This May, the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC), an animal hospital located near the Rocky View County (RVC) community of Madden, is putting on a fundraiser that is meant to supply the group with enough funds to support hundreds of new born wildlife.
For the AIWC, May means it's time for the 14th annual Wildlife Baby Shower Fundraiser. It is exactly what one might think it is–a time to raise money to support hundreds of babies born during the summer months–a time of year that the AIWC says is its busiest support period.
“We see a massive increase in animals being born in patients,” said AIWC spokesperson Scottie Potter. “We started this month with 12 [patients] and we will probably have 100 by the end of the month and continuing into June.”
Late spring and early summer is a prime period for the birthing of wildlife in the region, and Potter said the Baby Shower Fundraiser is “critical” to the operation of the AIWC during these months.
The AIWC is hoping to raise $25,000 by the end of the month, but what may seem as a stressful period for the employees and volunteers of the animal hospital is also a period of celebration. Potter said that May is the return of “baby season” for the vast majority of animals in southern Alberta.
“The $25,000 goes towards making sure these babies have everything they need in order to survive,” Potter told the Cochrane Eagle. “This fundraiser is absolutely key to ensuring we can take care of these wildlife babies.
Many of the AIWC’s patients are injured and orphaned animals, and some, due to the condition upon which they arrive in, have extended stays that require more focused care. Potter said this part of the year is the most resource intensive period for the AIWC. The money raised will allow them to bring on more staff and volunteers and to supply more food and administer medical attention.
From the end of April to mid-June the AIWC says it sees a 600 per cent increase of wildlife patient admissions, most of which are recently orphaned.
“Our clinic staff and volunteers can expect to care for a variety of animal species during this busy season, from black bear cubs to songbird chicks,” said the AIWC in a press release. “Most young animals are orphaned due to human causes, including vehicle collisions, domestic cat or dog attacks, window strikes, and even accidental kidnappings, which happens when a well intentioned human takes a healthy baby animal from the wild.”
The AIWC said its wildlife baby patients can take months, or even years to rehabilitate, requiring food, medication, specialized housing, and cost anywhere from $100 to over $1,000 to rear until release.
For some animals that find themselves in AIWC’s care, it’s not just a quick visit, for some that need more attention, like newborns and other infant wildlife, they require more time and resources. Potter said the AIWC has been caring for a baby beaver that was admitted into their care last year, and Potter predicts that the animal will be with them another year longer.
Potter said the vast amount of funds the AIWC raises throughout the year comes from small single donors who give a dollar here and a dollar there. They’re not asking for a lot of upfront money, just enough to help.
“Even a small amount helps,” Potter said. “People can really make a difference with whatever they have available.”
The AIWC Baby Shower Fundraiser runs until the end of May, but the organization will accept donations well after that. Anyone looking to donate can do so at the AIWC website.
