March 2010 | April 2010
Dawn
As a student pursuing Environmental and Biological Sciences, I am constantly inspired by the intricate relationships between animals and their habitats. Animals are tenacious and generally adaptable, allowing generations of animals to eventually evolve to their surroundings. However, with the accelerated rate of human development, habitat loss inevitably leads to hazardous interactions between wildlife and humans.
Volunteering for WRS offers a unique opportunity to help local wildlife, focusing extensively on the different rehabilitation techniques, as well as the unique behaviors of wildlife species. Experiencing these unique interactions offers an intimate approach to learning that, as a student, I may not be able to truly appreciate within the confines of a classroom.
Volunteering with WRS has allowed me to become acquainted with a wide range of wildlife, observing the behavior of unique and sometimes rare species, while simultaneously gaining a true appreciation for the conservation efforts of the men and women who inhabit the Edmonton area. Sometimes, wild animals need a little help to stay truly wild.
- Dawn
WRS Volunteer/Student/Steward
George
Not that long ago the only peril wildlife faced at the hand of man was survival hunting. Today, human activity – inadvertently or otherwise – is responsible for unfathomable loss of wildlife and their habitats.
I volunteer with WRS because I value the role that each living creature plays on this earth. As a scientist, I appreciate the pernicious effect of losing even the smallest link in the food chain. I enjoy knowing that my efforts, as small as they may be, can help prevent the unnecessary death or suffering of animals that I have a great respect for.
I am indeed an animal lover!
Donna
This should be called “Why I still Volunteer?” ;-) In my two years with WRS I have been pecked at, peed on, hissed at and had a raptor escape in my car during a pick up shift. I just can’t imagine what people must think when they pull up to my car and I have a fawn in a dog carrier in the back, or a Canada Goose that wouldn’t stay in the box and insisted on peaking out and looking around. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Even as a child I always had a connection with animals, I would bring home any stray animal that crossed my path, much to the dismay of my mother!
I love my work at the shelter, I love being able to work with the animals and knowing that because of us most of them get a second chance at life. One of my favourite things that I did last year was be a squirrel nanny. Trying to feed a wiggling little creature, that has just put their foot, paw, your finger and the blanket that you are holding them with, in their mouth and all the while you are trying to get a syringe of food in there also. It just makes you laugh out loud. Being on pickup shift and having a box full of yellow ducklings, peeping away and climbing over everyone else, comes in at a close second.
And by the way mink pee is the worst!
Cathy
I love that the wildlife surrounding us can be given a second chance for survival if they get hurt or orphaned. I found myself with some free time once my son went to school full-time, and like all of us, I feel my time is valuable. I wanted to do something important during my free hours, and volunteering at the WRS is an excellent, fulfilling experience.
Spending time with the staff and other volunteers makes it a fun time, and seeing an animal's health improve each week is very rewarding. I absolutely love spring time when I get to help with the orphans. It's sad knowing that the parents of these animals aren't around, but being a squirrel nanny is a load of fun, and it's a fantastic way to see the development of the squirrels!! I still have two squirrels that were soft-released on my acreage, living here!
