​​Compassion for Wildlife

Animals are sentient beings who show a variety of emotions such as curiosity, love, playfulness and mourning. My aim is to create awareness of wildlife behaviors and the important role individual species play in an ecosystem. Combining my passion for photography and my commitment toward animal welfare, I hope you will gain understanding, respect and empathy for wildlife.

Learn

Education is essential to understanding the animals around us, their roles in the ecosystem and what struggles they face.

Change

The biggest threat to wildlife is habitat loss. Changing our ways to accommodate other species is crucial for their survival, and our own. 

Take Action

Spread awareness and get the conversation started. Write your local MLA or government officials to express your concerns. 
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Orphaned Wildlife (www.alberta.ca)
If you find a fawn, gosling or other young animal that appears to be without its mother, leave it alone. Wildlife mothers will often leave their young for periods of time to search for food. These young animals are not in danger.
In fact, some species have evolved to ensure that young can safely survive without their mothers for extended periods of time. Fawns, for example, have spots for camouflage, and emit virtually no odour, so that predators are unable to detect them by sight or smell.

If you are concerned about a specific animal you think has been orphaned, monitor it from a distance for at least 24 hours. If, after this time, you still do not see the mother return, call the nearest Fish and Wildlife office for advice on how to proceed in a way that's safest for you and for the animal.

Injured Wildlife
Wildlife that has been injured has a better chance of survival when Mother Nature can tend to it. The best thing is to leave the injured animal alone. Animals will be stressed from the injury and will be further stressed from your attempts to intervene. Stressed animals can become aggressive and cause injury to you and further injury to themselves.
Do not take the animal home to attempt to nurse it to health. In most cases, it is illegal to possess live wildlife
Click here for your local rehabilitation group or to contact a Fish and Wildlife officer
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End of  Hibernation  
www.mountainviewbearsmart.com
Alberta is bear country. No matter where you live or spend your leisure time in this province - even in urban areas - you will be near bears or bear habitat. We see them on the side of the highway, on logging roads, on the way to a campsite, in the bush when hiking or working, and even in cities and towns. Bears in Alberta spend 5 to 6 months in winter dens and lose 10 to 30 percent or more of their body weight. In most years bears emerge from their winter dens between mid- April and early May. The entire life of bears evolves around food. When they are not hibernating, bears spend most of their time looking for food, taking advantage of any succulent and protein-rich foods.

Spring Bear Safety Tips 
  • Cooking odours can attract bears. Remove grease and food residue from barbecue grills after each use, including the grease cup underneath.
  • Avoid landscaping with trees, shrubs or plants that produce food known to attract bears (e.g., berry bushes, crab apple trees).
  • Store garbage indoors (house, shed, garage) or in bear-resistant containers that have tight fitting lids. If stored indoors, only put it out on the morning of garbage day, not the night before.
  • Fill bird feeders only during the winter months.
  • Feed pets indoors, do not leave pet food outdoors.
  • Placing your garden in the open, away from cover and game trails, helps to discourage bears.
  • When hiking, keep an eye for signs of bears (tracks, droppings), travel with others and make noise as you move through wooded areas to alert bears to your presence. Put any food you are carrying in sealed containers in your back pack.
  • If you are biking in bear habitat, choose trails that are clear with long sight-lines. Bikers are encouraged to avoid berry patches in the fall as bears are quite active.
  • When walking your dog, keep it close by and under control. Uncontrolled or off-leash dogs may lead a bear to you.
  • Avoid backcountry camping near berry patches and always let people know where you are going and how long you plan to be gone. Travel with bear spray in bear habitat and know how to use it.
  • When camping, eliminate or reduce odours from yourself, your camp, your clothes and your vehicle. Keep your campsite clean. Never cook, eat or store any food (including snacks), cooking equipment or toiletries in your tent. If you are sleeping in a tent try to not sleep in clothes you have worn while cooking meals.
  • Clean fish away from your campsite.
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Healthy wildlife requires your help!
​We cringe in horror when a dog or cat is suffering. What about a fox, coyote, wolf, bear, raptors, lynx, cougar, marten, and all the other sentient beings who are caught in traps and poisoned? 
Trapping and poisoning wildlife violates the Species at Risk Act and the Criminal Code of Canada. The time to ban trapping and poisoning is long overdue. 

Please see our trapping and poison pages for how to help in your local area. 
​No Feeding!
No Baiting!
No Poisons!
No Trapping!

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