TWC’s staff and volunteers work with over 270 different species, and each year provide rehabilitative care to approximately 5,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. These birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians represent not only common species, but also rare, threatened, and even endangered wildlife. With animals arriving at the centre every day, and hundreds in care at any given time, addressing the medical, housing, and nutritional needs of so many difference species is immensely complex.

Wildlife rehabilitation at Toronto Wildlife Centre is carried out by a team of staff and volunteers under the supervision of experienced rehabilitators with backgrounds in biology and zoology. An understanding of the natural history of species in care is critical to successfully rehabilitating wildlife.

Because being in captivity can be an extremely stressful experience for wildlife, TWC staff and volunteers go to great lengths to reduce stress by maintaining minimal human contact, addressing the specific physical and psychological needs of each species, and aim to release the animals back into the wild as soon as possible.

TWC is a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility, and must follow  certain rules and regulations regarding the care of unprotected and provincially or federally protected species (e.g. how far from where the animal was found it can be released). TWC also adheres to the Wildlife Rehabilitators Code of Ethics.