Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

09/05/2026

Put your wildlife and pop-culture knowledge to the test for a great cause! 🦝🍂

Join us for Quizzical Critters, a fundraising trivia night hosted by Floydeeeee in support of Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Gather your team for an evening of friendly competition, great prizes, snacks, drinks, and a silent auction packed with fantastic items—with all proceeds directly funding the care and rehabilitation of local wildlife in need.

Date: Saturday, October 3rd
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Ben Franklin Place (101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa)
Ticket Price: $45 each
What to Expect: Trivia • Fabulous Prizes • Silent Auction • Bar • Snacks • Tons of fun!
This is a 19+ event. Valid photo I.D. may be requested on entry.
🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/Quizzical-Critters

Spots are limited, so rally your trivia crew and grab your tickets early!

09/04/2026

Founded by Colleen Paige (one of America’s leading pet and family lifestyle experts), today is a day to promote endangered species and wildlife conservation.

Unique in that it’s celebrated twice a year (today and February 22 in honour of Steve Irwin’s birthday), National Wildlife Day is a day where we can all make a difference. Whether we take a few minutes to educate ourselves, donate, volunteer or avoid wildlife attractions that do not contribute to conservation, we can all do something.

Ontario currently has 18 mammals and 22 reptiles listed as at risk. This includes all eight of our turtle species.

Here is a short list of easy ways to make a difference right now:

Watch a video on how to help a snapping turtle cross the road https://www.rideauwildlife.org/turtles/

Order a turtle rescue kit for your car by emailing [email protected]

Make a donation to support our important work https://www.rideauwildlife.org/donate/

Plant a native wildflower such common milkweed or a coneflower

Be a good steward. Private land owners have a very important role to play in
species recovery and may be eligible for stewardship programs that support
the protection and recovery of species at risk and their habitats.

08/30/2026

RVWS wishes you a happy International Bat Night. Bats are celebrated through the last full weekend of August each year. The purpose of this celebration is to encourage more learning about this nocturnal creature.

Did you know? According to Parks Canada, bats’ “worldwide value” as natural pest control for both agriculture and forestry is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. All of Canada’s native bats are insect-eaters and will usually eat half their weight in insects during a single night of hunting - all for free!

08/27/2026

Meet Sunshine and Delilah. These two were transferred to our sanctuary from the Ottawa Humane Society separately. Although they arrived alone, they were joined together and have been doing great! In fact, they were recently moved outside and have since been released. Thanks to the support of our donors and staff, they will get to enjoy the rest of the summer outdoors, soaking up the sun.

08/26/2026

During late summer, you may start seeing young animals out and about on their own. This does not always mean they are orphaned or in need of help. Take precautions and observe from a distance if you are unsure. If you think you have found an orphaned mammal, visit www.rideauwildlife.org/baby-mammals.

If you still need help, email [email protected] with your phone number, a photo of the animal, a description of how you found it and the address of where it was found.

08/25/2026

We are always grateful for the keen eyes and quick action of the people who rescue animals. In Simone’s case, she was found after a woman noticed that her dog had started playing with something odd in the backyard. Upon closer look, it was a chipmunk. Thankfully, the dog didn’t harm the chipmunk. Under our care, Simone has grown and is close to release age. Simone has revealed her mischievous personality since we first met her. Even in her cage, she may be hard to spot as she is forever on the move.

08/21/2026

Did you know this process, often mistaken for a raccoon washing its food, is about the raccoons learning about their food? Wetting food before eating it helps raccoons better perceive its characteristics.

Why? Well, the wetter the food, the more responsive the sensory nerves in the hairless parts of the animal’s front paws. This will help the raccoon better understand the object's texture, weight, size, and temperature.

08/19/2026

Meet Kim Possible, one of RVWS's most recent success stories. Brought to us in early June by her finder. Kim was found alone on their porch, possibly disturbed as their house was getting work done. After the mother showed no signs of returning, Kim came into our care and was immediately treated for fleas.

Kim Possible was joined by three other squirrels: Ron Stoppable (naturally), Jeremiah and Spatula. Ron came into our care after falling from a tree. His finders attempted to reunite him, but the mother did not return. Jeremiah’s finders graciously offered their property as a release site. The four can now be seen scurrying around the property, enjoying both the wild and the security of a nesting box as they swiftly adjust.

The care that Kim and her friends received could not have been possible without the support and generosity of our donors, release site provider, and volunteers.

08/18/2026

Looking to make a difference for local wildlife while building hands-on experience in event planning and fundraising?

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is recruiting Event Committee Volunteers! Work alongside our team to organize community fundraisers, silent auctions, and events in the Ottawa area.

What you’ll do:
- Assist with event logistics, timelines, and planning
- Help coordinate silent auctions, raffles, and sponsorships
- Support community outreach, promotion, and event-day ex*****on

Time commitment: Flexible! About 2–4 hours per month during regular planning, increasing to 6–8 hours near event dates. Most committee work is virtual, with hands-on support during local Ottawa events.

Ready to get involved? Check out the full role details and apply through the following link: volunteerottawa.ca/volunteer-job/event-support-committee/

08/17/2026

We are incredibly saddened to learn of the complete loss of the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in BC due to wildfires. Because of their advanced planning, all humans and animals are safe, but the building and all its important contents are gone. Keeping our fellow rehabbers in our hearts at this time.

How to hold grief and gratitude at the same time?
Amidst the smoke and sorrow, beyond our personal losses, we see just how deeply we belong to one another and that there is caring all around
Looking forward to when the smoke clears, we feel that uncertainty and heartbreak with this fire will be a new opportunity to rebuild and restore. After a wildfire comes through a forest, the wildflowers will come back and there will be so much beauty again...
Neighbours helping neighbours. Strangers opening their homes. Thoughts, well wishes and check-ins arriving from everywhere. We feel it in our hearts as we are counting our blessings
Thankful in advance for everyone pitching in and/or sharing, so we can rebuild Interior Wildlife and continue its mission: https://interiorwildlife.ca/donate/