Wildlife Hospital
WILDLIFE EMERGENCY?
Please call us at 905-442-1648
We will provide details on where & when to bring them.
Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue is licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry and Canadian Wildlife Services to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick, injured, abandoned, and orphaned wildlife. Our specialty is native wildlife; for this reason, we do not accept domesticated species.
Hours of Operation
Phones & Emails are answered:
Monday – Friday from 9:00am-4:00pm
As we are limited on our abilities to accept wildlife, remember we do not accept unexpected arrivals. Please call us and speak to a technician BEFORE coming in with an injured or abandoned animal. It is essential that we ensure volunteers are onsite and properly equipped to deal with the emergency.
Please note that Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue is not permitted to accept raccoons, deer, black bears, or cougars. Due to avian influenza we no longer accept song birds or waterfowl. We encourage you to visit Ontario Wildlife Rescue for more information if you are in need of assistance with one of the above species.
Wildlife Rehabilitators are also not permitted to treat and release non-native species, including European Starlings, Rock Doves [pigeons], Red-Eared Sliders, and other domesticated species.
We do not receive funding from the government or any other agency.
Our ability to rehabilitate wildlife is based solely on funds from our educational programming and your contributions. For this reason, a Get Well Donation for animals brought to our facility is highly encouraged. As a thank you, those who provide a donation are able to receive patient updates.
Your Get Well Donation assists each animal with:
- Veterinary Check-up
- Treatment & Medication
- Species-Specific Feed & Supplements
- Bedding & Enrichment Items
- Around the Clock Care
Each animal that comes under our care stays with us anywhere from a few days to many months! Orphaned babies can spend months under our care before being able to be released back into the wild. Sick and injured animals will be here even longer as the healing process takes time.
There is no minimum Get Well Donation, every little bit helps! Additional contributions are always welcome too!
Help! I Found...
Baby birds spend days to weeks in their nests as nestlings, depending on their species. They spend additional days to weeks exploring the area as fledglings before they can fully fly and leave the area.
Please give baby birds the best possible chance for survival and leave them in the wild where they belong! Never Attempt to treat or raise a baby bird on your own.
Rabbits are a sensitive and high-stress species. Never chase a rabbit to capture and handle it and handle it as little as possible.
Nests are found in shallow depressions on the ground (cottontails do not burrow), covered with soft grasses and lined with tufts of the mother rabbit's fur. Do NOT give food or water to injured or orphaned rabbits; they have very sensitive stomachs.
Grey squirrels nest twice a year, in late winter and summer. They commonly have litters of three to four pups. Babies' eyes open at four weeks. Babies may begin exploring outside the nest by six weeks and are weaned by ten weeks.
A baby squirrel has the best chance of survival when it's cared for by its mother. If you find a baby squirrel, please use the following chart to guide your choice of intervention.
Non-injured young animals are not considered a medical emergency; please leave a message on the Centre’s main phone line and someone will return your call the next day after 9:00 am Eastern. Animals that have been in a cat’s mouth do need treatment even if they aren’t obviously injured. Remember, if you find a baby animal in need, please make sure you aren’t unintentionally removing it from its parent(s)!
Visit our friends at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control
Important Information:
Use caution when attempting to capture injured wildlife. Even very debilitated wild animals will attempt to defend themselves. Proper safety equipment (gloves, protective eyewear) should always be used. Other helpful items include blankets/towels, nets, or anything else that allows you to assist the animal without coming into direct contact. Please call the Wildlife Centre for specific rescue advice for the species with which you are dealing.
If you are unable to reach someone by phone and need to assist an animal quickly, follow these general steps, and always remember to keep yourself safe! Your safety is the priority.
Prepare a crate or a box for the injured animal. Line the bottom with a sheet or non-looping towel so that the animal can stand without sliding around.
In most cases, throwing a towel or sheet over the animal works well; this helps contain/restrain the animal, and also covers its eyes, which helps reduce stress. Wearing protective gloves, pick up the animal and move into the transport container. Use extra caution when assisting mammals [see below for info on rabies].
Secure the container so that the animal cannot escape. If using a cardboard box, make sure flaps are secured with duct tape.
House the animal in a warm, dark, quiet area, away from people and pets. Resist the urge to peek or take photos; while this may be an exciting experience for you, remember it is quite stressful for the wild animal. Avoid talking, loud music, and other disturbing noises. Unless otherwise instructed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian, do not feed or give water to the animal. Food can often end up making an injured animal sick; it can also impede further treatment when a wildlife rehabilitator receives the animal!
