Fawn Finds Friends

Fawn "Bondi" has made a small friend at the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. She is one of five little fawns currently living in the barn.  And while Staff report that she is doing well, she did spend a lot of time calling plaintively for her mother. It's no fun being orphaned. Moms matter.

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, on Crawford Road as you drive 141 over towards Rosseau, is open two afternoons a week to the public. With limited access. You don't get to see the babies, who are being rehabilitated and will be returned to the wild.  I was very lucky indeed, Brenda gave me the great privilege of making friends with Monty, one of two beaver kits currently in residence. (one has just arrived from way up ar Timmins and the forest fires). Beaver kits crave touch. Demanding to be held and cuddled, snuggled and petted, without this attention the kits don't thrive. Any spare moment any of the staff or volunteers have is filled by these little ones.  Out back, a beaver habitat pen is under construction. The beavers stay at home for two years, so these will need to be cared for that long as well. They will have their own pond, and creek, and room to roam, trees to gnaw, dams to build. Which is lovely, but expensive to construct.

Along the walking trail there are several large habitats -- some of the residents for various reasons cannot be returned to the wild and must live their days out in the care and custody of caring people.  One large pen houses a coyote. There is a pair of Arctic wolves.  Another pair of timber wolves. (with their enormous paws)  And Momma Bear, who came to the Sanctuary after being in a zoo for most of her long life.   Her big pen full of trees and den areas with sunny places and private corners is a huge improvement on what she had before, although there is no substitute for Real Wilderness.

It takes a lot of money to care properly for these creatures, who through no fault of their own have been torn from the wild. It takes a lot of volunteer hours as well.  Thanks to Jennifer Jillks, one of our faithful Blog readers, who sent a Paypal donation to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary to help support 'our' orphaned fawn.  Thanks to those who have purchased some of Napster's artwork and bracelets as well.

We are very grateful for the Rescue centres, the places like A Wing and a Prayer that cares for injured wild birds; Bear With Us where bears are rescued from all across the country, and the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

It has been stated many times, many ways, by many people, but is no less true for that.

"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members ; the last, the least, the littlest."   Cardinal Roger Mahony (1998)