Five baby raccoons curl up on a Barbie-themed blanket, their paws overlapping as they sleep peacefully beside a stuffed hermit crab. An orphaned North American porcupine drinks from a syringe, eagerly grabbing the plastic tool while standing on its hind legs. A bobcat jumps out of an open crate, running free into the wild. These are common visuals on the Instagram page of Hope for Wildlife, a charitable wildlife rehabilitation and education organization located in Seaforth, N.S. 

The organization’s social media page has more than 1,100 posts, each image showcasing the vital work being done to provide ongoing care for wildlife in Canada. Like many other rehabilitation centres across the country, Hope for Wildlife is a non-profit that aims to release animals back into the wild. Whether it’s a tiny leopard frog or the beloved black bear, the centre acknowledges the vital role each animal has in our country’s ecosystems. 

Since 1997, Hope for Wildlife has rescued, rehabilitated, and released more than 85,000 injured and orphaned wild animals. These animals represent more than 250 species in the centre for different reasons: window strikes, injuries from roaming pets, orphaned, displaced, environmental factors, etc. Sometimes, it is simply because people don’t want wildlife species on their property. But no matter the reason for intake, the end goal is always the same: return them to the wild. 

However, amongst the thousands of success stories, there is also heartbreak. Some patients have a promising outlook and go through months of care and treatment, all for a sudden infection to claim their lives. Dealing with death and euthanasia is a common occurrence but never easy. 

Rehabbers themselves have a big responsibility: safeguarding and conserving native animal populations. Each staff member has an in-depth understanding of ecology and wildlife behaviour, enabling them to provide extraordinary care for their patients. Their most important role, however, is educating and inspiring the public about local wildlife. 

Most cases are due to human-related situations, like vehicle collisions, so one way to alleviate damages caused by people is through education. When animals are treated at the centre, staff members collect a wide range of data that provides valuable insights into the health of populations. Wildlife admissions also give rehabbers valuable information on where frequent animal-vehicle collisions occur. They can advise the public where to drive with caution, protecting both wildlife and people.

With a mission of connecting people to wildlife in a positive way through knowledge and understanding, Hope for Wildlife believes that education through rehabilitation is the key to a sustainable future. By teaching the public about the different ways to prevent wildlife incidents, steps can be taken to decrease the amount of intake the centre experiences. For example, stickers can be added to windows to prevent bird collisions, or loud music can be played to deter raccoons from calling the attic of a house “home.” 

Concerned individuals often bring in baby animals, assuming they are orphans. Hope for Wildlife is trying to teach people that not every young or baby animal found needs rescuing. More often than not, the baby has been intentionally left by the parent, who is simply out searching for food. There are solutions for many of the issues the centre runs into; people just need to be educated. 

Run-ins with wildlife will continue as our societies develop and encroach on wilderness areas. Many animals have already learned how to adapt to human presence and have become successful members of the urban environment. However, rather than eradicating wildlife around communities, individuals can learn how to peacefully co-exist thanks to the help of organizations like Hope for Wildlife.