Muskoka Wildlife Centre RSS

OPEN Saturday and Sunday of the Easter Weekend

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:05:31 GMT

Spring has sprung and our critters are all awake and ready to see some people. Come out for a stroll in our forest and you will entertain our animal residents. We are open from 12 noon to 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday.

Exotic Animal Guest Visiting March Break

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:52:01 GMT

For March break only, we will be critter sitting a 3 month old African Crested Porcupine named Shakespeare. Come out over the break and see him up close!

OPEN MARCH BREAK - ALL KIDS VISIT FOR FREE!

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:51:08 GMT

We are currently open on weekends from 12noon to 5pm and we will also be open March Break from the 10th to the18th from 12noon to 5 pm. We will have 'Meet the Creature' sessions throughout the day and other activities for visiting kids too. Bring your little wild creatures (kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews) to see ours. The trails will be plowed and our animals will be excited to see you.

All Kids (ages 12 and under)Visit For FREE, when accompanied by an adult. This offer does not apply to organized groups.

Clover had a great day on Daily Planet

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:02:19 GMT

We hope you had a chance to see Clover on Discovery Channel's Daily Planet yesterday. She did a great job and everyone loved her! Here is a pic of her (and her personal assistant Jody) on set. If Daily Planet posts yesterday's episode online we will post a link to it in the next few days.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:40:55 GMT

We put Clover outside before we had to load up for our big trip to the city and despite slipping on the ice (somewhat like Bambi on a frozen pond), she did not see her shadow. She did not want to hide or find cover. She just wanted to be left alone so she could explore. CONCLUSION: Clover just predicted an early spring!

February 2nd is World Wetlands Day!

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Take a minute to think about how important wetlands are in nature. Any time of year it is fun to visit one, on cross-country skis, on foot or with snowshoes...but remember to never leave a trace of your visit behind when you leave, except your foot/snowshoe/ski prints of course! You will not be disappointed because they are teeming with WILD LIFE!

Here is a Hinterland Who's Who 60 second video about wetlands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=M-fDkQFw9nU ... Or check out this short (10 min. long) wetland themed video made for youth by the same folks who bring you Hinterland Who's Who: http://tv.hww.ca/video/watch/4 ...They both star our very own centre director, Jody. Happy World Wetlands Day!!!

Clover will star on Discovery Channel's 'Daily Planet' on Groundhog Day

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:28:53 GMT

Clover the groundhog will be spending some time in the city tomorrow on the set of Daily Planet. She will be interviewed about her experience predicting the arrival of spring over the years. Stay tuned for more about her big day and of course, most importantly stay tuned to find out what she predicts tomorrow when she goes outside... to be continued

Holidays Hours

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:31:06 GMT

From our staff and our critters, to you and yours... Happy Holidays!

We will continue to be open throughout the winter on weekends from 12noon to 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. We will however, be closed on Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Gift the Sponsorship of an Animal this Holiday Season

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:31:00 GMT

We have roughly 70 creatures living here at the Muskoka Wildlife Centre and each individual is treated as just that, an individual. They all have their very own little personalities and each has a very specific set of needs. We work hard to make sure that they are all given the highest level of care possible and some of the costs associated with their dietary, medical and housing needs can be quite high. For example, our pair of moose, Chocolate and Lucky eat a specially designed "moose kibble" that is shipped up from the U.S. just for them. They eat a bag of it every day and each bag costs $32.00! Our cougar, Kokanee can eat about 4.5kg (10lbs) of fresh meat every single day! As you can imagine these costs really add up. During the winter months we don't have very many visitors and we struggle to make it through to spring every year. By sponsoring an animal here, you will be covering the costs of food and routine veterinary care for the year. If the cost of an animal you choose is too high, consider a partial sponsorship for a portion of the year instead of the whole year. Visit http://animals.muskokawildlifecentre.com/adoptanimal.asp for more information or call us at (705) 689 0222.

Local Artist Wants to Give Back with the Help of YOU...

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 22:27:24 GMT

Well known local wildlife artist, Lynn Norris, will be donating 50% of proceeds earned from the sale of her work, to the subjects that have inspired her stunning pieces of art. Her hand carved, one of a kind original wildlife paintings are done on slabs of kiln dried wood, carefully selected for their natural beauty and many are even relief carved. Perhaps one of the available works would make an unforgettable gift for the wildlife lover on your Christmas shopping list? Take a look at the pictures of Lynn Norris' unbelievably gorgeous pieces (prices are listed and do not include HST, sizes are listed as well) and contact us at the wildlife centre for more information or to purchase one. If you decide to purchase a piece, you will be helping us to care for our wild family. This time of year the expenses are greater than ever and we have very little income coming in to support the extensive costs of food, bedding, heat, veterinary bills, hydro, etc. Make someone who loves wildlife smile and make a difference in the lives of our creatures here at the centre. Call (705 ) 689-0222 or email artforwildlife@muskokawildlifecentre.com

Just a few minutes ago we mixed Petunia and Casper for the first time ever.