Get the animal to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian as soon as possible.
Remember, it’s illegal to rehabilitate wildlife without a permit, and illegal to keep wild animals as pets. The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to treat sick, injured, and orphaned animals and return them to the wild. Trained wildlife professionals will know how to best assist the injured animal in question, and can begin effective treatment with the goal of release.
Helping Snapping Turtles Cross the Road Safely
Every spring and summer, snapping turtles leave their wetlands in search of suitable nesting sites. Unfortunately, many must cross busy roads along the way, making vehicle strikes one of the greatest threats to Ontario's turtle populations.
A few minutes of your time can help protect a species that takes decades to mature and reproduce.
When Is It Safe to Help?
If you can safely stop your vehicle without putting yourself or other drivers at risk, you can help a snapping turtle continue its journey.
Always remember: Your safety comes first. Never stop on a busy road, around blind corners, or anywhere it would create a dangerous situation.
The Most Important Rule
Always move the turtle in the direction it was already travelling.
Even if you believe there is a better pond or safer location nearby, turtles know where they are going. Turning them around or relocating them elsewhere often causes them to attempt the crossing again.
How to Help
Depending on the turtle's size, you can:
- Carefully guide it using a large shovel, snow scoop, tote lid, or sturdy piece of cardboard.
- Gently lift only if you are experienced and can do so safely.
- Keep your hands well away from the head and front legs, as snapping turtles have an extremely long reach and a powerful bite.
- Never lift a snapping turtle by its tail. This can cause permanent injury to its spine.
Our infographic below demonstrates several safe techniques.
If the Turtle Is Injured
If the turtle has been struck by a vehicle or appears injured:
- Do not place it back into the water.
- Keep it in a secure container lined with a towel.
- Keep it warm, quiet, and out of direct sunlight.
- Contact Soper Creek Wildlife as soon as possible for guidance.
Phone: 905-442-1648
Email: info@sopercreekwildlife.com
Every Turtle Matters
Many Ontario turtle species are listed as Species at Risk. Because turtles can take 15–25 years to reach breeding age and produce relatively few surviving offspring, every adult turtle saved can have a significant impact on the future of the population.
Thank you for taking the time to help protect Ontario's wildlife. Small actions today truly make a big difference tomorrow.
Rabies is a deadly disease in mammals caused by a virus; the most common method of transmission is through a bite wound. Any mammal (including humans) can contract rabies. In nearly all cases, rabies is fatal – prevention is the key.
In Ontario, there are four high-risk rabies species: raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. Extreme caution should be taken when assisting these animals.
There is no single set of indications that an animal may have rabies; since it is a neurological disease, rabies can manifest itself in many ways. While the stereotypical “furious form” (aggressive behaviour, foaming at the mouth) is one manifestation of rabies, infected animals more commonly display the paralytic form of rabies, which is exhibited through lethargy, loss of balance, loss of fear of humans or other animals, and general depression. However, those same depressed signs can also indicate distemper (more common than rabies) or head trauma from an injury. It’s also important to note that a mammal may have rabies and not yet be exhibiting any symptoms. Simply seeing a nocturnal, high-risk rabies species out during the day is not an indication of rabies; these animals may be actively looking for food during the day, particularly during baby season.
If you have been exposed to a potentially rabid mammal, seek medical treatment immediately. If your pet has been exposed to a potentially rabid mammal, call your veterinarian for further advice.
- For injured adult raccoons, skunks, foxes, groundhogs, opossums, and beavers:
- Don’t touch or try to capture the animal. Call animal control for assistance.
For injured bats:
Wear latex gloves inside small protective leather gloves. Place a small box (with very small air holes) over the bat, then gently slip a sturdy piece of cardboard underneath the box until the bat steps up— be mindful of the bat’s delicate toes. Roll the bat into the container and tape shut. Tape all the seams of the box, as bats are very good at working their way out of crevices.
You may also place a hand towel in front of the bat and use a stick to gently encourage the bat to crawl onto the towel. Lift the towel into a box without touching the bat and place in a box with small holes poked in it. Tape all the seams of the box.
For injured infant raccoons, skunks, foxes, groundhogs, opossums, and beavers:
Wear latex medical gloves inside of leather gloves to handle the infant as you place it in a box or crate. Never handle the animal without wearing gloves; even very young mammals can carry rabies.
Still Unsure?
Call Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue at 905-442-1648. Please remember we are a small organization with an army of volunteers working around the clock to care for animals. We may not be able to answer your call right away so please leave a message with your phone number. We can’t call you back if you don’t leave a number!
