The Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) has been a champion for injured and orphaned wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation and release.
In 2025, their efforts have been more impactful than ever, reflecting a deepened commitment to their vital mission, which is to preserve the legacy of wildlife.
"We are in the midst of our busy season," Executive Director of the AIWC Holly Lillie said.
While AIWC is open year around, their peak season for animal admissions is typically from May till September.
"Already this year, we have just passed over 1,500 animals that were admitted into our care," Lillie said. "And typically by the end of the year, we'll be around 2,000 or just under 2,000 intakes."
Just on August 6, 2025, AIWC had over 100 animals at the facility.
Often the majority of animals at the facility are birds with rest being small to minimum sized mammals.
"We see a lot of foam birds that people would be used to seeing in their backyards like robins, chickadees, magpies, crows..." Lillie said. "We also see waterfowl like mallards, geese and so forth."
When it comes to mammals, AIWC has seen a surge in admissions of mountain cottontails at the facility, which are a species of rabbit that are not domesticated.
"We've seen a huge increase in mountain cottontails this year, so they must be going through a population groom," Lillie said. "We've also seen other animals like squirrels, foxes, lots and lots of deer fawns, and black bears as well."
AIWC currently has three black bears; two females and one male. Moreover, the facility is actively providing care to several red foxes.
"I would say 95 per cent of our animals came to us as a result of human conflict in some way," Lillie said.
That said, Lillie says, they have a hooded merganser duck at present that is a patient because they were found tangled in discarded fishing lines.
At this time of the year, AIWC received a huge variety of species and a majority of them are typically babies or younger juveniles.
However, as AIWC gets through the summer, into the fall and winter season, Lillie says, they will start to see more injured adults and potentially injured juveniles that are either struggling to defy winter or due to other factors during migration entering into fall transition period.
AIWC currently has over 125 active volunteers in various roles. Many of them volunteer in AIWC clinics. They are responsible for doing everything from preparing food for the patients, washing dishes, laundry, and more.
"We really want to keep our facilities as clean as possible to give the animals the best chance of recovery," Lillie said.
A couple weeks ago, AIWC received a woodchuck that hitchhiked a ride in the car and made its way to Calgary, which is not the best habitat for him.
An AIWC volunteer made an eight hour rough trip to release the woodchuck back into a suitable habitat. Volunteers contribute greatly to the mission AIWC has been committed to for years now.
"We're going to continue to see animals impacted and needing held, especially as we go into migration seasons because that's when animals start to move to their winter grounds and are more likely to become injured as they are travelling," Lillie said.
Lillie encourages people to call 403-946-2361, which is the wildlife hotline number for Calgary and surrounding area or visit www.aiwc.ca for more information or to report an injured animal in the region.
For people looking to support the AIWC in monetary ways, they have a 50/50 Cash Raffle taking place from August 1 to August 20. Their goal is to reach $20,000 jackpot and as of now, they have raised $8,560. Get your tickets at www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/august2025.
