More wild animals rescued than ever
Wild Rose nibbles on a fresh, crispy piece of lettuce.
The 10-year-old porcupine settles in Carly Stenhouse’s lap in her enclosure — Porky Palace — at WILDNorth, Northern Alberta Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, on Wednesday, unperturbed by the pitter-patter from the rain around her. Stenhouse is an education manager at WILDNorth.
The golden and grey-haired porcupine will begin a new life and career at the animal rescue centre after living nearly her entire life with a family in Wainwright. Although she weighs only 15 pounds, the creature looks heavier with poofy hair on a humid day.
“She is our first education animal,” said WILDNorth manager Dale Gienow. “She’s an ambassador who will travel to schools and teach children how to live in harmony with animals.”
Wild Rose is one of the 547 animals brought to the animal rescue centre at 125 Avenue and 128 Street in Edmonton this year.
Although the number of animals brought in are a bit lower because of a long winter, they are still high — higher than last year, he said.
“Keep in mind that last year we were up 20 per cent from the previous year. So we’re well on our way to exceed our numbers.”
A persistent pair of pigeons flies in and out of thick plastic curtains like those at a car wash. The cheep-cheep of goslings and ducklings provides a steady staccato.
“We’re up to our eyeballs in ducklings and goslings at this time of year,” said Gienow. He said the centre can get more than 600 of the feathered babies this season.
The centre has not only seen an increase in the number of animals but also the kinds of animals.
Last year they saw, among other species, pelicans, cranes and swans. This year they have two groups of kits (baby foxes) and a bald eagle.
At the centre’s long-term rehabilitation area, student supervisor Reice Bradley wears a green bee net that covers her face while feeding a group of five kits who arrived from just outside Edmonton. The bee net is to help her hide her face so she doesn’t imprint on the kits.
The mother of the baby foxes was shot by a farmer protecting his chickens and, when he discovered there were babies, the farmer got in touch with the centre.
“Ideally we would want these babies fostered out to a wild fox family who will take over as surrogate parents,” said Gienow.
The largest influx of animals happens between May and August.
“We just passed the baby bunnies season,” he said. “We’re now in the ducklings and goslings season. Next comes the baby deer season.”
WILDNorth is hosting the Edmonton Wildlife Festival and 19th annual Wild Run at John Janzen Nature Centre on Saturday.