Another remarkable year has come and gone at the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC)!
As the team gears up for another busy season ahead, it’s time to reflect on the incredible work done to help injured and orphaned wildlife in 2024.
With the hard work of staff, volunteers, and the support of our community, Wild ARC was able to care for a total of 2,043 animals from 132 different species last year.
From birds to mammals, each animal received the specialized care they needed—whether it was a specific diet, treatment, or enrichment plan.
In a typical year, around 70% of the animals treated are birds, while the remaining 30% are mammals, with only the occasional amphibian or reptile admitted.
This year, Wild ARC also focused on reducing the impact of human activity on wildlife, as a staggering 80% of the animals brought to the centre needed help due to human-caused injuries or distress.
In a media release, Wild ARC wanted to highlight a few of the success stories, allowing readers an inside view at what they do.
One of the standout stories involved an American Kestrel fledgling, who was accidentally rescued from the wild—the first of its kind to be successfully hand-reared at Wild ARC!
After 42 days of specialized care, this little bird was given a second chance at life when it was released back into the wild.
This case serves as an important reminder to contact Wild ARC or another wildlife rehabilitation centre if you come across an animal in need, as it may not require human intervention.
“A young animal’s best chance at survival is always with their parents unless they are injured or truly orphaned,” the release reads.
Another highlighted story was that of a female raccoon with a severe eye infection. After a vigilant Vancouver Island resident noticed her condition, they quickly contacted Wild ARC.
Upon arrival, the raccoon was confirmed to have a severely infected left eye, which ultimately needed to be removed.
Following multiple surgeries and treatments, this raccoon is now ready to return to the wild early this year. If left untreated, her condition would have worsened, leading to a painful, fatal infection.
Wild ARC also treated an Ancient Murrelet that collided with a glass railing on a BC Ferries vessel. The bird, fortunately, landed on deck while the ferry was en route to Victoria and was quickly transported to Wild ARC.
After two days of treatment, this federally-protected species was ready to rejoin a local flock. Bird collisions with glass are a year-round hazard, even in our own homes.
To avoid these collisions, Wild ARC recommends adding decals to your windows, or adjusting where you place your bird feeders.
The BC SPCA and Wild ARC rely on donations and volunteers, of which Wild ARC’s dedicated team gave an impressive 16,380 hours in total to the cause.
If getting involved is something you might be interested in, whether that’s volunteering your time, participating in fundraisers or sending them a one-off donation, you can find more information on BC SPCA’s website.
Here’s to 2025 being another successful year for animal rescue!
