As animals come out of hibernation and babies are born the likelihood of encountering wildlife in your neck of the woods increases dramatically. If you find a baby animal alone, there is a good chance the mother will come back.  Unattended baby hares or baby squirrels, for instance, might indicate that the mothers are foraging for food to bring back, or are staying away intentionally to not attract predators to their locations.

​This past winter, Aspen averaged 60 rehab animals in care at all times.  A number of species, such as bears, otters, moose, and beavers are not self reliant until at least one year-of-age, which means overwintering at the Sanctuary is a must.  Yet, with spring upon us, and the weather warming, many of these animals have been (or will soon be) released back into the wild.  

Pictured here is one of our first arrivals this spring — an injured otter who is fighting for his life after being hit by a truck. We’ve got you little one.  Please remember to keep an eye open for wildlife when behind the wheel! Drive safely.  

​Smaller mammals, such as porcupines, raccoons, squirrels, opossums, and chipmunks make up the rest of our existing rehab numbers. It’s been a long rehab process for many of these critters, but they’re ready to go back to the wild.  Pictured here are two recent releases:  our raccoon friend who (along with four buddies) overwintered with us, and a porcupine known fondly as Sarah Juniper, who spent the winter with us after being injured. Take care, little buddies.  Adieu to you and you. 

​Our semi-aquatic mammals are always high in numbers, with seven otters and eight beavers having overwintered with us. Both species were set up in indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities to meet their in-shelter and swimming needs. These otters will be heading home any day now. Interestingly, otters are our only soft-release, semi-aquatic mammals.  This means that we house them in a temporary outdoor enclosure on the lake into which they are being released. After approximately one week, we open the door, and continue to support them with food until they are able to hunt enough fish on their own.  

Our beloved Tippy is a western coyote, and tour favourite.  Tippy loves to showcase his howling skills, and if you’re lucky, Tippy just might kick-start a wolf howl among the two packs in our care.  Super cool!  Born in Alberta, Tippy was found orphaned by a member of the public. After caring for Tippy in their home for some time, Tippy became one friendly pup. He was later brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Alberta where the staff at the facility did their best to re-wild him. Unfortunately, despite introducing him to other wild coyotes, Tippy was always more interested in people.  He was never going to “wild up” enough for re-lease, and it was time to find a permanent home for him.  
After endless searching, and no luck finding an appropriate facility in western Canada, the facility took their search east, and Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary was contacted. At the time, we had a female western coyote named Zoe (also habituated to humans), and we thought Tippy would make a great companion for her.  Plans were put in place, and with approval from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Tippy was flown home to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary at six months-of-age. Unfortunately, Zoe didn’t want anything to do with our best-laid plans. She was clearly less than impressed with this younger, more energetic, people-loving personality, so Tippy was built a home of his own within earshot of his many canine companions.      
Going on eight years-of-age, Tippy has helped to educate hundreds, if not thousands, of people on coyote behaviour, co-existence, and the natural history of coyotes in Canada. We love you Tippy!  

​We are grateful for money raised during our Nursery Fund Campaign, which was kicked off on December 1, 2020 (Giving Tuesday). Your gifts, totaling $7,000, enabled us to purchase four additional incubators and an oxygen machine.  This will allow us to continue meeting the needs of our ever-increasing patient population. 

As a bonus, your generosity also allowed us to purchase video-monitoring equipment, which will enable the animal-care team to remotely monitor behaviours, especially for nocturnal animals, and assess their recovery process while minimizing disruption.   ​

Instead of succumbing, they migrated and bounced back in greater numbers then ever before. Heading east, the west-ern coyote bred with the Algonquin (eastern) wolf and created the eastern coyote – a hybrid that we see today in the urban and rural areas of Ontario.   
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The coyote is extremely adaptable to a variety of living situations, including city life. Its diet varies, and some peo-ple say they are more omnivores than carnivores. Smaller prey, such as rodents, make up a large part of their diet. Not surprisingly, this makes the city a relatively easy place to live given plentiful mice and few predators with which to compete.   
Coyotes are monogamous, and a breeding pair will stay with one another for life and raise pups together each spring. The number of pups born each spring is reliant on the territory available. Eradicating the coyote altogether will not work. When coyotes are removed from an area, numbers can recover from a combination of increased litter size and from other dispersing coyotes moving in and filling vacant territories. Case in point: one female coyote is on record for giving birth to 19 pups at one time! Now that’s re-population. With their ability to control the rodent populous, why wouldn’t we want them around?  

