Wildlife ‘struggling to survive’ the harsh winter season

There has been a spike in wildlife in distress this winter, leading to a surge of animals in dire need of help.

Wildlife centres across the province are struggling with capacity, as record snowfalls and bitter cold has left many animals without access to nutrition.

Procyon Wildlife in Beeton has had an influx of over 50 possums this winter, a season that’s typically very quiet for the facility.

“This winter has been unique in that there hasn’t been any thaws,” said Kylee Hinde, animal care coordinator at Procyon. “So they’ve just been struggling to survive.”

Possums are some of the animals most at risk, according to Hinde.

Native to Virginia, possums aren’t equipped for the cold weather, making winter-related injuries and illnesses, such as frostbite, quite common.

Hinde said the facility is at its maximum capacity due to the increase in animals and admits she’s worried, as they head into what is a very busy season.

“We’re going to have calls about injured and orphaned babies in the spring,” she said. “Around the beginnings of March, April, May, June, we are overrun.”

For boots-on-the-ground rescuers, the influx of animals has made getting to them more challenging.

Tiffany Bishop runs HavaHeart Wildlife Rescue Services based out of Orangeville. Together with a team of volunteers, they’ve been working to help get as many animals to rehabilitation centres in the province wherever possible.

“Sometimes we’re coordinating transports that can take three or four different drivers just to get them somewhere,” Bishop told CTV News. “There’s areas in Ontario that don’t have any rehab centres at all.”

Bishop said that it’s not just animals on the ground that are at risk, but also those in the air. Screech Owls are struggling in the cold weather.

According to the Owl Foundation, a rehabilitation centre near Niagara, 46 birds have been brought in since January, the most since 2015. Of those cases, 89 per cent were Screech Owls.

“They’re actually becoming very dehydrated, emaciated, hypothermic,” added Bishop. “They just can’t source the energy.”

Wildlife centres typically discourage against feeding wildlife. However, Procyon said offering them fresh water or a shelter box can be helpful during the remaining weeks of winter.