Animal Ambassadors
We Are Not Pets!
Many people who visit our facility, watch our presentations, or participate in our school programs wonder whether they, too, can have a skunk or a porcupine as a pet.
Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue is licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to keep native wildlife in captivity. It is against the law to have a wild animal as a pet. The animals that have come into our facility cannot go back into the wild; some have been kept illegally as pets, some come from unusual circumstances, others were born in captivity.
We always share these stories with our guests, so you can understand why they can not go back into the wild. With that being said, just because they can not go back into the wild doesn’t mean they live here at Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue as pets.
All of our animal ambassadors live in species-specific enclosures within our “enchanted” forest. These enclosures provide our ambassadors with the opportunity to act as natural as possible. They are made out of the living trees within the forest. Birds have space to fly, predators can hunt, prey species can dig burrows. It is important that these animals still maintain a wild lifestyle. They get the added bonus of a healthy meal provided each day along with protection from predators and human love.
Remember, we want to see native animals in the WILD!
Every species, no matter how big or small plays an important role in our environment.
Animal Ambassadors
Meet Khaleesi!
Common Name: American Badger
Scientific Name: Taxidea taxus
A group of them is called:
We just call her: “Khaleesi”
Size: 50 – 83 cm (length including tail)
Weight: 6 – 11 kg (males larger than females on average)
Lifespan: 9-10 years (wild), up to 15 years (captivity)
Diet: Omnivore
Meet Avery & Aurora!
Common Name: Bobcat
Scientific Name: Lynx rufus
A group of them is called: A clowder, clutter, or pounce
We just call them: “Avery” & “Aurora”
Size: 69 cm (length)
Weight: ~ 8.6 kg
Lifespan: 3 – 4 years (wild), up to 25 years (captivity)
Diet: Carnivore
AVERY & AURORA’S STORY
Avery and Aurora were born to parents who lived in captivity. Although the facility had put preventative measures in place so as not to reproduce, they still did. Avery and Aurora were born outside of the typical bobcat breeding season. When bobcat babies are born, they need to be separated from the father, as they have the tendency to kill their offspring. Since the facility did not have the resources to provide a safe environment for them, they came to Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue. Here, they can live a fulfilling life together in a sanctuary-like environment.
Information coming soon
Meet Floki!
Common Name: Canada Lynx
Scientific Name: Lynx Canadensis
A group of them is called:
We just call them: “Floki”
Size: 73 – 107 cm (length)
Weight: 8 – 14 kg (males are much larger than females)
Lifespan: ~ 15 years (wild), up to 21 years (captivity)
Diet: Carnivore
FLOKI’S STORY
Floki came to our facility as a baby! Due to being born in captivity, he cannot be released into the wild. He spends his days frolicking and lounging here with us, and helping to educate future generations as an Animal Ambassador!
Information coming soon
Information coming soon
Meet Olaf & Oden!
Common Name: American Crow
Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos
A group of them is called: A murder
We just call them: “Russell Crow”
Size: 85 – 120 cm (wingspan)
Weight: 320 – 620 grams
Lifespan: ~ 7 – 8 years (wild), 15 -20 years (captivity)
Diet: Omnivore
OLAF’S STORY
Olaf also came into our care after being kept as a pet, and therefore cannot be released into the wild.
ODEN’S STORY
Oden is one lucky crow; after having his esophagus removed by a dog, our vet was able to reconstruct it! He cannot go back into the wild, but he is living happily with our other crows as an Animal Ambassador.
Meet Luigi!
Common Name: Singing Dogs or “Dingos”
Scientific Name: Canis lupus familiaris
A group of them is called: A pack, or kennel
We just call him: “Luigi”
Size: 31-46 cm (length)
Weight: 9 – 14 kg (males are much larger than females)
Lifespan: 7-10 years
Diet: Carnivore
Meet Echo!
Common Name: Great Horned Owl
Scientific Name: Bubo virginianus
A group of them is called: A parliament.
