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Wildlife Rescue Association of BC

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The Wildlife Rescue Association of BC (WRA) is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada,[2][3][4] that is permitted to care for injured, orphaned, and pollution-damaged wildlife in British Columbia.[5] It is a member of the Wildlife Rehabilitators' Network of British Columbia (WRNBC).[6]

Wildlife Rescue Association of BC
AbbreviationWRA
Formation1979
Founded at5216 Glencarin Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
TypeCharitable organization
Registration no.131373490RR0001[1]
Legal statusCharity
FocusAnimal rescue, rehabilitation, welfare, education
Area served
British Columbia, Canada
ServicesRescue, treatment and rehabilitation of injured, orphaned or pollution-damaged wildlife; public education including school and community groups; advice and guidance to the public on wildlife issues in person and through the wildlife helpline.
Coleen Doucette
Co-executive director
Linda Bakker
Revenue (2021)
$1,689,680
Expenses (2021)$1,370,095
Staff16 full-time, 45 part-time
WebsiteWWW.WILDLIFERESCUE.CA

History

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The organization was founded in 1979[7] in response to a growing needs to help wildlife affected by human activity, and to provide education to the public on ways to co-exist with urban wildlife. Originally located at the Nature House on Burnaby Lake, Wildlife Rescue relocated to its current site on Glencarin Drive in 1987. In 1990, Wildlife Rescue hosted the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council's annual conference, the first international wildlife rehabilitators conference held in Canada. In July 2019, WRA celebrated their 40th anniversary of treating injured birds and animals.[8][9]

Activities

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The Wildlife Rescue Association of BC is dedicated to wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release. Every year, the organization aids in mitigating and responding to wildlife emergencies including annual Canada Goose rooftop rescues,[10][11][12] and extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding,[3] wildfires, and cold snaps.[13]

Wildlife hospital

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Wildlife Rescue's hospital is open 7-days a week, 365-days a year, to care for wildlife in need. Wildlife Technicians, Registered Vet Techs (RVTs), and volunteers work together to provide care to animal patients with the goal of release.[14][15] Since its opening in 1979, more than 125,000 wild animals have been treated by their hospital, which cares for an average of 5,000 animals every year, primarily birds and bats.[7]

Wildlife helpline

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Wildlife Rescue's Support Centre answers 18,000 helpline calls annually from the public with questions regarding wildlife emergencies.[7] During events such as cold-snaps, phone calls increase dramatically,[16] from members of the public seeking advice on helping wildlife.

Education and events

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Every year, Wildlife Rescue hosts an "Earth Fest" - a community festival to celebrate Earth Day.[17][18][19] They provide educational resources through their blog, email campaigns, and social media. Wildlife Rescue also provided education through their weekly television program called Wildlife Weekly, which aired more than 52 episodes on Shaw TV's, The Express.[20]

Notable rescues

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  • Wildlife Rescue admits a Spotted Bat,[21] an extremely rare species, in October 2021. The bat was found out of range, dehydrated, and lethargic. After a couple of weeks in care, this bat recovered and was released.
  • An outbreak of Salmonella poisoning in 2020/2021 wreaked havoc on local Pine Siskin population.[22][23][24] Wildlife Rescue urges the public to remove bird feeders to prevent the spread of disease.
  • Every year, Wildlife Rescue attends to the rescues of Canada Geese nesting on urban rooftops,[12][25] as young goslings are unable to make the jump safely from high rooftops.
  • Six Great Blue Heron fledglings were rushed to WRA's hospital after the trees their nests were in fell.[26][27]
  • A young albino Crow recovered at WRA after being found dehydrated and emaciated.[28][29]
  • Endangered American White Pelican recovers from fish hook injury.[30][31]
  • Heatwaves and wildfires in the summer of 2017 lead to an influx of wildlife patients dehydrated and lethargic.[32]
  • 62 Gulls were rescued from a vat at an East Vancouver tofu processing plant.[33]
  • Approximately 500 garter snakes, ranging in length from 10 cm to one metre, were rescued from construction site, cared for in brumation, and released back to nature.[34]
  • In April 2015, three Bufflehead ducks were admitted heavily soiled in an oily substance.[35]

Funding

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WRA is a not-for-profit charitable society that relies largely on donations from the public and government grants for its funding.[36] WRA receives 80% of its annual funding through donations from the public and corporations.[37][38]

WRA raises funds by offering symbolic wildlife adoptions through their "Fur & Feathers Adoption Program,"[39] which includes an official adoption certificate, a species information card, and a charitable tax receipt. They also promote monthly giving through their Freedom Partners program,[15] and planned (legacy) giving.