To learn more about coyotes and how to coexist with them, visit www.coyotewatchcanada.com

Spring is here, and that means our forests, waterways, fields, and possibly our homes and cottages will be hosting young wildlife.  

The species that we get the most calls about this time of year is the raccoon. In a single season, Aspen Valley Wild-life Sanctuary can take in as many as 200 raccoon babies (kits).  Some kits are sadly orphaned due to homeowners trapping and removing nursing moms and not realizing that they had babies. This creates an even bigger problem. Encouraging raccoons to move on their own is a much more humane way of handling these unwanted houseguests.   

What to Do? 
First of all, it’s good to know that raccoons have more than one den in their territories and have other places they can take their babies. You simply need to give them a chance. Mom raccoons love dark, quiet spots to raise their kits. So, if you’d like them to wrap up their stay, you’ll want to make their den the complete opposite to encourage mom and babies to move elsewhere.
It usually takes a combination of the following: 
• a “talk” radio station on at all times (no music)
• a non-flammable light source
• the introduction of uncomfortable smells, such as apple cider vinegar, which you can soak on rags and put in a plastic bag with holes.

Ideally, if you are able to give the mom raccoon time, her babies will be climbing and following her out of the den at around 8-10 weeks-of-age. Do not repair the entrance they are using until you are sure that they are all outside.  Doing so will result in considerable damage from the mother trying to get in and/or a slow, inhumane death for her young.   
For additional information, contact our animal care line at 705-644-4122, or visit our education pages on this site where you’ll find tips – including how to handle anything from deer in your garden, to a bear in your backyard or beavers in the boat-house.

​Without the caring, responsible commitment and dedication of our volunteers, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary would not be able to do what we do each and every day.   
On a daily basis, we rely on both full and part-time volunteers to help with everything from animal care, fundraising, driving for animal transfers, tour guiding, and more. Every job is important, no matter how small.   

Thanks to the gift of time and hard work, every volunteer helps give wildlife a second chance.
Click here to see what you might do and learn as a volunteer, and how to apply. 

Catherine, what is the most interesting wildlife fact that you have learned while volunteering at Aspen?
​This is my fourth year at Aspen, I spend lots of time there all through the year. I have learned that all animals have special adaptations for winter. Those that don't hibernate have features such as large paws for dealing with deep snow, colour changes to blend with the snow, and thick layers of fur to tolerate the cold weather. Other than bears, the animals at Aspen are most visible and active during winter. Foxes, wolves, coyotes, lynx, bobcats, and moose all enjoy winter very much. 

What is your favourite animal and why? Those who know me realize I love all animals; but unquestionably, bears are my favourite. I have spent many years researching and studying bears, and being at Aspen allows me to spend a lot of time with them. I also work for Bear With Us Centre For Bears on the Education/Outreach Team. 

What "Keeping Wildlife Wild" tip would you like to  share?
​The number one tip for keeping wildlife wild is, “Don't Feed Wildlife” - either on purpose, or inadvertently by leaving trash or pet food unsecured, or using bird feeders in the sum-mer.  Feeding wildlife often results in a death sentence for the animal, as it may be deemed a threat to people, pets, and property. 
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A special thank you to Catherine and to all of our amazing volunteers.  We couldn't do it without you.  If you wish to apply to be a volunteer please click here and fill out a form.  ​

Having made it to the end of our Spring 2021 issue, we’ll hazard a guess that you love wildlife as much as we do. As a not-for-profit, we receive no government funding and are solely dependent on the generosity of donors such as you to care for these injured and orphaned animals.   
There are many ways to donate.  You might consider an online donation, or browse our Amazon wish list to purchase a much-needed gift for our animals in care. Opportunities also exist to sponsor permanent residents or our animals in rehabilitation. We also accept the donation of securities and bequests, and love when friends of Aspen Valley initiate fundraisers of their own, such as “Cailan’s Adventures in Support of Wildlife” (also featured on our website).  