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:55:33 GMT

It is always hard to say how these introductions will go so we had wildlife handling gloves, a net and a crate ready just in case. Here's how it went...

Cinder

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:22:45 GMT

Casper the skunk teaches our staff an important lesson...

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:50:31 GMT

Casper the albino skunk came to us a few months ago after being retired from his life as a participant in RABIES research. He was not a skunk that was hand-raised with the tenderness or exposure to positive experiences with humans that is typical of any one of our teaching animals. He was instead housed alone in a cage and only contacted when he was required for testing. I am guessing big gloves were used to prevent him from biting if he was nervous or uncomfortable. The work he was part of was necessary to ensure that the vaccines used to treat our wild skunks in Ontario would be effective and was no doubt done as humanely as possible, but being a research animal usually doesn't result in a creature that likes people a whole lot. It was our intention to have Casper live in an enclosure with Petunia (our hand-raised female skunk), as her companion, but we never thought of the possibility of Casper being handled by our staff and definitely not being used as a education animal during our "Meet the Creature" sessions. In an effort to closely monitor Casper's health, especially after his extensive dental work (12 teeth were pulled in one day), our head animal care person Keith was gently touching him daily to rouse him from his sleep. Keith noticed that Casper seemed to be okay with the idea of a touch on the back. Slowly over time, he noticed that Casper seemed to enjoy being stroked, then scratched and rubbed. One day Keith reached under Casper to check his belly weight and the little skunk didn't seem to mind that either. Each day Keith would try something new, being ever so gentle and over time Casper built trust with him. Then one day Keith picked him up for a few seconds, expecting Casper to be quite upset and expecting to be bitten, but he was okay with that too. Each day Keith has spent more and more time with the little stinker and other staff started to take up the torch, and following Keith's lead, were also able to make friends with Casper. We are truly amazed at the results. It is not normal for an adult wild species of animal, let alone one that has been part of fairly invasive research testing, to come around to being handled by people... but then again I guess our new friend is anything but normal. Casper will begin visiting with the public during very short "Meet the Creature" sessions right away, so maybe you will be able to meet this amazing little dude when you come to the centre.

His story has been an inspiration to us all. He has taught us that it is never too late to ditch the baggage of your past and start on a brand new path...even if you are a skunk.

Less than a week till we are Making Waves for Wildlife! Do you have your tickets?

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:26:16 GMT

Both the Muskoka Widllife Centre and A Wing and A Prayer work tirelessly to help animals in need and struggle to make ends meet when the bills come pouring in. This incredible event has been created to raise funds for the important work we do. We hope you will show your support by attending and we truly believe it's going to be a great day! Where else can you enjoy great company, fill your belly with delicious food, get some fantastic deals on auction items, meet live wild animals up close, meet and hear our celebrity guest Rob Stewart from "Sharkwater", and enjoy a 2 hour scenic cruise in Muskoka aboard a steamship for just $100? It's a great deal AND you are helping us help wildlife in need. It's a win-win situation. So give us a call and order your tickets right now and show that you too care about our provinces precious creatures.

Muskoka Wildlife Centre (705) 689-0222

Trip to the Arctic for Hinterland Who's Who was Incredible

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:18:09 GMT

Centre director Jody Gienow is the on-screen host for Hinterland Who's Who - public service announcements and just travelled to the arctic to produce two more television spots. The p.s.a.s are produced by the Candian Widllife Federation and Environment Canada and are designed to give Canadians an appreciation and understanding of wildlife and wild spaces found in our country. There are over twenty t.v. spots so far and the next two that will be added to the roster will focus on the Tundra and the Narwhal. Visit www.hww.ca to see some that have already been made and keep your eyes open for the new ones which will be released into your living room over the next year.

Centre Co-director, Jody Gienow will travel to the Arctic for Hinterland Who's Who

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:37:34 GMT

In a few days Jody will embark on the adventure of a lifetime, thanks to her role as on-screen host for the nationally broadcast public service announcements. Jody has been the Hinterland Who's Who host since 2003 and can be seen in the over 20 television spots that highlight wildlife and wild spaces of Canada. She also writes content for this project, which is done as a prtnership between the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Environment Canada. This year she will be travelling to the arctic to film 2 spots; one on the Narwhal and one on the Tundra. She hopes to send updates throughout her 7 day adventure, so stay tuned. In the mean time, visit www.hww.ca to view some the work she has already done. (Click "Whotube" or "Media Gallery" at the top of the homepage)

Casper is feeling great after some dental work...