References

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  1. ^ "Canada Revenue Agency".
  2. ^ "Cold snap taking a toll on B.C.'s Anna's hummingbirds". CBC News. December 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Wildlife rescue staff, volunteers back at work in Burnaby after 'thigh-high' floodwater prompts evacuation". CTV News. November 18, 2021.
  4. ^ McQuillan, Jacquline (August 2011). "The Status of Oiled Wildlife Preparedness in British Columbia: A General Overview and an Analysis of Enbridge's Wildlife Response Plan for the Proposed Northern Gateway Project" (PDF). Oiled Wildlife Trust.
  5. ^ "Government of BC | Ministry of Environment Permits".
  6. ^ "Find a Local Rehabilitator". 21 March 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "Wildlife Rescue Association of BC Expands its Doors". TransMountain. October 15, 2020.
  8. ^ Vancouver Sun (June 27, 2019). "Wildlife Rescue Association celebrates 40th anniversary | Vancouver Sun". YouTube.
  9. ^ "Wildlife rescue enters 40th year treating injured birds and animals". Vancouver Sun.
  10. ^ "Wildlife Rescue Association saves geese from sticky situations". Vancouver Sun. May 4, 2020.
  11. ^ Applewood Auto Group (June 10, 2021). "WE FOUND A CANADA GOOSE FAMILY IN OUR DEALERSHIP!". YouTube.
  12. ^ a b Griffin, Kevin (May 4, 2020). "Canada goose rescue team saves goslings born on rooftop gardens". Vancouver Sun. p. News. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  13. ^ Brieanna, Charlebois (January 4, 2022). "Recent cold snap poses significant issues for wildlife across B.C., experts warn". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "Wildlife Rescue Association". AECFV Animal Emergency.
  15. ^ a b "GIVING WILDLIFE A SECOND CHANCE". Senior Living Magazine. 29 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Cold snap taking a toll on B.C.'s Anna's hummingbirds". CBC News.
  17. ^ "How are you celebrating Earth Day?". BC Living.
  18. ^ "Earth Fest: free nature festival in Burnaby". 14 April 2012.
  19. ^ "2012 Exhibits". Earth Day Vancouver.
  20. ^ "City of Vancouver" (PDF). June 30, 2005.
  21. ^ "Extremely rare bat 'spotted' in Chilliwack". Peace Arch News.
  22. ^ "Coquitlam area residents urged to take down bird feeders". TriCity News. January 8, 2021.
  23. ^ "Wildlife rescue group says bird feeders could be spreading bacterial infection among songbirds". CBC News.
  24. ^ "Tiny B.C. birds are dying from salmonella outbreak linked to backyard feeders". CTV News. January 11, 2022.
  25. ^ "Wildlife Rescue Association saves geese from sticky situations | Vancouver Sun". Vancouver Sun. May 4, 2020.
  26. ^ Gyarmati, Sandor (June 24, 2020). "Deforestation blamed in Tsawwassen bird deaths". Delta Optimist. p. Local News. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  27. ^ Bains, Meera (June 25, 2020). "15 heron fledglings killed, 2 rescued after nests destroyed when tree fell". CBC News.
  28. ^ "Rare albino crow rescued in North Vancouver". Vancouver Is Awesome. August 9, 2020.
  29. ^ Lee-Young, Joanne (August 6, 2020). "Rare albino crow recovering with help from B.C. wildlife technicians". Vancouver Sun. p. Local News. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  30. ^ "Fishing-line entanglement injures endangered pelican". CBC News. November 1, 2019. p. British Columbia.
  31. ^ Luisa, Alvarez (November 1, 2019). "Endangered pelican fighting for its life at Burnaby rehabilitation centre". CTV News. p. Vancouver. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  32. ^ "B.C. wildlife struggles with summer heat and wildfires". CBC News. August 13, 2017.
  33. ^ "Gulls rescued from Vancouver tofu vat get scrubbed clean". March 15, 2016.
  34. ^ "Hundreds of garter snakes found at B.C. construction site". CBC News. February 27, 2015.
  35. ^ "Rescued oiled birds are "badly soiled": Wildlife Rescue Association". CBC News. April 13, 2015.
  36. ^ "New funding for conservation, public safety boosts community programs". February 9, 2021.
  37. ^ Applewood Auto Group (August 25, 2021). "SUPPORTING WILDLIFE RESCUE BC". YouTube.
  38. ^ "Wra Wildlife Rescue Association Of British Columbia". Charitable Impact. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  39. ^ "Stuck for gift-giving ideas? 'Adopt' an animal and help Burnaby's Wildlife Rescue Association". Burnaby Now. December 7, 2021.
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