Toronto Wildlife Centre
SPRING 2016
The bond of family - a mother goose’s story Popular baby myths busted! Did you know? Getting to know wild babies Digging for... chipmunks? Thank you for helping this coyote return to the wild Save the date for Wild Ball!
Message from the executive director Many of us celebrate mother’s and father’s days with our families. At Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC), we regularly hear touching stories of the bonds that exist in wild families too. We are caring for one family now, whose closeness has touched us all. On May 3rd, a family of Canada geese were heading towards a nearby pond in Markham; mother and father goose protectively herding their 6 newly hatched babies across a busy road. Unfortunately, a speeding car came at the family, hitting the mother goose hard and badly injuring her. She lay beside the road bleeding, with multiple injuries. Concerned passers-by called TWC’s hotline and rescue staff rushed to help. But traffic was thick, and it took them over an hour to get to the scene. During that time, the father goose and babies didn’t leave the injured mother’s side. This is typical for so many wild families, and we hear about it so often at TWC. Humans aren’t the only ones who love their families! And the goose family? When the rescue team arrived, they first captured the upset, defensive father. Although he was uninjured and perfectly capable of flying away to safety, he would not leave his family. After corralling the peeping babies and placing them in a carrier with dad, the rescue team swiftly transported the injured mother to TWC for emergency care. Mother goose has since had several surgeries to address her injuries. After the first 24 hours spent alone in our ICU, she was visibly less stressed once she was reunited with her family in a large enclosure inside. She got to work right away brooding over her infants, despite her multiple sutures, bandages and leg splint; injuries that must have been quite sore despite the pain medication we were administering. She is still recovering, and the family remains inseparable. Our veterinary team have noted a vast improvement in her condition and are optimistic about her future. We continue to root for her! Thank you for your support - it helps wild families stay together! Sincerely, Nathalie Karvonen
Wild About Babies! Popular baby myths
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When people find wild babies, a mix of myths, misconceptions and emotions can influence decision-making that isn’t always in the best interest of the animal. Read on to learn some cool facts about the youngest wild members of our community, examples of when help may be needed and when it’s best to leave well enough alone.
Myth:
A fawn sitting by itself has been abandoned by its mother. As very young white-tailed deer are not fast enough to escape predators and keep up with mom, mom hides them in tall grasses or bushy areas and returns regularly to feed them. Hidden fawns should be left alone, however, a fawn that is vocalizing or walking around may need help.
Myth:
A baby bird found on the ground needs help. Many avian species go through a “fledgling” stage in their development. Birds in this phase are sort of like awkward teenagers; they are mostly grown but mom is still somewhere nearby caring for the baby from behind the scenes. To assess if a baby bird truly needs help, go to www.helpbabybirds.ca
Myth:
Touching wild babies, like this merganser duckling, will cause the parent to stop caring for it. The bond between wild babies and their parents is strong and in most cases, the scent of a human will not cause the mother to abandon her baby. Still, human contact can affect a wild baby in other ways and should be avoided.
Myth:
You should attempt to feed an orphaned wild animal you have rescued.
Feeding orphaned animals can actually do more harm than good. A squirrel like this one, requires very different food than a baby bird, for example, and the wrong food could make them sick. Feeding can even affect assessment when determining if reuniting with parents is an option. Always contact a local rehabilitator for advice before taking action.
Myth:
Orphaned animals enjoy human contact. Wild babies, like this cottontail rabbit, will often curl up in a human hand or tuck into a cozy chest, making it seem like a good idea to snuggle these cute creatures. However, most wild babies can’t self-regulate body temperature and humans do have one thing they need – heat! Rather than cuddling, put them in a box with a warm water bottle and call a local rehabilitator for advice.
Wild About Babies! Meet some more of the wild babies you’re helping
Did you know?... Owlets go through a fledgling period like songbirds; in wooded areas, bushes and small trees act as ladders, allowing them to climb to higher perches before they can fly. In urban areas, these ladders are sometimes not available and owlets found on the ground may need help.
Mother opossums carry up to 13 of her young on her back as she moves about, foraging for food. In the pandemonium of the ultimate piggy-back ride, some babies fall off or get left behind. If you find a baby Virginia opossum on its own, call TWC to assess if it’s old enough to be on its own, or if it needs help.