As always Thanks For Reading!
Stay tuned on our Facebook and Instagram pages for more updates.

Shared from muskoka411.com/start/aspen-wildlife-seeks-volunteers-and-other-support-as-impacts-of-pandemic-hit-sanctuary/

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is seeking more volunteers to do maintenance work as the sanctuary faces their busiest time of year with a shortage of full-time volunteers.
The Rosseau-based sanctuary has minimal staff with only two full-time employees and a handful of part-time staff, said Linda Glimps, director of fundraising and volunteer management for Aspen Valley, so they rely heavily on volunteers. It’s a particularly busy time for the sanctuary as they attempt to maintain their property while also caring for over 200 animals in their rehabilitation program as well as 30 permanent wildlife residents. The sanctuary usually hosts 16 full-time volunteers that reside on the property during the summer, but because nearly half of these volunteers are international students, last minute cancellations caused by COVID-19 travel restrictions have left the sanctuary short of full-time help. 
The sanctuary has placed some animals with foster families in the community to help address the shortage, but they’re also asking members of the community to help out with maintenance work at the sanctuary.

Photo courtesy of Linda Glimps“If they have skills, that’s great, and if they don’t have skills but they’re not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty, we welcome them as well,” Glimps said. “When people approach us and they want to volunteer, we take that as a blessing and we take that as an opportunity. There is usually always something to do [at] the sanctuary where we will find a fit for somebody who is wanting to volunteer.”
The message extends to those under 18 as well, as long as they have a guardian who can work alongside them. Volunteers under 18 aren’t able to participate in the sanctuary’s animal care program, but Glimps said they’ll always find a way to get young people involved in their work. Some students have spent their own time gathering acorns and pinecones for the staff to feed to wildlife, she said, while others have fulfilled volunteer hours doing things like yard work or cleaning animal carriers.
“We will always look for volunteer opportunities, regardless of people’s age,” Glimps said. “We want to foster those relationships. We don’t want to curb any enthusiasm with anybody who is young who wants to help wildlife.”
Whether it’s repairing equipment, building new enclosures or cutting the grass, Glimps says there are many different tasks ready for volunteers at the sanctuary. Some locals that were out of work due to the pandemic offered to volunteer in March and April, but their options for volunteer work were limited by the remaining snow on the property. Now is the perfect time to get people out to the sanctuary, Glimps said.
Maintenance volunteers are only working outside and don’t have access to the Aspen Valley’s facilities or full-time volunteers to ensure there isn’t an outbreak of COVID-19 at the sanctuary. Staff are also making sure that the tasks given to maintenance workers allow them to observe proper social distancing recommendations while working on the 460-acre property.
In addition to the shortage of volunteers, the pandemic has also led to a decline in revenue for the sanctuary. One of the ways they raise money is through guided tours, which are on hold due to the pandemic. About 83 per cent of their ticket sales come in the summer, so that along with a dip in donations means money is tighter than usual at the sanctuary. For those who want to support their work but don’t have the time or ability to volunteer, the sanctuary’s Wildlife In Care fund provides a way to donate money directly to the sanctuary to support their operations and their animals.

