Percy, a baby porcupine, nibbles on Monika Melichar’s ear as the Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary founder discusses the 2024 season to date at the Duck Lake Road rescue.
She’s also promoting their Bid Wild 4 Wildlife online Christmas auction, which begins Nov. 1 at 8 a.m. and runs to Nov. 10, at 8 p.m.
“We were successful in saving him,” Melichar says of Percy. “He got deathly sick on us three times, and each time we brought him through it.” Of course, that has come about as a result of staff and volunteer time, and money.
Inside the main complex is a red-tailed hawk they’ve been looking after.
He arrived “very dehydrated and starved,” Melichar says. The animals do not speak and cannot tell their stories but the wildlife advocate says, “a few days not being able to hunt and it’s a quick downhill spiral for them. He was down and out, and we brought him back, and now he’s on an upward spiral, which is great. We will be able to release him in time (to migrate) which is good news, they don’t fly far.”
At times, Melichar had to attend to the hawk every two hours. There was medicine and four live mice a day for food.
Then there’s one of five fawns, which had a fractured hind leg. It was sent to a wildlife vet in Caledon to have pins placed in its leg. Because the vet is a charity, WWS donated $2,000 towards the cost. There was the expense of strong antibiotics for six weeks. A bag of milk for fawns costs $130 and lasts a couple of weeks.
Melichar said they have taken in more than 750 animals already this year. Recently, there were 70 animals at WWS. They average 150 in the summer. “Overall, it’s been a little busier than last year,” she says.
Online auction
Melichar said they are raising money to put a carport-style roof over their existing complex at the rescue. It’s the main office but also the nursery and intensive care unit for animals. “We have all our critical and young animals in there… so we really need a safe place for them.” Now, she said the roof leaks during rain.
She said people can bid on more than 100 unique items donated by local artists and merchants, all starting at low bids. “Whether you’re looking for a special gift or a treat for yourself, there’s something for everyone,” she added.
Register at: new.biddingowl.com/WWS
For more information about the sanctuary, go to woodlandswildlifesanctuary.ca.
