Who Funds Wildlife Rehabilitation?

Everyone thinks that some agency, probably a government funded one,  protects and cares for wild animals in distress. This is not the case at all!  Although in Canada and in the U.S. wildlife is legally protected by Federal and Provincial (or State) agencies, no government agency is responsible for the rescue, treatment and release of injured or orphaned wildlife. Protection varies from protection under fur-bearer regulations ( which means the animal is protected as a potential source of income for trappers), protection under hunting/fishing regulations (the animal is protected as a potential source of income or recreation for guides,sportsmen/women, hunters), or protected  as an endangered species ( where protection for the species and its habitat should be stringent, but quite often isn't*).  The government agencies are in the business of managing wildlife, with particular emphasis on wildlife which can bring in an income ( from hunting or fishing licenses, for example). Government agencies are not in the business of rescuing or caring for wildlife in distress. 

In the U.S. , which has an Act protecting Endangered species, this Act will protect both the endangered species and its habitat.  Canada’s Endangered Species protection Act is called the Species At Risk Act, or SARA for short. SARA was proclaimed in 2002.  Under SARA species are protected to varying degrees by the Federal government (migratory species and species occurring on Federal lands). Under SARA, the possibility exists that Species at Risk occurring within provincial jurisdiction  could be protected under the federal legislation, but only if the provincial governments have agreed that they will work with the federal government of protect a specific species under SARA legislation..

Government protection, federal or provincial, of wildlife does not cover the rescue, care, and release of injured and orphaned wildlife. No federal or provincial money is directed towards wildlife rehabilitation in Canada.    Government does issue permits  to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities in Canada and the wildlife received at wildlife rehabilitation facilities for treatment remains the “property’ of the provincial government.

In Alberta there is an umbrella organization which is the voice of Alberta Wildlife rehabilitation. This organization is called  the Alberta Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, AWRA. If you are interested, and would like to belong to the organization, check out their website.  

The Need for Rehabilitation

Opinion poll after opinion poll has shown that between 81% -90% of the Canadian public cares about wilderness and wildlife.  This is supported by the increase in facilities offering wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. In general, wildlife rescue facilities are not a part of the Humane Society network ( the humane society and the S.P.C.A. are largely responsible for the care of injured, abandoned, or mistreated domestic animals... and that is a huge responsibility).  The need for Wildlife rehabilitation is growing as people come to value wildlife more, encounter it more, and, as result of ever growing habitat changes, find more wild animals in distress and want to help them. 

 

The CEI is over one hour from a city, deep in the country, so anyone finding an animal really has to go out of their way to get the animal to us, or to the veterinarians which work with us. Even so, we still get a lot of injured and orphaned wildlife brought in to us.

 

All the pictures that you will see on the page are of injured or orphaned wildlife that has been rescued and treated at this facility... or, in the case of the swift foxes, bred at this facility.  The CEI does not exhibit, sell, or trade the animals which it houses and makes no money from them. This makes public participation, through fundraising, financial contribution, or volunteering, of vital importance to the success of our wildlife rescue program.