​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.
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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

“Muskoka’s shimmering blue waters, it’s majestic green pines, it’s spectacular scenery all await your discovery aboard the Sunset Cruises’ Peerless II. A whole new discovery.”- Sunset Cruises
July 29th from 3:30-5:30 pm we will be touring Lake Rosseau aboard one of the historic Sunset Cruise ships. Live commentary aboard the boat will share the history of famous lake Rosseau as well as that of the Peerless II ship.
Boarding will begin at 3:15 at the dock in Rosseau – so please arrive early. Tickets are $80.00. There will be hors d’oeuvres served aboard the ship, a cash bar, and a silent auction.
All proceeds go to help support the care of Muskoka’s orphaned and injured wildlife at the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Rosseau Ontario.
*A tax-recept will be issued for the value of $40.00 on all tickets sold.
Tickets can be purchased by calling our office at: 705-732-6368 
Our summer students Amanda and Sarah will also be at the Huntsville Place Mall this weekend for the cottage show. Please stop in to say hello! They will be there Friday (July 15th) and Saturday (July 16th). They’ll be selling merchandise, booking tours, selling tickets for our upcoming cruise,  have a game with prizes for children, and will be accepting donations of linens and monetary donations for the animals being cared for here at the Sanctuary!

Before baby season starts there is a lot to do at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition to preparing the cages and ordering the much-needed baby supplies Aspen Valley, our Managing Director and Animal Care Director travelled all the way to the NWRA Conference for some valuable continuing education. Before their departure, there was a lot of activity here at the sanctuary!
Students building squirrel boxes
At the very beginning of the month we were one of the proud recipients of the famous squirrel boxes constructed by the elementary school students at Rama Central Public School in Washago. You can see their wildlife boxes being costructed below:
CTV Barrie: Helping Orphaned Animals

The first weekend of March included the rescue of an adult deer who had fallen through the ice. Thanks to the relatively stress-free rescue and some much needed medical care from our veterinarian, staff, and volunteers the deer was able to recover and return to the wild after a short stay at the sanctuary. The deer could not wait to return to the wild and hopefully will have learned that the ice can be dangerous at this time of year!

CTV Barrie came back in the second week of March to tour Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and share with their viewers the work that is being done here. This was part of their coverage of the work that a few wildlife rehab sanctuaries in the region do to help our native wildlife species. Also included in this series is the work done by Dr. Sheri Cox, the wildlife veterinarian who provides much of the veterinary care to our wildlife patients at the sanctuary.
You can watch these videos below:
CTV Barrie: Touring Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
CTV Barrie: A Look at Animal Rehab Centres Across the Region

The month is only half over and there is still much to do here at the sanctuary. Our Directors have since returned with much inspiration from their conference and we are all looking forward to busy season at the sanctuary.

If you’d like to donate to help us continue to provide excellent wildlife rescue and rehabilitation to injured and orphaned wildlife, you can do so by clicking HERE.
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As always, thank you for your continued support!