Open house this weekend at wild animal rescue centre

A Greater Victoria facility that helps wildlife on the mend is opening its doors this weekend for a behind the scenes look at animal rescue.

The B.C. SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre is inviting the public to its eighth annual open house for an up-close look at how the Metchosin-based animal rehabilitation centre operates.

The event also features a book launch by Vancouver author Nicholas Read. His book, City Critters: Wildlife in the Urban Jungle, is about how wild animals survive in areas populated by humans.

B次元官网网址淢ost of the animals that come into the ARC have been in some way impacted by humans,B次元官网网址� Wild ARC manager Kari Marks said.

While animals undergoing rehabilitation will not be available for viewing, visitors can expect to see a raptor trained to help educate the public.

Last year, Wild ARC took in almost 2,000 injured or orphaned wildlife animals. Of those, 440 came from Saanich and another 437 from Victoria while 429 were from Colwood, Langford and Metchosin.

Red and grey squirrels and raccoons are common animals brought to the centre for care, Marks said. These are mainly baby animals, often orphaned because their mothers have been removed or hurt.

Whether we realize it or not, wild animals such as skunks, raccoons and coyotes, live among us, Read said.

B次元官网网址淯rban wildlife is something that people notice from time to time. Whenever a deer arrives in your backyard, you canB次元官网网址檛 help but notice,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hose animals that we donB次元官网网址檛 expect to see in an urban area are turning up more and more often.B次元官网网址�

A self-proclaimed animal-lover, Read said heB次元官网网址檚 always been interested in animals and worries about their future.

B次元官网网址淭here are some animals, wild animals, whoB次元官网网址檝e managed to build a new life for themselves in cities and theyB次元官网网址檙e the lucky ones,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚f an animal can adapt to living in a city, well, that animal has a big advantage over a wild animal who canB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�

His book attempts to explain why urban wildlife B次元官网网址� namely black bears, deer and cougars B次元官网网址� are increasingly being encountered in heavily populated areas, Read said.

B次元官网网址淓ven though we think of cities as concrete jungles, theyB次元官网网址檙e not,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 lots of green space in cities and as long as there is some green space, there is territory for those (animals) to live.B次元官网网址�

All proceeds from the book will go to local animal charities, starting with $1,000 to the B.C. SPCA, Read said.

The open house is by donation B次元官网网址� when you register youB次元官网网址檙e given a list of items the centre needs such as liquid laundry detergent, bleach and paper towels. B次元官网网址淪ince weB次元官网网址檙e completely dependent on the public for our support, bringing things like that really does help us,B次元官网网址� Marks said.

Visitors can choose to help with the future care of an injured or orphaned animal by donating money or volunteering time.

The open house takes place Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 from noon to 4 p.m. at Wild ARC, 1020 Malloch Rd .in Metchosin.

Only 1,000 guests can be accommodated, so reservations are required. Register online at spca.bc.ca/tourwildarc or call 250-478-9453.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com