Things are getting wild in Cochrane.
As Canada celebrates National Wildlife Week – April 10 to 16 – the Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI), the non-profit wildlife conservation, rescue, rehab and research institution, is gearing up for a new season.
Typically the wildlife refugee starts getting busy around the end of April with injured and orphaned animals and with the unusually warm weather the staff has been preparing for the influx of animals but none have been reported, said institute president Clio Smeeton said. “I’ve been talking with the surrounding area sanctuaries and so far nothing has come in yet.”
The institute is home to Gilles, the two-year-old moose that was brought in after a car accident with a leg injury in November 2014, and two mule deer that were orphaned last winter.
Most of the other wild residents have already been released back into their natural habitat – but as CEI and other Cochrane sanctuaries prepare to get busy, Smeeton said the best thing a person can do when they find an injured or orphaned animal is to not touch them.
“Do not pick up or touch the babies, especially the fawns or hares. As cute as they may be, touching them can significantly reduce their risk of survival,” Smeeton said. “Even if you are not sure, phone us and we will go and check.”
If you find injured or orphaned wildlife call CEI at 403-932-5632.
The wildlife sanctuaries in Cochrane and area;
CEI, located approximately 30 minutes northwest of Cochrane, along Township Road 280. It can be reached at 403-932-5632. Visit ceinst.org to learn more.Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC), located 35 minutes northeast of Cochrane near Madden. As a registered charity, AIWC accepts injured, orphaned or contaminated wildlife. For more information go to aiwc.ca or call 403-946-2361.Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, located on 160 acres west of Hwy 1A off of Range Rd. 53. The Wolfdog Sanctuary is an official rescue facility that also offers tours to the public. They house low-high content wolfdogs and famous Coydog, Rango (featured on Heartland). To learn more, visit yamnuskawolfdogsanctuary.com.
