September 2013
Dear friend,
Wow,
what a summer! Such incredible weather for both people and wildlife to enjoy
this year. Now it’s time to adjust to the new fall season ahead as we see the
sun setting just a little earlier each night. So many interesting wildlife
stories and activities happen during the busy summer, but not to worry, this
WildSense issue is packed with great information about BC’s wildlife and
upcoming events for wildlife supporters. Know someone else who might like to
read about these interesting activities every second month? Please share
WildSense with a friend.
A
big thank you to everyone who participated in the BC SPCA’s 2014-2018 Strategic
Plan survey conducted online this summer – preliminary results have been posted
and we look forward
to developing more preventative wildlife initiatives in the future.
With appreciation,
Sara Dubois Manager, Wildlife Services
PS. You can multiply your impact! Forward this message to friends, family and colleagues.
Late-season arrival
of tiny baby raccoon means a winter stay
As
the only wildlife rehabilitation centre on Vancouver Island that cares for
orphaned raccoons, 70 of the little bandits spent the spring and summer at Wild
ARC.
Just when staff were preparing to release these now juvenile raccoons this
month, one little girl’s arrival in early September surprised staff and she is
now the smallest bandit at the centre. Too little to be released before winter,
she will have to spend the next six months in care at Wild ARC with a few other
late-season arrivals, and be released next spring.
Read more...
Photo Credit: Christina Carrieres, Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator
Curious about what
REALLY happens at Wild ARC?
Attend
Wild ARC’s Fall for Wildlife Dinner Auction to view a film all about the
facility and bid on an opportunity to be an intern for a day. This is an event
you won't want to miss!
November
16, 2013, 6-10 p.m. Four
Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway, 829 McCallum Rd $70
per ticket or $650 per table of 10 Buy
tickets online or call (250) 478-9453 (WILD)
Rubbermaid®
reptiles – a risk too great
There
has been a rash of incidents this summer involving seizures of reptiles which
calls into question the care, handling and lack of responsibility of
caregivers. The most tragic case involved the death of two young boys strangled
by an illegally kept rock python in Campbellton, New Brunswick.
Scores of
animals were being kept in inappropriate housing, many without necessary
permits. Three incidents in Ontario involved the seizure of 45 reptiles in
Cobden followed by the seizure of 40 pythons being kept in a Brantford motel
and ten reptiles from a Gatineau home.
In BC, over 100 snakes were discovered
in plastic containers on a property in Mission, with nearly half were being
kept illegally.
All members of the public should be vigilant in reporting situations where dangerous animals
are being kept illegally or with substandard care. Report dangerous animals to
the BC SPCA’s cruelty hotline at 1 (855) 622-7722. See the list of provincially
restricted species.
Last chance to submit
your BC wildlife photos to annual photo contest
This
year’s Wildlife-In-Focus photography contest closes on September 30.
Amateur and backyard photographers are encouraged to get out this summer and
capture images of BC wildlife in their natural settings or in backyard
habitats.
What better way to explore the amazing and diverse species of wild
animals that we share this beautiful province with. Of course photos taken at
any time of year are welcome. Submit your photos today!
Funds raised from the contest go towards caring
for injured and orphaned wildlife at the BC SPCA Wild ARC.
Photo Credit: Dan Moore, BC SPCA 2012 Wildlife-In-Focus
Photography Contest
Who
visits your bird feeder?
Are
you feeding more than just birds? Bird feeders can be popular among black
bears, particularly as they begin fattening up for the winter.
A pound of
birdseed provides bears with roughly as many calories as a pound of berries.
The difference? Birdseed can be eaten all in one place, requiring bears to
expend less energy to obtain. With fall approaching, now is the time to make
sure your feeders are not unintentionally luring bears.
You can make your
feeders less accessible by suspending them on wire between two trees, about
four metres off the ground. Cover the wire with a plastic shower rod so bears
cannot grab hold, and use a long stick to retrieve your feeders for cleaning
and re-filling. Learn more on how to managing attractants, including bird
feeders.
Discouraging
uninvited guests (the wild kind of course)
It's Autumn, time to get the
home in shape for the winter. But before closing up any openings in buildings,
please be sure to check for any unexpected guests.
A variety of birds and
mammals can become self-designated building inspectors and get into all the
nooks and crannies of a home, especially as the days get cooler.
Check out some
of the humane harassment techniques that can be used to kindly encourage
wildlife to move along.
Photo credit: Mary
Watts, BC SPCA 2012 Wildlife-In-Focus Photography Contest
UBC Animal Welfare
program to host Born Free Foundation lecturer
The
2013 Peter Stratton Memorial Lecture in Animal Welfare will be given Tuesday,
October 29, 12:30 p.m. at the University of British Columbia (166 MacMillan
Building, 2357 Main Mall).
This
year's lecture will be given by Chris Draper, Programs Manager (Captive Wild
Animals/Science) at Born Free Foundation. Based in the United
Kingdom, Chris oversees Born Free’s work on zoos, circuses and exotic pets and heads
their Compassionate Conservation initiative. The Born Free Foundation is an
international wildlife charity working throughout the world to stop individual
wild animal suffering and protect threatened species in the wild.
The
Peter Stratton Memorial Lecture in Animal Welfare is hosted by the UBC graduate
program in Animal Welfare and sponsored by the
Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada.
Wild ARC to co-host
international wildlife rehabilitation conference
An
annual symposium to bring together wildlife rehabilitators, biologists, veterinarians,
and wildlife centre volunteers for training, workshops and presentations, will
be held November 4-9 in Victoria, the first time ever in western
Canada.
The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council will offer a
series of practical skills seminars (Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation, Wound and
Pain Management), the Oiled Wildlife First Responder workshop, and a presentation
series on a variety of topics including computer systems to help rehabilitators,
post release studies, wildlife conservation in rehabilitation, primate
rehabilitation, marmot rehabilitation, veterinarians in rehabilitation,
interacting with the public, and other important subjects.
Wild ARC and other
local rehabilitation centres are co-hosting the event, and a fun field trip day
with centre tours is planned.
Photo credit: Joseph
McKenna, BC SPCA 2012 Wildlife-In-Focus Photography Contest
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