Medicine River Wildlife Centre

06/12/2026

This goose was lucky.

Discarded fishing line can cause devastating injuries to birds and other wildlife, leading to entanglement, infection, starvation, and even death. Thanks to a rescue effort, this goose was safely freed and released back where it belongs.

Please help protect wildlife by properly disposing of fishing line. A few seconds of care can save a life.

06/12/2026

At an industrial site, a robin had built a nest between two liquid storage containers. When the top container needed to be removed, the nest would have been left completely exposed. To protect it, we carefully transferred the nest into a robin shelf before removing the container, then placed the shelf back in the exact location where the nest had been.

About five minutes later, the mother robin returned and settled back onto the nest. It was the first time we had successfully relocated a nest containing eggs and had the parent return so quickly. In our experience, adult birds often struggle to find a moved nest unless there are hatchlings inside making noise to guide them back.

Our first goal is always to keep babies/eggs with the original mother so we're so happy this family could stay together!

06/11/2026

Owlet Update!

They grow so quickly, don't they? The 3 owlets who hatched from our resident Great Horned Owls are thriving and are spicy, little balls of fluff. Several adults in the huge enclosure are protecting and teaching them everything they need to know, with the exception of hunting and how to elude predators. Now's the time to integrate them into a wild family!

Expert bird ba**er, Rick Morse, working in conjunction with the head Biologist for Alberta, is a wealth of knowledge and regularly finds appropriate nests for our orphans. He has located several Great Horned Owl families with youngsters about the same age that will happily accept the newcomers. This Friday, we'll be saying goodbye to the little ones and wishing them the best of luck on their adventures in the wild, where they belong.

Watch for fostering photos, coming soon!

06/11/2026

www.mrwc.ca

06/11/2026

🫎 Hands up for moose antlers! 🫎

One of our favourite moments on the trail is when everyone joins in with their "moose antlers", our special signal to pause, focus, and listen. It’s a fun and engaging way to bring the group together as we explore nature through our senses.

During our educational sensory trail program, participants use sight, sound, touch, and curiosity to connect with the natural world around them. When the moose antlers go up, it's time to tune in to the sounds of the forest, discover something new, or share an exciting observation.

Learning, listening, and exploring together, two moose antlers at a time! 🌲🍃👂

06/08/2026

It's baby bird season and we need your help in finding wild families for the orphans that we receive. Up for the challenge?

Currently, we are looking for a couple Robin nests with babies of about this age. They need to be accessible and in the central Alberta region. If you can help, please call us or complete the short form at the link below (don't leave info in the comments).

Thank you!

403-728-3467
https://medicineriverwildlifecentre.ca/hospital/fostering

06/06/2026

Over-Caring Can Sometimes Cause Harm

We love that so many people care deeply about wildlife. Compassion for wild animals is a wonderful thing. However, caring about a wild animal is very different from caring for one.

Trying to raise or rehabilitate wildlife yourself can be a bit like keeping a friend at home after they've fallen down a flight of stairs instead of taking them to a hospital. Even with the best intentions, specialized care is often needed.

Recently, we've admitted three patients whose outcomes were affected by well-meaning human intervention:

🐿 A young squirrel was raised on an inappropriate milk formula and arrived at our facility weighing only half as much as others its age. Sadly, despite our efforts, it passed away just a few hours after arrival.

🪿 A gosling was kept for several days and allowed to interact with family pets. By the time it reached us, it no longer identified with other geese and could not be integrated into a wild goose family. Thankfully, it is making progress while being housed with adult geese at our facility.

🐇 A jackrabbit was being lovingly cared for by a compassionate woman who genuinely wanted the best for it. She quickly understood that a warm home, cuddles, and human companionship cannot prepare a young hare for life in the wild. As a prey species, jackrabbits need their mothers to teach them critical survival skills, including how to avoid predators and navigate their natural environment.

If you find a wild animal that appears injured, orphaned, or in distress, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. The greatest act of kindness is getting them the expert care they need to return to the wild where they belong.

www.mrwc.ca

06/05/2026