Elizabeth's Wildlife Center

We've received lots of calls lately about ducks hanging around apartment complexes, homes, office buildings, and other places you wouldn't expect to find a duck. As usual, if you believe you've come across a sick or injured animal please call the center but also keep in mind that ducks, just like other animals, are looking for a quiet, safe place to nest and raise young. Thank you for your patience and kindness towards our wildlife ... **Photo from December 2020 of a male mallard after devouring a bowl of chopped lettuce in water**

Happy Monday everyone!

Did you know that female opossums have a pouch for carrying their young? Just like a Kangaroo! Virginia Opossums are about the size of a navy bean at birth. Mothers can have up to 25 babies at a time but usually litters are between 7-8 babies. Depending on climate and food sources, a female Virginia Opossum will have 2-3 litters a year.... These mammals are very peaceful, nocturnal animals. During the summer they venture out at night to locate food. In winter months they tend to forage more during the warmer hours of the day. Sadly these beautiful creatures often end up falling victim to car strikes It's not uncommon to see an Opossum that has died from it's injuries on the road. Since they are generally nocturnal animals they are out and about at night when it's harder for drivers to see them. Often times, a mother hit by a car may not make it but the babies do. Pouches can always be checked, but it's very important to avoid removing nursing babies when they are attached to mom. They have a tight suction and can suffer from choking if not separated properly. The more pouches we check, the more lives we can save.

Cleaning a Hummingbird Feeder It's always a hot topic in the bird world. Everyone has a different way of cleaning and different time frame for doing so. This is how we do things at the center...... Your feeder should be changed and cleaned at least every 4 days during the colder months. As we get closer to summer and temperatures begin to rise feeders should be changed and cleaned daily depending on temperature. For the most part cleaning your feeder is quite easy. Rinse with hot water every time you change the sugar solution. Scrubbing every bit of your feeder (ex. insect guards, feeding holes, glass or plastic container, perches, and outside as well) is important to do frequently as well. We do this at least once a week. Having a brush or different brushes to reach those hard to get to places is important. Dish soap shouldn’t be used as it can be harmful to hummingbirds if not rinsed properly...not to mention they dislike the taste. It can repel hummingbirds from your feeder. At least once a month your feeder should be cleaned thoroughly with a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water solution. Both soaking and scrubbing are important in this process. Your feeder should be in a shaded area. Sunlight causes the sugar solution in your feeder to ferment. Fermentation happens very quickly. Hummingbirds can tell when a solution is off but will drink from a spoiled feeder when they don’t have other options. Glass feeders are preferable because they can be boiled. Boiling your feeder is the best way to rinse off any solution you may have used to clean. Please make sure your feeder can be boiled before doing so. We're thrilled so many people have a love for our hummingbirds like we do. Thank you for feeding and looking out for our tint friends!

Don't be shocked if things look a little different here at EWC Demolition took place yesterday We are working out of a temporary clinic going forward (until we can rebuild).... As always please call before coming with wildlife or donations. Thank you everyone for your support

Please keep your feeders clean This poor little Anna's Hummingbird came into us with his tongue out and was unable to retract it. This happens when hummingbirds feed at dirty feeders, or feeders filled with solutions containing honey or other solutions not appropriate for these tiny birds. Fungal spores germinate on the tongue or gullet and ultimately cause death. Let's do what we can to help our small, wild friends

We are thrilled to announce our big news!!! EWC is on its way to replacing the old buildings! If everything goes according to plan, the rebuild will begin in March! ... We have had staff, the board, volunteers, plumbers, electricians, and engineers hard at work to prepare for the big day. There's still so much to be done but we are beyond excited to see our centre be able to continue saving lives- Hopefully for years to come. The support and love we have received from our community and so many others has been absolutely incredible! None of this would have been possible without you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

Today is the day! We're so excited and hope you'll all be watching with us! 9PM on CBC's The Nature of Things

Don't forget to tune in to CBC 's The Nature of Things this Friday, January 29 at 9pm PST, to see a few of our critters, along with Ginny, Elizabeth's chocolate labrador! The episode is called "Wind"!

Baby season 2021 is quickly approaching Between preparing for our most hectic time of the year and working on plans for our new buildings we are busy to say the least! We do want to take the time to thank everyone for your support and love over the last couple of months! It means the world to us and we couldn't continue to save lives without you

Talk about jumping for joy! We hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Over the weekend we had 13 orphaned mice come into our care. At EWC we believe that every animal deserves a chance no matter how small or fragile