Hope for Wildlife sees uptick in animal drop-offs as warmer months approach
It's proving to be another busy spring season at Hope for Wildlife.
The animal rehabilitation centre in Seaforth, N.S., tends to see an uptick in baby animal drop-offs this time of year.
One of those babies currently in need of care is a groundhog named Pickles.
"So, his mom was hit by a car and he was found where she was," said a staff member at Hope for Wildlife.
Pickles is fed formula about five times a day – a schedule the staff is juggling along with the needs of 400 other animals.
Many of the animals are dropped off by concerned citizens like Kristina Matthews, who noticed a baby raccoon in the middle of the road doing circles and wanted to help.
"I figured his mom might be gone or he got kind of lost, so I figured I'd bring him here to get checked out and see if he needed to be here or if they're going to release him later," said Matthews.
Hope Swinimer, the founder of Hope for Wildlife, says the centre already has several litters of raccoons this year.
"Most of our raccoons could be preventable if people would do a late winter check of their home to make sure there was no areas that raccoons could get in," said Swinimer.
According to Swinimer, raccoons tend to go to people's attics to give birth.
"People will often trap out the mom, leaving the babies orphaned, so it's always good to try to get the mom to move on her own, and you can simply play loud music and bright lights," she explained.
The staff is also caring for turtles, foxes, squirrels and even ducklings.
"I have to keep them (the ducklings) really clean because one of the biggest problems is their feathers won't develop properly if they get dirty," said Amy Honey, a staff member at Hope for Wildlife.
Swinimer says the staff is armed with the patience and skill to care for the animals, but would prefer if there wasn't a need.
"Our job is to educate people about how to avoid coming into conflict with nature," said Swinimer.
"So, it's important to remember to slow down on the roads, watch for turtles, don't live trap animals, especially this time of year because there's usually babies that will be left behind."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.