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Go behind the scenes at WildARC

Celebrate two decades of life-saving work at annual open house
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Orphaned

Ever wondered what happens to suburban wildlife that gets into trouble in Oak Bay and other local communities?

BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre has helped raise orphaned wild babies, heal injured wild animals and treat a rangeof wildlife illnesses since opening its doors in 1997.

The Wild ARC facility is normally restricted to staff and volunteers as they work to save these wild lives, but one weekend eachyear community members are invited behind the scenes to get a glimpse of wildlife rehabilitation in action.

During the annual open house weekend, April 1 and 2, the public can explore the facility and learnabout its work.

Wild ARC volunteers guide small tour groups through the 10-acre property, showing how the rehabilitation team cared formore than 130 different species last year.

“It takes a lot of knowledge and planning to be able to help such a diverse range of species,” says Wild ARC’s assistantmanager Heather Schmitt. “We admit wild patients ranging from delicate baby hummingbirds to feisty injured river otters toocean-faring seabirds each species requires specialized housing, care and nutrition, and we’re able to provide that in onemulti-faceted facility.”

Wild ARC’s free open house welcomes visitors from noon to 4 p.m. in Metchosin, but tour reservations are required(spca.bc.ca/tourwildarc).

Donations of food and supplies to help care for the animals are much appreciated and a wish list is provided with registration.