Cat enclosure under construction. Photo courtesy of Linda Glimps“It gives us the flexibility to spend the money where it’s most needed,” Glimps said. “For instance, right now, we are very busy with the intake of injured and orphaned wildlife. This is a very expensive time of year for us with their rehabilitation, and so having the funds in our general Wildlife In Care fund allows us to use that money as it’s needed.”
Sanctuary staff recognize that the pandemic is affecting businesses and families financially, Glimps said, so it’s important to remember that you can still support the sanctuary even if you’re unable to make a donation or volunteer your time.
“It doesn’t mean that you still can’t be an advocate,” she said. “It doesn’t mean that you still can’t share our Facebook posts or any of our Instagram social media postings. Get the word out that if you’re talking with your neighbour and they think that they have an injured animal and don’t know what to do, call us for advice. We’re available 365 days a year, we never close.”
Glimps said she’s always surprised to find that so many people are not aware of the sanctuary when staff attend community events. The more people that are aware of the sanctuary, the more wildlife they can help, so she hopes that the community will rally behind the sanctuary however they’re able, whether it’s volunteering, making a donation or simply spreading the word.
“Wildlife do need care,” Glimps said. “There’s more traffic on the roads, there’s more development that is happening up in this area and development disrupts wildlife…we are a community service that definitely needs to be sustained so that we can continue to do what we do.”
Visit Aspen Valley’s website to apply as a volunteer, make a donation or learn more about the sanctuary. Aspen Valley is also looking for a volunteer Facilities Program Manager – click here to learn more about the role.

Shared From:https://muskoka411.com/start/port-carling-teen-to-kayak-75-kilometres-as-fundraiser-for-aspen-valley-wildlife-sanctuary/

​Fall is here which means we are wrapping up with our busiest time of year— orphaned animal season in the spring and summer. This year we have been successful in rehabilitating orphaned wildlife from deer fawns to raccoons to otters to foxes, and more! So far this year we have taken in over 600 animals in need and our staff and volunteers worked around the clock to give them each a fighting chance of returning to the wild one day.

​Most releases have been completed by this time of year some of which included beavers, otters, black bears, grey squirrels, red squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, deer fawns, foxes, ground hogs, rabbits, turtles, mink, skunks, and porcupines.  Those who are too small to be released this fall will stay with us over winter and return to the wild in the spring when homes and food are abundant. 

We’ve also been busy on our permanent resident side of the sanctuary building updated enclosures and keeping everyone healthy and enriched. This Summer our sanctuary’s permanent family grew by twenty when we took in non-releasable animals that were seized from a roadside zoo. To meet some of our new residents, and hear more about our busy rehab season, keep on reading! 

 You filled our shelves to the brim with Amazon Wishlist donations this year.  Thank you!
We were able to save over $1,100 just in baby pablum for our orphaned animals, which allowed us to put money into other much-needed rehabilitation supplies at the sanctuary.  Our animals (especially our orphaned raccoons) were so enriched by all of the baby rattles and washable toys you sent along as well. Your support made such a difference to us this season. We cannot thank you enough.   We will continue to keep our Amazon Wishlist updated with our current needs. 

Thanks to Gordon and Patricia Gray the non-releasable lynx and bobcat residents are now enjoying their new natural enclosure! As residents of Aspen Valley since 2013, Jinx, Jardica, and Monty were due for an enclosure update. It’s been a pleasure to see them enriched by their new surroundings with more room to prance and play. Thank you to everyone who donated to make this possible. 

We were in need of a new space to rehabilitate injured and orphaned moose calves and deer fawns. With the help of all of you, you donated $15,000 for a new barn designed for our rehab needs! While we had no orphaned moose calves this season, we did have six orphaned deer fawns who enjoyed their rehab in the new space before moving to their outdoor pre-release enclosure. 

In 2018 we had an overwhelming attendance on our Open House days which made it difficult for us to provide you with a great experience in seeing our permanent wildlife, providing parking, etc. This year, we changed our "open house" policy and created "Family Days" instead.

​Each family is asked to pre-register to save their space; four were held through the spring and summer season. We had a great response to this new approach, so you can look out for more Family Days throughout 2020!  Thanks to those of you who attended this year and made them a success. 

Thanks For Reading!
Stay tuned on our Facebook and Instagram pages for more updates.

