Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) is searching for volunteers willing to offer their time, kindness and compassion to support several community-based programs operating across its facilities.

Over the summer, HHHS relaunched many of its in-person volunteer programs at Highland Wood and Hyland Crest senior homes following two years of shutdown during the pandemic. Brigitte Gebauer, HHHS volunteer coordinator, said start-up has been successful, and the organization needs to find more people willing to lend a hand.

“We’re really trying to repopulate our volunteer base. Volunteers add so much to residents’ lives… whether it’s just going in and spending time with folks, helping with different activities, and providing some form of entertainment,” Gebauer said. “Even if it’s just playing cards, or leading workshops on something you’re passionate about. We’re really keen to explore different opportunities.”

Most popular among initiatives currently running are the coffee and colouring program, walking club and social active senior program.

HHHS is also looking for additional support in its hospice department. Staff recently launched a hospice day program and caregiver support program, which have been popular.

“We’re looking for volunteers who can help in a more informal way. They don’t need to be hospice trained, but just assisting staff who are leading those programs,” Gebauer said.

“Our adult day program that supports seniors who are still living in the community could use a few new faces, too,” Gebauer said.

Presently, HHHS has a volunteer pool of around 250 people, though many of those are seasonal residents who, with borders having reopened, will soon be flocking south to escape the cold. Others have been hesitant to get involved again given COVID is still prevalent in the community.

One area Gebauer said she needs immediate assistance is the door-to-door transportation service. The program matches clients with volunteers, who will drive them to medical appointments. While not free, the service is operated at a low cost.

The program has between 10 and 15 active drivers, but with an increase in demand recently Gebauer said she would like to double that number.

“The majority of our drivers are making regular trips to Lindsay, Peterborough and Bracebridge. We’re looking for folks who would be willing to make trips like that, sometimes even down to Toronto,” Gebauer said. “We also need people who are willing to do local drives, because that frees up some of our other volunteers who are willing to do the longer trips.”

Potential volunteers would need to go through a screening process before they’re approved and must be vaccinated against COVID. Masking protocols remain in place across all HHHS facilities.

“We find our volunteers build real connections with the clients they serve. They like to know that they’re making a difference,” Gebauer said. “Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to operate these programs – many of which people, mostly seniors, rely on to get to appointments, but also for emotional support too.”

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can contact Gebauer at 705-457-1392 ext. 2927 or volunteering@hhhs.ca.

The Ontario Provincial Police estimate there are about 12,000 deer and wildlife collisions each year in the province.

An Oct. 24 press release estimates approximately 400 people are injured in these collisions each year. Those statistics may hit close to home for many Highlanders who encounter wildlife on their daily drives.

Dozens of deer, for instance, regularly graze in Haliburton village. Some are hit by passing cars. Monika Melichar of the Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary said six fawns have come through the healing centre this year.

Melichar said areas such as Hwy. 118 near Sunnyside Street, or across from the high school, are especially dangerous, due to the deer’s habit of crossing roads to find water.

“They’re crossing roads more often than normally would be the case for them,” Melichar said. “A normal deer in a normal situation might cross the road once or twice a day at the most. Whereas in Haliburton, they’re crossing them all the time.”

She said deer acclimatized to urban environments are more likely to be hit since they become more comfortable around cars and people.

She said the combination of safety, a lack of coyotes or other predators, and human-provided food make Haliburton village a prime location for deer currently bulking up for the winter months.

“They’re not naturally browsing because there’s an abundance of food in Haliburton. It’s like there’s a buffet of restaurants from one house to the other.”

Dysart et al municipal law enforcement officer Robert Mascia said he’s not received complaints about in-town deer activity, and the animals aren’t on the town’s radar as far as he knows.

Melichar said as well as encouraging deer to cross busy roads, much of what residents put out is not healthy for deer. She describes apples and corn as “candy” to deer: providing sugar but not much protein. Deers’ stomachs change depending on the season. In the winter, their diet switches to rely on more fibrous plants, while they feast on lush plants and grasses in the summer. Feeding deer food they aren’t used to eating can have disastrous health consequences.

An abundance of unhealthy food can also lead to hoof and antler abnormalities. It can also increase the likelihood of disease. Deer congregating in areas such as Haliburton village are more likely to spread disease among themselves due to close proximity or nose-to-nose contact.

She said a solution for those who want to feed deer in a more sustainable way could be to partner with a landowner farther from busy roads, and ensure feed is made up of grains and high-protein ingredients, with minimal corn.

While limiting the feeding of deer is likely to decrease their numbers in Haliburton or other urban areas, all of the County’s roads carry the risk of critter crossings.

The OPP provided the following tips for drivers to avoid hitting deer and wildlife:

• Pay extra attention in areas where wildlife signs are posted. These areas have a high frequency of animal crossings.

• Monitor your speed. By obeying the posted speed limit, you increase your reaction time and decrease your vehicles braking distance – helping you avoid a possible collision.

• Be careful at the ends of fence lines. Animals may be following the fence line and looking to cross the roadway at their first opportunity.

• Be alert at all times. Scan your surroundings constantly and look ahead as you drive. It is common for animals to wait alongside the roadway or in the ditch, prior to crossing.

• Use your high beams when possible and look for the glowing eyes of animals.

• Never swerve suddenly. This can cause you to lose control of your vehicle or head into oncoming traffic.

• Brake firmly but maintain control of your vehicle if you see an animal standing in or crossing the roadway.

• Deer rarely travel alone. If you see one, there is a good chance there are more.

Melichar adds that animals such as deer are most active at dawn and dusk.

If the worst does happen, motorists who hit large animals such as deer should report the collision to the OPP Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary cannot tend to adult deer, but can take in fawns or other animals that are hit.

Melichar said animals that are hit will often recover on their own. “If they can walk away on all fours, they’re likely fine,” she said.