Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release!

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres

Rescue• baby wild animals

that have become separated from their mothers

• injured wild animals• ill wild animals

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres

Rehabilitate• reduce suffering • care for animals until

they are strong enough to live on their own

• preserve biodiversity by giving animals a second chance

Release• set animals free, so they can live out the

rest of their lives as wild animals

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres

Aspen Valley’s Specialty

We specialize in the care of native Ontario mammals:

Rescuing WildlifeEvery year, many kind people call Aspen Valley, asking for advice about wild animals that appear to be in trouble.

Rescuing WildlifeWe advise people to observe and make very sure that an animal really needs to be rescued.

Rescuing WildlifeOur general advice to people rescuing a wild animal is to keep it warm. When you call, we may also suggest keeping it hydrated with electrolytes. We usually advise people not to feed the animal.

Rescuing WildlifeIn Ontario, it is illegal to keep native wildlife as pets. People rescuing wildlife need to ensure that animals get to a registered wildlife rehabilitator quickly, preferably within 24 hours.

Rehabilitating Wildlife

Rehabilitating animals is hard work and costs a lot of money.

Animals in rehabilitation need proper housing, food and medical care.

Rehabilitating WildlifeSome baby animals have to be hand-fed formula many times a day until they are big enough to eat solid food. They are given special formula that meets the needs of their particular species.

Rehabilitating Wildlife

When they are older, baby animals need to be given foods they will see after they are released back into the wild. That’s how they will know what to eat.

Rehabilitating WildlifeIn order to survive in the wild, it is important that animals retain their natural fear of humans. We stop handling baby animals as soon as possible, so they don’t become too used to people.

Rehabilitating Wildlife

Growing up with other babies of their own kind helps orphans learn how to socialize and develop their survival skills.

Rehabilitating WildlifeMost baby animals can be released back into the wild after just a few weeks or months of care.

Rehabilitating WildlifeBut some babies, such bears, are not released until they are over a year old. Beavers are released when they are two years old. That is how long they would normally stay with their mothers.

Rehabilitating WildlifeAt Aspen Valley, we have indoor enclosures for young, injured and ill animals in need of special care.

Rehabilitating WildlifeWe also have outdoor pond and forest enclosures for older baby animals. There, they can be fed and protected from predators while they practice living in the wild.

Releasing WildlifeWhen animals have the skills to live on their own, and the season is right, we release them back into the wild near where they were found.

Permanent Residents at the Sanctuary

It would be ideal if all native animals could live free in the wilderness, but sometimes that is not possible. Aspen Valley provides a permanent home to over twenty non-releasable animals.

Permanent Residents at the Sanctuary

Most of the animals that live in our sanctuary were raised by people. They didn’t learn the skills they would need to survive on their own, and no longer have a fear of humans.

Permanent Residents at the Sanctuary

Others, like Monty the Bobcat and Mama Bear were also declawed by the people who kept them in captivity when they were young. A bobcat or bear without claws would not last long in the wild.

In Conclusion

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary:• rescues• rehabilitates• and releases orphaned, injured and ill Ontario mammals.

In Conclusion

We also provide permanent homes to Ontario mammals that can no longer live on their own, in the wild.

Click to play video (3:22 long)

Aspen Valley Wildlife SanctuaryQuestions and Comments?