May 2013
Dear friend,
The
busiest season of the year for wildlife is in full swing! British Columbians
are also enjoying warmer weather and are looking forward to a busy summer of
outdoor activities ahead.
Therefore, it’s a great time to remind ourselves of how to be
wildlife-aware when out on the trails and beaches this year. What would you do
if you saw a bear or cougar when camping? Who do you call if you see an injured
wild animal? What happens if an oiled bird washed up on the beach? Be sure to
visit our Wildlife Welfare web pages to find all the answers and be ready to help local wildlife.
This week is also your last chance last chance to help the BC
SPCA prioritize which wildlife issues the organization should be focusing on in
the future. Please take a few minutes to answer the BC SPCA’s Strategic
Planning Survey and be sure to share it with family and friends.
With appreciation,
Sara Dubois Manager, Wildlife Services
PS. You can multiply your impact! Forward this message to friends, family and colleagues.
What wildlife issues
should be the BC SPCA addressing? Take our short survey
The
BC SPCA is seeking public input about pressing animal issues facing BC
communities as it begins a strategic planning process to guide its programs and
services from 2014 to 2018.
This survey is your chance to help the BC SPCA prioritize a variety of animal welfare issues including topics specifically relating to wildlife in BC such as: wildlife rehabilitation, urban wildlife conflict, monitoring humane pest
control, oil spill response preparedness, exotic animal advocacy, hunting or
trapping methods and more.
Please complete the BC SPCA’s Strategic
Planning Survey and share the link with your friends and colleagues in BC so they can
let the organization know what issues are most important to their communities.
Photo Credit: Focus Wildlife
Dangerous crossing – a lucky Red Crossbill survives
rescue from a roadside
Found injured at the side of a busy roadway, a female Red
Crossbill was rushed to Wild ARC by a concerned member of the public on March
30. Unfortunately, the male companion of the stunning finch species, did not
survive the crossing. The injured female crossbill was suffering from severe head
trauma, very likely the result of being hit by a car.
After a month in care, her wound healed after intense
treatment from expert rehabilitation staff.
On April 29, the crossbill’s citizen rescuer picked her
up and returned her to a safe wooded area close to where she was found.
More...
Photo Credit: Christina Carrieres, Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator
Spring cleaning for
the birds
Did you know that diseases can spread
quickly and easily in unattended bird baths and feeders?
Birds who feed in
large groups, such as pine siskins, goldfinches and house finches, are
particularly susceptible to illness. The following tips will help keep your
baths and feeders clean and healthy for your feathered visitors.
Bird
baths:
- Change water every few days to get rid
of debris, or more often when many birds visit
- Using a stiff brush and running water,
scrub bath a few times a month to remove algae and bacteria
Bird
feeders:
- Avoid wooden feeders as they cannot be
disinfected properly. Soak dirty plastic or metal feeders in a bucket (not the
sink) in a solution of 10 per cent white vinegar or 10 per cent bleach for
about 10 minutes. Scrub feeder and rinse it thoroughly. Allow to dry well
before re-hanging and repeat this process every few weeks
- Rake the area underneath the feeder
regularly to remove droppings and old, mouldy seed
More...
Photo Credit: Jen Coles, 2012 Wildlife-In-Focus Photography Contest
Family of wildlife tenants
Skunks
under your porch? Squirrels in your attic? Raccoons in your shed?
Come spring,
our homes often provide attractive nest sites for wild animals such as
squirrels, skunks and raccoons. They are warm, dry and secure—perfect for
raising babies!
Sadly, not all wild families are able to stay together. Many
are unexpectedly separated when the mother is trapped, leaving the babies
behind.
Find out what you can do to help prevent unnecessary wild orphans and
who to contact if you find babies in need.
And remember, during a warm summer,
some mothers can have a second litter of babies, so baby season does not always
end in spring for these hard working parents!
Provincial Call Centre now fields wildlife calls
The BC SPCA Provincial Call Centre opened in March as a
toll-free province-wide hotline (1-855-6BC-SPCA)
to report cases of animal abuse and neglect.
Expanding its role, the Call
Centre is now available seven days a week (8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) to answer general
wildlife inquires and direct injured wildlife calls to local rehabilitation
centres in BC.
Previously branches throughout the province would receive many
of the same types of wildlife calls—baby birds out of the nest, dive-bombing
crows, raccoons under the deck—and often these questions have the same
response no matter where you live in BC!
The consolidation of wildlife calls
will also help the BC SPCA track the types and amounts of calls the organization
responds to.
2013 Wildlife-In-Focus
Photography Contest coming July 1st
The
5th year of the BC SPCA’s annual photo contest is set to begin on Canada Day—what better way to celebrate Canada’s wildlife!
Photos must be taken in BC and
can feature wild animals in their natural settings or in backyard habitats.
This is great way to get out and explore the amazing and diverse species of
wild animals that we share this beautiful province with. Funds raised from the
contest go towards caring for injured and orphaned wildlife at the BC SPCA Wild
Animal Rehabilitation Centre.
Photo Credit: Joanne Buxton, BC SPCA 2012 Wildlife-In-Focus Photography Contest
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