Gulls nest in colonies which can contain hundreds of pairs! Since gulls like open spaces, warehouses and other buildings with large flat roofs are often used as colony sites in urban areas. If you find a baby gull on the ground – look up! And call TWC to discuss next steps.
Trapping and relocating of mother raccoons outside of their territory (which is illegal) causes thousands of baby raccoons to become orphaned every year. Humane harassment options or reputable wildlife removal companies that keep raccoon families intact can save wild lives.
A short time after her eggs hatch, mallard mothers leave their nest and lead their babies to a body of water which can be several kilometers away! Nests constructed in enclosed areas like courtyards, or high up on green roofs, balconies or terraces can put babies at risk as they become trapped or jump from dangerous heights. In these situations, babies and mom must be captured by trained professionals such as TWC’s Rescue Team and relocated to open waters.
Digging for… chipmunks? A local archaeological crew dug up something unexpected at a recent excavation. While using machinery, they accidentally unearthed a burrow with two very young chipmunks inside. Chipmunks give birth to their young underground and the pups don’t leave the den until they are about 6 weeks old. These babies were very small, their eyes not even open yet – much too young to make it without their mother who was nowhere in sight. Thankfully, a kind woman involved with the dig reached out to TWC for help. The chipmunks were assessed at TWC by the medical team who determined that one tiny baby suffered from a fractured tail – an injury requiring surgery. Staff decided to wait until he grew a bit to make sure his health remained stable before operating. Luckily, his brother was in perfect health, and a care plan was determined to keep both of them strong; a plan which included many hand feedings daily, pain medication and regular check ups to monitor their progress. Chipmunks grow at a rapid pace and after a week and a half in care, the weight of the injured baby increased from 18 grams to over 40 grams! With his eyes now open, it was clear that this chipmunk was thriving in care and ready for surgery.
TWC’s medical team anaesthetized the little chipmunk and performed an amputation on a small portion of his tail. He is doing well postop, happy to be reunited with his brother. He will continue to receive pain medication and antibiotics to avoid infection. The boys will remain with one another as they continue on their journey back to the wild – as they are weaned off hand feeding onto solid food, as they are moved to an outdoor enclosure to get their first taste of life outdoors and, finally, as they are released back to the wild, together.
They can’t do it alone, and neither can we – a sincere thank you to you! You give orphaned babies like these the chance to grow and live free.
Thank you for helping this coyote return to the wild In our winter newsletter, we shared the story of a female coyote being treated at TWC for injuries including a badly broken tooth. Because of the tooth, she was barely eating. Thanks to the donated time and expertise of Dr. Dilworth at Beaches Animal Hospital, this lucky coyote received a much-needed root canal and tooth extraction. The surgery was a great success; the coyote recovered quickly, devouring her meals with great eagerness and more importantly, without pain. At the beginning of March, she was moved into a large outdoor enclosure to reacclimatize to the weather, and to prepare for release back to the wild. On March 18th, strong and healthy, she was set free in her original territory. A few happy TWC staff and volunteers looked on as the door of her crate was opened. Everyone stood in eager anticipation of when she would emerge, when she would realize she was home again. With a quick sniff of the night air, she dashed out of the crate and into the woods, never looking back. But we look back – at the people, generous supporters like you, who are the reason this coyote received a second chance at life in the wild. She can’t thank you but we can, and we do!
Still image captured from release video.
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Spring Wishlist ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●●
torontowildlifecentre.com/wishlist
Walnuts, almonds, pecans or sunflower seeds (unsalted, natural, in the shell) Eggs Fresh berries - any kind Apples Millet sprays 12’ A-frame ladder Commercial grade printers, in good working order Desktop computer in good working order, preferably Windows 7 or above Laptop computers in good working order, preferably Windows 7 or above Gift Cards to Staples, Lowes, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, supermarkets, or gas stations You can bring items to TWC from 9am-6pm, 7 days a week.
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WILDLIFE HOTLINE: (416) 631-0662 General inquires (416) 631-0662 x 3205 or admin@torontowildlifecentre.com Donations (416) 631-0662 x 3207 or donations@torontowildlifecentre.com 4 - 60 Carl Hall Road Toronto ON M3K 2C1 Charitable registration number: 141146290 RR0001