2018 Spring Newsletter

Critter Care’s much enjoyable and fascinating OPEN HOUSE is back in full force this coming July 21 & 22 after having been cancelled last year due to our extensive repairs and new building projects. There’ll be the usual guided tours with so much more to see this time round.

TIME: 11:00am – 4:00pm

ANIMAL STORIES:

On June 11th, 2017 Critter Care received a call about two baby raccoons found abandoned in a box in North Vancouver. When they arrived at Critter Care it was clear that these 3 week old babies were perfectly healthy. Unfortunately, because they were abandoned in a box there was no way to get them back with mom as they had been taken from their nest. They were started on milk feeds every 3.5 hours and kept by themselves until they got big enough to join another group. Just over a month went by and another small raccoon came in, a little bit older but around the same size so they finally got a friend!

A couple of weeks went by and Critter Care got a call about a baby raccoon stuck hanging upside down by her back leg from a tree. During his exam it was clear that his back foot was extremely swollen so he was given pain medication and a vet appointment made for the next day to check for any breaks. Fortunately for him there were no breaks but a very large abscess had started from being stuck for so long. He was quickly started on a broad spectrum antibiotic to tackle the infection. The swelling went down within the first week but the feeling in his toes never came back and he started to chew them. Two weeks later he was again taken to the vet to have a few toes removed because they became very infected and was slowing his recovery. Once his toes healed and he finished his medication he was introduced to the 3 smaller raccoons, he very quickly assumed the role of big brother.

All four raccoons are still in our care, eating lots, playing lots and thriving! They will be released in early spring.

Tubey the Coyote

On October 27th, 2017 Critter Care received a call about a coyote spotted running around a field in Abbotsford with a black tube stuck around his head. At first Critter Care staff was uneasy about going because coyotes that are still fully mobile will still outsmart a group of people even with something stuck over its head. However, by the sound of his condition he had been stuck like this for at least 5 days and was starting to get weak so the staff at Critter Care sent a rescue team out and were able to catch him.

Once the coyote arrived it was clear that he was skinny, and had severe cuts and abrasions caused by the tube. After the first few days a few of his wounds didn’t seem to be getting any better so a vet appointment was made for him, not even 48 hours after seeing the vet his wounds around his neck and on the top of his head started to heal as he remained on antibiotics and pain management medication for 2 weeks. All of his wounds are now healed and he is awaiting nice weather to be released back into the wild.

Skunk Stuck in a Garbage Bin:

November 8th, 2017 Critter Care received a call about a skunk with his head stuck in a garbage bin drainage hole. A rescue team went out to the North Vancouver grocery store to free the skunk. Staff had to sedate the skunk on site in order for him to relax enough to slide him out of the hole. He was then brought back to the center for a full exam and a warm place to sleep off the sedation. He was kept two days to be monitored and well fed before returning to the wild injury free.

Stephen the Opossum:

On November 9th, 2017 Stephen was brought to Critter Care, by a member of the public, after being viciously attacked by a cat. During his exam it was discovered that a part of his lower jaw was broken, and he had a very large wound on his back plus a couple of superficial wounds on his legs.

Normally in the case of a broken jaw the animal is humanely euthanized because they are unable to survive in the wild, as their mouths are used not only for eating but also as protection. However, this little guys’ case the break was so far forward that we were able to take him to the vet and have it removed without affecting his ability to eat or defend himself. While at the vet his back was also cleaned, sutured and closed. He is currently on antibiotics and pain management medication as he underwent a major surgery but he’s now on the mend. He is expected to make a full recovery!

Granny the Coyote

On November 15th 2017, Critter Care received a call about an injured Coyote in Abbotsford; she was found lying in someone’s garage shaking and cold. When we got her back to the center we found her in rough shape! She was immediately put on heat and after a couple hours she started to warm up and staff were able to give her a full exam. She was missing most of her fur, had multiple scabby wounds, covered head to toe in ticks and mites, unable to stand and extremely emaciated. She was started on a round of antibiotics; kept warm with food on hand at all times and after only a week started to show improvements. February 14, 2018, now 3 months later, she is healthy, fat, fully furred and running around enjoying her space in our coyote enclosure awaiting nicer weather for release.