​Spring is finally here, which means our nurseries will begin to fill with many orphaned critters in need. Litters of raccoon kits, nests of baby squirrels, young porcupines, and more, all have something in common… they’ve lost their parents and they’re hungry! It is through these upcoming months that our staff and volunteers will work tirelessly to replace their mothers care and return them to the wild as strong and healthy adults. We can’t wait to see what this season has in store for us and our new, wild patients. 

Want to help us stock up for “orphaned baby season”? We’re in need of donations!      
Many of our orphans use Gerber’s pablum (wheat or rice cereal) as a transition tool from formula to solid foods. All fruit flavours are greatly useful! Also, non-flavoured “Pedialyte” electrolyte drink helps rehydrate animals who arrive into our care malnourished. These items will help us save lives! If you are able, please consider donating. (See our Amazon Wishlist for much more!). 

Spring Fundraising Campaign! Online Silent Auction happening now until May 23, 2019
As a non-profit organization without government funding, we rely on donations from concerned citizens like you to make our work possible. Our spring fundraising campaign this year is an online silent auction starting April 8th and runs until May 23rd at 8:00 pm.  Money raised will go directly to the rehabilitation of wildlife until their release back into the wild. To join our silent auction, visit our website’s home page during the duration of the event for a link to the auction site. 

Our Permanent Resident Family 
​Not only is Aspen Valley a stepping stone for animals in need on their way back to the wild, but a permanent sanctuary for many who are un-releasable. Surrenders from zoos or private ownerships, habituated to humans, declawed or otherwise physically impeded; are of the many factors that can lead to a wild animal being unfit for release. We are open to the public by appointment only so give us a call and our staff will be glad to schedule a guided tour for you and your family and friends!

NEW Family Days - A CHANGE to our approach!
In 2018 we had an overwhelming attendance on our Open House days which made it difficult for us to provide you with a great experience in seeing our permanent wildlife, providing parking, etc.  We are changing our "open house" policy and creating "Family Days" instead.  Each family is asked to pre-register to save their space.  

This year we will be holding Family Summer Days on May 19, June 30, August 4 and September 1. 
We ask that you pre-register to book your guided tour. 

​Update on the Bobcat enclosure:  due to long and harsh winter conditions, construction of the new natural enclosure for our non-releasable lynx and bobcat residents has been delayed.
With the hope of spring just around the corner we will be back on track soon!

This past winter, a doe was spotted in Huntsville, Ontario with a wire ring stuck around her chest. A local family contacted our rescue team and with the local’s help we planned the rescue. After five attempts, the doe was finally tranquilized and with closer inspection, the wire was found to be a tomato cage, imbedding itself deeply into her skin. Once sedated she was placed on oxygen, the wire was removed, and the wounds were treated with topical ointment, pain medicine, and an injection of long-lasting 

Thanks for Reading! We love catching-up with the friends who make our work possible.  Drop us a line or book a tour today.  And every little donation helps us to help wildlife.

We are excited to announce that the Gordon and Patricia Gray Animal Welfare Foundation has donated a total of $30 000 over 3 years towards the care of the animals at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Money from the grant will be put towards the upgrades that are currently in progress on our lynx and bobcat enclosures. 

The Gordon and Patricia Gray Animal Welfare Foundation is 100% committed to providing support for those engaged in the conservation, education, and rehabilitation of all wildlife. They are one of the few foundations that provide funding for all species of wildlife - from fish to butterflies! We are grateful to have their support!
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Above: Image of current lynx/bobcat enclosure 
Below: Current progress on the new lynx/bobcat enclosure

This past year you helped us make huge strides for injured and orphaned wildlife. You donated what you could, shared the updates we posted on Facebook, joined us on our new Instagram account, visited the sanctuary for a tour of our permanent residents, engaged with us out in the community, and so much more! Your thoughtful support has helped us take in over 750 wild animals in need in 2018.