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:45:40 GMT

We discovered that our new albino skunk was in need of some major dental work, while we had him in to the vet to be neutered (we felt it necessary to neuter him as he will be mixed in with our female skunk Petunia in the near future and we certainly don't need more than 2 skunks here at the centre). While under sedation Casper had a full physical. He had some pretty bad teeth in his mouth that needed pulling. I think his very lazy nature may have been attributed, in part, to multiple tooth aches as he has an all new lease on life since his visit to the vet. We gave him a bath, ear cleaning, manicure and pedicure while he was sleeping too, so he will look and feel fabulous. Once fully recovered, he will meet his new friend and hopefully they will hit it off.

Stunning bird stunned...

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:24:22 GMT

This brilliantly blue and rare little bird is called an Indigo Bunting and we had him brought to our centre by a neighbour after he hit her window. Sadly, window collisions are a very common occurrence and too many birds die this way every day. Fortunately this little guy was just stunned and after about a half an hour he was ready to be returned to where he was found.

Glass does not exist in nature and many birds either fly into it when they don't see it or when they see confusing reflections of trees and sky in it. Please make sure you don't put feeders close to windows and put decals (store bought or home made work the same) on windows to help the birds out. Here is a great website that will give you all sorts of tips to make your dwelling a safe place for birds to dwell too: http://www.flap.org/new/prevent.htm .

Star and Creator of "Sharkwater" is coming to Muskoka!

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:34:11 GMT

We are so thrilled that Rob Stewart will be coming to our Making Waves fundraising event August 21st, to speak about his unbelievably wild adventures. His award winning documentary "Sharkwater" was seen in theatres around the world and made a massive impact in the way people view sharks. Check out his website here: http://www.sharkwater.com/

A few of our creatures worked with Rob recently and will be in his next film. You don't want to miss seeing him and hearing about his new wild project. Contact our centre (705 689-0222) to buy tickets and you will also be supporting the important work we do for wildlife. There will be a limited capacity so don't wait too long!

Don't worry she is just playing dead...

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:36:54 GMT

Olive the eastern hognose snake had a minor surgical procedure done today to remove a strange growth. The area was numbed using local freezing. When we poked her with the needle she flipped herself upside down, stuck her tongue out, bloated herself with air and played dead! If we didn't know that this was a normal behaviour for the hognose snake we may have been very worried. After we were done and stopped poking and prodding her , Olive flipped herself back rightside up and acted as if nothing had happened. What an amazing defence mechanism to discourage predators that are looking to kill a fresh meal. Her growth was on her belly and we needed her to sit still, so I guess it is a handy behaviour when this type of surgery is needed too. Olive is back home already and will have her 2 stitches removed after her next skin shed.

Making Waves for Wildlife ~ A Truly Wild Fundraising Event

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:48:43 GMT

On August 21st we will be hosting a Wild Afternoon Event that involves a 2 hour cruise aboard the Wenonah II steamship in Gravenhurst, the opportunity to meet and greet a whole host of wild animals, great food, an auction, and an appearance by a very special and famous film creator and star!...look at our attached poster to find out who. You don't want to miss this event and most importantly, by attending, you will be helping support the work we do here at the Muskoka Wildlife Centre and at Musoka's wild bird rahabilitation centre - A Wing and A Prayer. Check your calendar and contact us for more information or to buy tickets. Space is limited and tickets are available as of today!

(705 ) 689-0222 or tickets@muskokawildlifecentre.com

Raccoon with a can stuck on its head brought to the centre...

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:49:27 GMT

The poor little guy was discovered by Sharon Long who while at work noticed him outside struggling to get around and running into things. She managed to get him into a tall garbage pail with a secure lid and drove to the centre after talking to one of our staff on the phone. The Chef Boyardee can was really on there good. With some heavy gloves and a blanket, our staff were able to remove the can, luckily with no injuries incurred (to either the raccoon or themselves). The little guy had quite a surprised look on his face when the can came off. He had no idea where he was. After the can extraction, Sharon drove him back to the exact spot she found him in and he was returned to the wild a little shaken and with quite a story to tell. Sharon did everything right and thanks to her compassion and quick thinking the raccoon won't starve to death somewhere in the woods because of a piece of trash. Please learn from this story and keep your waste carefully stored, so animals can't get into it, literally.

Meet Casper the albino skunk...