We just call him: “Echo”
Size: 43 – 64 cm (length) Wingspan: 91 – 153 cm
Weight: 1.2 – 1.6 kg (females are somewhat larger than males)
Lifespan: ~ 13 years (wild), 20 – 30 years (captivity)
Diet: Carnivore (Bird of Prey)
ECHO’S STORY
Echo came to us as only a nestling and was born in captivity, so cannot be released into the wild. Now, Echo is all grown up and helping us to educate our future generations about Ontario wildlife.
Information coming soon
Meet Danny!
Common Name: Pine Marten
Scientific Name: Martes americana
A group of them is called:
We just call him: “Danny”
Size: 46 – 54 cm (length)
Weight: 0.9 – 2.2 kg
Lifespan: ~ 9 years (wild), 15 years (captivity)
Diet: Omnivore
Meet our "Prickle" of Porcupines!
Common Name: North American Porcupine
Scientific Name: Erethizon dorsatum
A group of them is called: A prickle
We just call them: Princess Peach & Sonny
Size: 60 – 90 cm (length)
Weight: 4.5 – 18 kg (females are larger than males)
Lifespan: ~ 5 – 7 years (wild), up to 30 years (captivity)
Diet: Herbivore
PRINCESS PEACH’S STORY
Princess Peach was originally kept as a pet before being surrendered to another wildlife education center, which brought her to Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue in 2020. As a former pet, she cannot be released back into the wild. Now, at approximately 15 years old, Princess Peach is our oldest porcupine. While she no longer participates in our educational programs, she remains an important member of our team and can be observed from outside her enclosure. She has settled into a peaceful retirement here at the rescue.
SONNY’S STORY
Sonny was found on the side of the road when she was just 3 days old, and her mother could not be located. She was brought to our wildlife hospital in 2021 for care. However, due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 regulations, her situation became more complex. At the time, there was confusion in the wildlife industry about which species could contract COVID, what symptoms to look for, and how long the virus could survive in their bodies. This led to uncertainty from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) about how long Sonny would need to stay in our care.
Initially, MNR estimated a much longer stay, but as new information became available, the required quarantine period was shortened. Unfortunately, by the time they determined the appropriate timeline for her release, it was clear that Sonny had been in our care for too long to safely return to the wild. As a result, she became a permanent resident of Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue.
Meet our "Skulk" of Red Foxes!
Common Name: Red Fox
Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes
A group of them is called: A skulk or leash
We just call them: Jet, Paintbrush, Ebony, Rosie, Ruby, Scarlet, Ash, Takoda, Crimson & Clover!
Size: 45 – 90 cm (length)
Weight: 2.2 – 14 kg
Lifespan: ~ 2 – 5 years (wild), 15 years (captivity)
Diet: Omnivore
PAINTBRUSH & JET’S STORY
Paintbrush and Jet came to us when they were just fox kits. Their mom had quite a large litter and was unable to care for all of her pups. Paintbrush and Jet had to be bottle-fed around the clock when they first came to Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue. Paintbrush and Jet are brother and sister who enjoy taking long walks together throughout the wooded forest of Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue. Paintbrush only has three legs, as a result of infection early in her life – but, that doesn’t stop her from playing in the creek!
EBONY, ROSIE, RUBY & SCARLET!
These sweet and hard-to-tell-apart siblings were born in captivity and live with Paintbrush and Jet as an extended family.
ASH’S STORY
Coming soon
CRIMSON & CLOVER’S STORY
Crimson and Clover are Red Foxes that call Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue their home. They came to us from a CAZA accredited facility where they were hand raised. Crimson and Clover love spending time together. Most of the time they are snacking on blue berries or hunting squirrels.
Meet Edwin & Smelvin
Common Name: Skunk
Scientific Name: Mephitidae
A group of them is called: A surfeit
We just call them: “Edwin” & “Persephone”
Size: 40 – 94 cm (length)
Weight: .5 – 8.5 kg
Lifespan: ~ 5 years (wild), 6 – 10 years (captivity)
Diet: Omnivore
Information coming soon
Information coming soon
Information coming soon