​Your support ensures that the animals will get the help that you would want them to receive. What wild animals in need will we save together this coming year?! If you’ve already made your annual donation this year, thank you and please enjoy this update!

Many folks know Aspen Valley for our wildlife rehabilitation work on-site at our sanctuary in Rosseau, ON. Others, though, have met us through our community work, where we help wildlife that doesn't necessarily need to come to the sanctuary for care.
Some of these instances include:

• Many daily calls and emails from the public 
• Lending live-traps and demonstrating their use for the rescue of injured or orphaned animals
• Responding to calls that require us to go off-site and rescue animals ourselves. This commonly occurs when animals are struck by vehicles on the road or when orphaned by hunters.
• Freeing animals in distressful situations.
• Working with other agencies (ex. Parks Canada, bear cubs).
• Attending events to give educational talks about co-existing with wildlife.

We love catching-up with the friends who make our work possible! Thank you again for an incredible 2018. We look forward to your on-going support in 2019, and beyond! It’s going to be another great year of expansion and saving wildlife! 

Still a mystery how the 3 cubs got trapped in the outhouse
By Tricia Lo, CBC News

Three baby bears found trapped in a Banff washroom are packing on the pounds and adjusting well in their temporary Ontario home, says one of the people overseeing their rehabilitation.
The cubs have roughly tripled in weight from six to 18 kilograms since their April arrival at the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, north of Toronto.
Sara Locke, who's worked with the bears from the beginning, says they spend their days eating fruit, digging for peanuts and playing in their enclosure pool.
"They're just loving swimming," Locke said. "I can hardly keep up with dry straw in their enclosure, because they just run around soaking all the time.
"They're doing really well."
The cubs were roughly three months old when were discovered by a motorist who stopped to use a public bathroom while travelling along the Trans-Canada Highway on April 1.

• Bear cubs trapped in washroom mystify Banff park officials
• Banff washroom bear cubs Ontario-bound

Parks Canada made the decision to send them to a rehabilitation centre in Ontario, with the hopes of eventually re-introducing them to Banff National Park.
​
Minimizing bear-human contactLocke said her organization communicates closely with Parks Canada about the bears' status. Parks Canada has even been sending plants that are native to Alberta so the bears can eat them.
"The hope is that the plants from [Banff] that are being flown in, they'll recognize them when they get back to [Banff] as that being their food source," Locke said. 

Because the plan is to reintroduce the bears to Banff National Park next spring, staff and volunteers have taken extra care to minimize their interactions with the cubs so that they do not become habituated to human contact. 
"When we were handling them when they were younger, we would wear a poncho that smelled like one of our other bears," Locke said.
Staff and volunteers see the bears just twice a day to give them food and clean their enclosure, and they're always careful to wear a mask when around the cubs, Locke said.
Upsizing their living quartersThe three bears will move to a new outdoor enclosure by the end of the month, which is larger than their current living space and has trees for the cubs to climb.
The plan is for them to spend the winter there in hibernation, before they're driven back to Banff. 

The bears had to be temporarily transported out of province because Alberta effectively outlawed the rehabilitation of bears about six years ago, citing concerns over public safety and how the animals fare in the wild once they've become habituated to humans.
Alberta wildlife refuges are forbidden from taking bears and releasing them back into the wild without special permission from the provincial government.

• 24 orphaned bear cubs euthanized in 5 years because of Alberta policy

Parks Canada said it chose the Aspen Valley rehabilitation centre because that organization has sufficient space, expertise and a track record of success with this sort of situation.

​http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/banff-bear-cubs-bathroom-update-1.4210492

Over the past month, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary has admitted 6 bears for to our facility for care. Bears have been getting injured on roadways while they are seeking food.
This summer was very dry and food for the bears this year is scarce. This means bears are travelling more than usual in search of food to help them get through the winter.
Please be conscious of putting away any food sources that bears may be interested in and keep your barbecues and other attractants clean.
Thank you to CTV Barrie for coming out and helping us spread the word!
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Watch the CTV Barrie post here