The summer months were bustling with activity at the B.C. SPCAB次元官网网址檚 Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin.

In fact, it was a record-breaking season for the operation, with 30 per cent more injured animals arriving compared to last year. The last of those patients are being re-released into the wild as the autumn leaves fall and staff expect the busyness to subside during the colder months.

B次元官网网址淚t is ramping down,B次元官网网址� said Wild ARC manager Kari Marks. B次元官网网址淚t gives us a bit of a break.B次元官网网址�

But staff at the rehabilitation centre are still seeing their share of distressed patients.

This month is typically when many injured raptors, particularly owls, receive a helping hand at the centre. Marks said they treat about 80 owls in the course of a year, primarily over a four-month period beginning in October.

She attributes that to the fact many residents drive to and from work in the dark due to there being less daylight hours. These darker mornings and early evenings see nocturnal animals such as owls active at these times. They often like to hunt near roads, searching for small rodents such as mice and shrews. This conflicting timeline means these predator birds are at a higher risk of being struck by a vehicle.

B次元官网网址淧eople donB次元官网网址檛 see them swooping around B次元官网网址� and they are actively swooping around,B次元官网网址� Marks said.

A great horned owl arrived at the rehabilitation centre last month in critical condition.

Weak and unable to stand, the owl received several weeks of medical treatment and supportive care. It now is able to perch upright and eat on its own.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 fairly fatigued still,B次元官网网址� Marks said. She added, however, the bird is in the Wild ARCB次元官网网址檚 flight pen getting some exercise. She said itB次元官网网址檚 hard to predict when they might release the owl back into the wild, but figured it would need another week or two of care.

That very morning, a barred owl arrived having been struck by a vehicle. Luckily, it was not as critically injured as the horned owl and is also expected to make a full recovery. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really great feeling to see them flying off into nature,B次元官网网址� Marks said.

The two owls are expected to be part of the roughly 30 to 40 per cent of patients Wild ARC is able to rehabilitate and release back into the wild.

Unfortunately in many cases, an animalB次元官网网址檚 injuries are too severe and nothing can be done to save them. Marks said many animals are brought to them because they can humanely end their suffering. Which, in a way, is also helping them, she added.

For more information the Wild ARC, visit .

katie@goldstreamgazette.com

Mark your calendar

The B.C. SPCAB次元官网网址檚 Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre is hosting its annual Fall for Wildlife Dinner Auction at the Four Points by Victoria Sheraton Gateway Hotel on Nov. 14, from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets for the fundraiser are $80 each or $600 for a table of eight. To purchase tickets or find more information, go to .