Click Here
for the TWC Species list
for 2007!!
Over 260 species of native wildlife have been admitted to TWC for treatment, and new species are encountered each year. These birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians represent not only common species, but also rare, threatened, and even endangered wildlife in this province.
We take our responsibility to wildlife seriously, constantly striving for excellence and ensuring that we keep current on the latest information and techniques in the field.
When a wild patient arrives...
|
examining a Cooper's
hawk |
- A complete history is taken from the
finder for every animal admitted
- A thorough physical exam of each animal
is done by senior staff
- “Routine” medical cases are started on pre-prescribed courses of treatment
- Veterinarians examine all non-routine medical cases
An efficient triage process such as this is
necessary since TWC has admitted over 180 patients in one day during the peak season.
Keeping detailed records of all wild patients admitted to TWC is essential to providing the highest quality medical care possible, and to helping monitor wildlife
population health.
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Raising Wild Orphans
|
orphaned Virginia
opossums |
Due to screening on the Wildlife Hotline, hundreds of babies are returned to their natural parents annually, without ever having to spend time at our Centre.
Despite this, TWC still admits hundreds of orphans for rehabilitation each year. Orphans are always raised with others of their own species, and contact with people is kept to a minimum.
Such steps help to ensure that these animals have the appropriate behaviour and survival skills that will allow them to reintegrate into the wild, and to successfully take on their respective ecological roles.
Rehabilitation and Release
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Hand feeding a
ruby-throated humming bird
|
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RED-tailed hawk being released into the wild |
Once a patient’s medical problems have been identified
and addressed, it will need supportive care. This care can take
many forms, such as wound flushing, tube feeding, or specialized
housing. Water birds such as loons, for example, need to be in
clean, softened water at all times.
Pre-release conditioning follows, first indoors so that we can closely watch for normal behaviour and skills, then in large outdoor enclosures to give the animals exercise and allow them to become accustomed to the weather before release.
Animals are usually released very close to the area in which
they were originally found.
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