Thor the Opossum (Update)

Remember back in September 2017, Critter Care received a call about 6 baby opossums found in their dead mothers pouch after she became the victim of a dog attack? Well they are still here! When Thor and his siblings first arrived at Critter Care they only weighed 50 grams, their eyes were still closed, they didn’t have any teeth, and they were being fed every few hours.

They now have all 50 of their teeth, are being fed twice a day and weigh over 3 kilograms! As soon as the weather warms up Thor and his siblings will be released back into the wild to start their own little journey.

On Thursday November 23rd, Critter Care staff were called out to a beaver that had been seen for at least 3 days at the Port of Surrey. It would not be unusual to see beavers in this area except that this particular beaver was in the port taking up residence under a roll-off bin in a flooded part of the concrete yard.

There was also the potential that he was seen limping. When the Critter Care team (Supervisor Breanne and interns Mitsuki and Farah) arrived the Beaver was is a perfect place for rescuing. Breanne ran knee deep into the water with the net, scooped up the beaver and got him over to the dry side where the interns were waiting with a kennel. Breanne and Farah held the net while Mitsuki opened the kennel.

This is where “Murphy’s Law” kicked in. The kennel door fell off, Mitsuki struggled to get it back on, while this was happening, the Beaver found a hole in the net and escaped. Breanne jumped back into the water to get him but he was too fast and disappeared under the roll-off bin. It took 2 hours of standing in knee deep water and brain storming ideas and trying to outsmart him, finally sliding scraps of wood we could find up the bins’ rail to flush him out worked.

He was treated for some wounds and released a few weeks later.

Linda the Beaver

On February 3rd, 2018, Critter Care received a call about an injured Beaver spotted near Stanley Park. Staff members called a local volunteer to go and check it out and after successfully capturing it the volunteer then transported the Beaver to Critter Care. Once here staff gave her a full exam noticing some pretty severe wounds to her back and side. It is quite a common injury to see on young Beavers this time of year as they are being kicked out of their home (dam) to make room for this year’s babies. She was started on antibiotics for any underlying infection and honey was applied to the wounds to help speed the healing process.

After only 10 days she has finished her round of antibiotics and her wounds are looking amazing. She will stay with us for a few more weeks to be sure her wounds are fully healed and to give her time to fatten up before being released back to the wild. 

It seems the poor Beavers out there are having a tough time this winter as on Saturday February 17th, 2018 Critter Care was called out again to an injured beaver in a park. Breanne and intern Ann from Montreal quickly went out and met 2 women at the park entrance. They unloaded their gear and took to the trail following the women to where their friend was staying with the Beaver. Every turn was “we are almost there”. After about a 15-20 minute walk they came up to where the Beaver was and he was in very bad shape.

He was easy to lead into the crate but now came the hard part, carrying him all the way back to the truck. Breanne and Ann started carrying him but struggled and were slipping in the mud. That’s when the 3 amazing members of the public offered to take more time out of their day to help carry the Beaver and rescue equipment all the way back. After many breaks and laughing and maybe crying and 30-35 minutes everyone made it to the truck.

Unfortunately this poor creature succumbed to its injuries despite all the efforts made to help him. Even though the ending was very sad, it is a wonderful thing to see when people show compassion and take the time to help our wildlife. 

SPECIAL THANKS:

Critter Care would like to extend its heart felt gratitude and warm bear hugs to the Burke Mountain Naturalists for their amazing donation generated through their Annual General Meeting & Silent Auction held in early December.

Vice President of Burke Mountain Naturalists, Christina Saremba presents their cheque to Critter Care’s President, Maureen Binnie.

We recommend you learn more about BMN by going to their website at www.burkemountainnaturalists.ca

WIX BROWN ELEMENTARY:            

Bear Hugs go out to the students of Wix Brown Elementary for their wonderful donation to the animals.

Representing the students are Left to Right, Derek, Matthew, Justin and Alyse who said the funds were raised through donation bins, movie night and meet the teachers’ night activities.

Critter Care’s Gold Club:

Help yourself and help the animals too by signing up to Critter Cares’ Gold Club. Learn more about the Gold Club by going to www.CritterCareGoldClub.org .