Latest News:

Sept 30/03: The last six weeks have been quiet for new intakes. A raccoon with a broken leg, Douglas Squirrel attacked by a cat, and two seagulls. But this in no way means the Centre is quiet. The phones continue to ring off the hook with wildlife questions, and we have all the in care animals to nurse, feed, water and clean. Unfortunately the number of in care raccoons has dramatically decreased due to a feline panaleukopenia ("cat distemper" or "cat parvo") outbreak. The virus is extremely virulent and contagious. The last six weeks have been full of desperate measures to treat and care for the sick raccoons, and in the end we lost eleven babies. Although the losses are devastating, we successfully nursed seven of the kits back to health, a higher percentage then is customary with cats in a vet clinic. This disease is very simple to prevent with vaccines. We give a series of three vaccinations. We begin the shots at 6-12 weeks of age (they must be 'healthy' first) and they are boostered every 4 weeks, meaning immunity is not complete until 5 months of age. Half of the raccoons had only received their first shot, the others had only just been given their second. If all cats were vaccinated annually, this devastating disease would be prevented from killing cats and wildlife.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE VACCINATE ALL PETS, raccoons in particular are suceptible to both cat and dog diseases.

Aug 11/03: Already this month we have rescued three seal pups - Gabriola (2), Qualicum; an oil covered mink; and attended a deer attacked by dogs (unfortunately, euthanized). The phone call of the month is about wayward moulting Canada geese. Response: No, they do not have a 'broken wing', they are just waiting for new flight feathers to grow in before they can fly.

Aug 1/03: A huge thank you to COMPUTER SELLERS for helping SCWC get a computer working, and to Island Internet for providing free internet,now emails regarding wildlife can be answered promptly from the Centre.

Month of July/03: We took in ten raccoon kits - Duncan, Nanaimo, Gabriola, Nanoose Bay, and Fanny Bay; a squirrel; two seal pups - Gabriola, Nanaimo; three 'hit by car' deer calls - Duncan, Nanaimo, and Qualicum (unfortunately all had to be euthanized); and one raccoon tangled in a fish net on Gabriola - he was untangled and set free. Birds: four robins; eight ducklings; two crows; two ravens; two flickers; a finch, a seagull, a mallard, a rockdove, a pilated woodpecker, and a towhee. Raptors: Two merlins, and an eagle. The phone was even busier this month handling untold numbers of calls for help dealing with injured/orphaned or troublesome wildlife and preventing wildlife from coming into care unneccessarily. Again (with the exception of the raccoons and squirrel), all were treated and released within 24hrs or driven to Crofton and taken by ferry to the Island Natural Care Centre on Saltspring Island for long term treatment. Phone call of the month, raccoons entering into homes through open doors or pet doors in search of food. Response: CLOSE THE DOOR, FOLKS!

Month of June/03: We took in; three raccoon kits, one from Nanaimo, two from Cumberland; a baby mink from Courtenay; three fawns, one each from Duncan, Chemainus and Nanaimo; a gosling, seven crows; three starlings, a duckling, a finch a kingfisher, and a swallow. In addition to dealing with hundreds of calls for help, information and education. All (but the raccoon kits) were treated and released within 24 hours or driven to Crofton and taken by ferry to the Island Natural Care Centre on Saltspring Island for long term care.

06/05/03: We have been busy keeping babies with Mums. Fledgling birds left alone on the ground, where they belong, so that their parents can raise them. Raccoons allowed to remain in nursery dens (attics/garages/etc) until they move of their own accord (6-10 weeks), and in those few cases where they simply can not remain where they are, we collect the babies, and release ON SITE to the Mum so that she can reclaim her babies and move them on her own. So far these efforts of leaving the raccoons alone has resulted in 25-35 babies being left in peace. Evictions - on site collection and release - have resulted in seven babies being kept with Mum!

06/05/03: There are now eight raccoon kits in care, although we have lost two babies, we are happy to report that ALL babies in care were truly abandoned, injured or ill. No kidnaps, no trapped and dumped Mums. Single female, four weeks old,abandoned, reunification attempted-unsuccessful, Wed 06/04, from Nanimo. Four males, 7 weeks old, Sat 05/31, starving, Mum disappeared, from Courtenay. Two newborns, cold, never nursed, noses and mouths clogged from insulation, Sat 05/17, from Nanaimo, unfortunately both died of pneumonia. A male and a female starving, covered in maggots, Fri 05/16, from Nanaimo.

May 14/03 This first baby raccoons of the season have arrived, no kidnaps yet! Bunny calls are flooding in, and just got a twin fawn call. Earlier in the week was a call regarding a baby black bear....

May 1/03 The calls are coming fast and furious about Mama coons nesting in peoples homes, garages, and sheds. Please, do not try to deal with them without contacting us for help. For the most part they only stay for a month or two and then they will move all on their own.

We are happy to report the last of the 2002 baby raccoons were released this week (May 1/2003). They all were thrilled to scamper up the tallest trees, much to our dismay! Many thanks to Denise and Kim for providing transportation and moral support, the staff at Island Vets just keeps on giving.

May 7/03 TRUE STORY! Woman goes to BBQ at friends house, a nest of eggs is discovered IN the BBQ and removed. Woman tries to set up alternative nest site to no avail, Mamma Bird won't come back. Woman takes the nest home and calls for help from this Centre. Woman creates perfect environment for the eggs over nite having decided to lend her own BBQ to the friend so that the nest can be replaced in the Friends BBQ. Does this 17 hours later, at 10am and in 4 minutes Mamma Bird is back on her eggs! We will be monitoring this situation and keep you informed.

Mamma Bird Result: She did successfully brood the eggs, and hatched 3.5 of them before the neighbors cat had her for lunch. What a devastating end to such a hopeful story. But it goes to show that without the cat it appears that she would have successfully hatched and raised the chicks.