The native pollinator team at Wildlife Preservation Canada surveys for bumblebees. (Photo: V. MacPhail/Wildlife Preservation Canada)
In order to continue operations, staff at WPC have implemented social distancing through shift work instead of the entire staff coming to work every day. Facility managers divide and conquer to properly care for, feed, and clean the animals.
Although conservation efforts are ongoing at WPC, Matheson says the organization is no longer able to engage with community volunteers in person.
Every summer, WPC releases animals like birds, frogs, and turtles back into the wild with the assistance of community members. This crucial piece of community outreach is no longer safe under COVID-19 conditions.
“People lose the connection of why conservation is so important,” says Matheson. “When you’re actually out in the field and you’re holding a turtle in your hand, knowing you’re sending it off for its best chance at success, it becomes something emotional.”
Matheson says that emotional connection is what makes people feel so strongly about conservation efforts.
Conservation efforts at home
Even though large-scale events can’t take place, groups say people can still help out at home, whether that involves planting a tree or providing a safe haven for birds.
“There are a lot of things you can do to make your backyard bird-friendly, like plant native plants and remove invasive species,” says Holland. “You can become a backyard biologist.”
Tree Canada has offered tree seed kits and tree seedlings for citizens’ backyards wherever possible. And beginning May 1, WPC will launch a virtual learning series in the hopes of keeping the emotional connection to wildlife conservation alive.
Still, conservation experts say there is no way to judge the long term effects of the delays.