Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Management & Staff
    • Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • News
    • Opportunities at AVWS
    • FAQ
  • Animals
    • Sanctuary Residents
    • Animals in Rehabiliation
    • Educational >
      • Educational Video
      • Living with Wildlife
      • Found an orphaned animal
      • Scavenger Hunt Activity
  • Support our Efforts
    • Guided Tours >
      • Animals at the Sanctuary
      • Guided Tours
      • Photography Tours
      • Please read before you visit
      • Family Days 2020 - Cancelled
    • Sponsor an Animal
    • Wishlist - most needed items
    • Volunteer
    • Donate a Car
    • Supporters
  • Gifts
    • 2021 Wall Calendars
    • Guided Tour Gift Certificates
    • Photography Tour Gift Certificates
    • Send an E-Card
    • T Shirts >
      • Bear T Shirt
      • Wolf T Shirt
  • Donate now
    • Nursery Fund
    • Donations of Securities
    • Wildlife in Care
    • Cailan's Adventures in Support of Wildlife
    • Frank A. Helt Memorial Fund

Animals in Rehabilitation

Our mandate is to rescue, rehabilitate and release back into the wild orphaned, injured and ill animals.

​Each year, the sanctuary takes in well over 300 animals for rehabilitation. Many animals require special formula or intensive veterinary care. Animals such as orphaned bear cubs and beaver kits need to stay at the sanctuary for a year or more (until the age when they would normally leave their mothers).  We receive no government funding; this work is completely donor-funded. You can support Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, by sponsoring an animal undergoing rehabilitation.

​These species are part of our Sponsor an Animal program.

Click Here to Sponsor Animals in Rehabilitation

Raccoon

Picture
In a typical year, we rehabilitate and release over 100 raccoon kits. Raccoon kits have to be put in isolation when they arrive, to ensure that they are not carrying any infectious diseases. Once they are deemed healthy, orphaned raccoons are raised in the presence of their own kind to ensure proper socialization, like other orphan species.

Picture
Orphaned Raccoon Kit
Picture
These raccoons arrived after falling into a grease trap and were in critical condition on arrival.
Picture
This raccoon had surgery to fix a broken leg. He made a full recovery and was released

Porcupine

Picture
      Porcupines are a favourite of rehabilitates  they are gentle and exude personality! We typically receive and rehabilitate a few porcupines each year. Sometimes they are orphaned, other times we receive ill or injured adults needing care.

Picture
After rehabilitation, this porcupine is headed back to the wild!
Picture
This baby porcupine was rehabilitated and released. She was very young when she came into care.
Picture
Ensuring that the orphaned wildlife receive the nutrients that they need for growth requires a species-specific formula for each animal that we rehabilitate.

White-Tailed Deer

Picture
Each year, we receive many orphaned fawns. Some are legitimate orphans whose mothers have been killed. Others are mistaken for orphans because their mothers leave them alone in secluded areas for long periods of time. We recommend calling the sanctuary if you are concerned about a deer fawn before trying to intervene to avoid 'kidnapping' the fawn from his/her mother.

Occasionally, we also receive injured young deer in need of rehabilitation. 


Picture
Orphaned deer fawn enjoying the outdoor enclosure
Picture
This deer is recovering from surgery to remove an arrow that was embedded in his back
Picture
Deer fawns require special formula to meet their species specific nutritional needs

Beavers, Otters, & Other Aquatic Mammals

Picture
Beavers, otters, and other aquatic mammals are high-maintenance species to rehabilitate due to their complex social, health, and behavioural needs. Each year, Aspen Valley accepts a handful of orphaned beavers, otters, and muskrats into rehabilitation.

​Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is a leader in aquatic mammal rehabilitation and is one of the few rehabilitation centres equipped with an aquatic facility to house and care for aquatic mammals year-round. 

Picture
Orphaned beaver kit being admitted for care
Picture
One of the muskrats in rehabilitation enjoying some swim time
Picture
These otters are exploring their outdoor enclosure

Black Bear

Picture
Aspen Valley is one of only a handful of facilities in Ontario equipped to rehabilitate bears. Orphaned bear cubs require rehabilitation until they are one and a half years old. 
In 2016, we were very busy rehabilitating injured yearling and sub-adult black bears who had been either hit by cars or who had been shot and injured. Many of these bears have since recovered from their injuries and have been released.

Picture
This orphaned cub was found severely emaciated eating out of a homeowner's bird feeder. Thankfully, he was rescued, rehabilitated, and has since been released
Picture
This yearling was found severely emaciated. She has since recovered and been released
Picture
A concerned homeowner reported a young injured bear limping on 3 legs. We trapped the bear to discover that she had been shot. She is healing up well and we expect to release her in 2017.

Location

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary:
​1116 Crawford Street
Rosseau, ON
P0C 1J0

What Our Visitors Are Saying:

"Our environment is a legacy to our children.  This team works to support Canada's habitats and native animals in so many ways.  Thanks for all you do!"

"Amazing people doing great work."

"Overall great experience."

"A really nice walk with mom and dad. I learned how beavers make up the environment."
Donate

Email Us:

​General Inquiry: info@aspenvalley.org

Booking a Guided Tour: tours@aspenvalley.org

​Volunteer Opportunities:
volunteer@aspenvalley.org

Donations/Fundraising:
​donations@aspenvalley.org

Phone Us:

Office: 705-732-6368

Animal Care/Inquiries:

​705-644-4122

Open Hours:

By Appointment Only
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Management & Staff
    • Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • News
    • Opportunities at AVWS
    • FAQ
  • Animals
    • Sanctuary Residents
    • Animals in Rehabiliation
    • Educational >
      • Educational Video
      • Living with Wildlife
      • Found an orphaned animal
      • Scavenger Hunt Activity
  • Support our Efforts
    • Guided Tours >
      • Animals at the Sanctuary
      • Guided Tours
      • Photography Tours
      • Please read before you visit
      • Family Days 2020 - Cancelled
    • Sponsor an Animal
    • Wishlist - most needed items
    • Volunteer
    • Donate a Car
    • Supporters
  • Gifts
    • 2021 Wall Calendars
    • Guided Tour Gift Certificates
    • Photography Tour Gift Certificates
    • Send an E-Card
    • T Shirts >
      • Bear T Shirt
      • Wolf T Shirt
  • Donate now
    • Nursery Fund
    • Donations of Securities
    • Wildlife in Care
    • Cailan's Adventures in Support of Wildlife
    • Frank A. Helt Memorial Fund