know: Ducklings rely on their mothers to survive—but if she becomes stressed, she might abandon her ducklings! If you see ducklings with no mother nearby, call the Wildlife Rescue Support Centre at (604) 526-7275 right away. Learn more about Mallard Duckling Season in our FAQ here.

15:10 – We received a call about birds nesting in an unsafe location, and provided guidance about nesting deterrents.

Did you know: if you see birds nesting in an unsafe place year after year, there are ways to safely try and divert them. Check out this article on goose nesting for more information.

15:30 – We received a call about an injured seagull who needed to be rescued and treated

15:40 – I sent out a request to Wildlife Rescue’s transport volunteers to arrange for the injured seagull to be picked up and brought right in for care!

16:00 – We received an update from our volunteers about the ducklings from earlier – the Mallard mother and ducklings were successfully reunited! What an amazing way to end the day!

16:10 – Signed out and our Support Centre team shared new photos of ducklings in our care swimming in a newly fixed up enclosure and reminds me why I’m so proud to be a part of the team helping these little ones at Wildlife Rescue!

Join the team! Learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to apply >

A Day in the Life of a Volunteer Gardener

Written by Garden Volunteer, Teresa

I joined the Wildlife Rescue Association (WRA) back in March 2021 when I saw a volunteer opportunity I couldn’t resist: to assist in implementing the Wildlife and Demonstration Garden Plan at WRA.

During my years as a landscape designer in Vancouver, I have found myself drawn more and more towards natural, ecologically sound landscape designs. The chance to assist in the creation of a wildlife garden, on such a beautiful site, was a dream.

The wildlife garden will provide shelter and food to birds, insects, and much-needed pollinators. It will also serve as a demonstration garden for visitors and a beautiful workspace for WRA volunteers and staff.

Right now, the focus of my work is to get rid of invasive species on-site and prepare the soil for the planting of native trees, shrubs, and perennials. A typical garden shift at WRA starts with a round of the site, to identify patches of Himalayan blackberries and morning glory to be uprooted, as well as maintenance tasks to complete.

Once the maintenance chores are done (mowing, weeding around enclosures, pruning), the serious job of weeding out of invasive species begins. This is physically demanding work, but at the end of the day, it is wonderfully satisfying to see the site free of weeds and ready to be planted.

On my breaks, I sit by the lake watching the birds and ducks and feel lucky to be part of this wonderful project for positive change: providing much-needed shelter and food for local and migratory wildlife.

WRA’s site is full of surprises and delights – I have found hummingbird nests, delicate trilliums hiding amongst the weeds, and seen geese waddling by.

Garden work parties, where a larger group of volunteers and staff from across the organization come together to put in a few extra dedicated hours, are another highlight! I meet generous volunteers from all over the world, keen to help, hard-working, and ready to share their own unique knowledge of nature and wildlife.