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:20:33 GMT

This 2 year old male skunk is the newest addition to our wild family. He lived at a Ministry of Natural Resources reasearch facility, helping in the development of Rabies vaccines that will be distributed to wild skunks in Ontario. The project is done now, leaving Casper in need of a permanent home. When our skunk Petunia is feeling strong and healthy enough, we are hoping to introduce Casper to her as a companion. He is not currently on display as he is in our quarentine area getting checked for a clean bill of health and also so that we can get to know his personality a little better before exhibiting him. We will let you all know when he can be seen by the public. So far he has made himself very much at home and spends his nights digging around for treats we have hidden (hence the dirty face).

Young Creature Heroes Help Hooked Turtle

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:05:17 GMT

Today we had three young brothers show up at our centre with a turtle that they found with a hook stuck in its face. 10 year old Ben, 8 year old Matthew and 5 year old Noah had been catching frogs when they noticed a painted turtle with a big hook that had went through his mouth and out his face beside his nose. Ben caught the turtle in his little net while Matthew ran for help from an adult. They rushed with their Grandma to the centre with "Spot" and we were able to get the netting cut off and the hook removed without too much trouble. The boys returned with Grandpa to pick the turtle up to return it to the spot where they found it. If it were not for their quick thinking and action this turtle would likely have died.

Young Creature Heroes Help Hooked Turtle

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:33:33 GMT

Sad News: Hyde the wolverine has passed away

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hyde has been with us at the centre for 9 years, since she was only a few weeks old. Wolverines can live as long as 18 years so you can imagine how shocked we were that she has left us so early. Several days ago she was discovered in the morning not moving her back end at all. Members of our staff were able to quickly and safely load her and take her for x-rays in Bracebridge. At this point we thought she had likely slipped and fallen, injuring her back. Her x-rays didn't give us any answers so we immediately drove her to Mississauga to Matheson Blvd Veterinary Services where she could have an MRI done. A clot was seen on her spine which seemed to be the cause of the problem. What we didn't know was how it came to be there and how long it would take for her to recover her ability to move again. Back to the centre she came to be cared for while she healed. We gave her medication to reduce any swelling and started around the clock supportive care to make sure she was comfortable and hydrated, which is a difficult task with a wolverine who has full mobility of her head and front limbs. Members of our team were doing a fantastic job, but unfortunately Hyde died suddenly while in their company. We are all still reeling from her sudden death. This is not what we expected at all. An autopsy was done immediately and has turned up no concrete answer as to her mysterious paralysis or sudden death. It is hard to lose a creature we know so well and we have lost many over the years but they usually leave us when they are old and have lived a long wonderful life. Hyde did have a wonderful life but she should have lived twice as long. An animal dying in mid-life is very hard to cope with. Her best friend and enclosure mate, Gulo has also felt the loss of her.

Hyde, being one of only two captive wolverines in Ontario and one of a handful in the country, delighted and helped enlighten tens of thousands of visitors in her lifetime, giving people a rare glimpse of a seldom seen and very misunderstood animal. If you ever visited their enclosure, you will remember one very energetic and curious wolverine, who would come up to the front put her little front paws up on the fence to greet you. That was Hyde and she was the only hand-raised wolverine in the country. Because of her friendly nature, she was able to participate in the filming of numerous wildlife documentaries and photography sessions, leaving behind her own wild legacy. Hyde has left an enormous hole in our family here at the centre and will not be forgotten.

Note: The wonderful people at Matheson Blvd Veterinary Services donated services for Hyde's MRI and we very much appreciate their generosity.

Big juicy caterpillar found on trail today...

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:38:37 GMT

...it will eventually become a Abbott's Sphinx Moth.

Cinder is growing so fast!...

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:08:58 GMT

Our little grey fox kit made her first kill today (kind of). It was a stuffed toy, but she meant it! Check our this cute video...

Petunia is doing great after her surgeries...

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:00:37 GMT

As you can see from this video, our little Petunia is back to her old self. We hid some tasty stuff inside this hollow tree branch piece and she eventually managed to get it all out. When she turns in the video you can see some of her scars from surgery on her rear end.

How to Move a Snapping Turtle...

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:29:30 GMT

Turtles are on the move and are being seen all over Ontario's backroads and highways. Female turtles have come out of the water to lay their eggs and unfortunately mistake our ditches for waterways and our road shoulders for beaches. Most turtle species are not dangerous and are easy to pick up and move. The snapping turtle is another story. They are terrified of people when on land and unlike other turtles cannot fit inside their shell when scared. Instead they have evolved to bite in defense and what a bite it is! The good news is we can still help them out of danger's way and here is a short video to show you how to move them safely (for both you and the turtle). If you want to practice moving a real live snapping turtle come to the centre for a visit and have a chance to give it a try with one of our two snappers, Junior or Sam. Also learn more about snapper here: http://www.muskokawildlifecentre.com/mwc/critter/?animalid=11

Introducing Blossum, our new baby opossum...

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:51:25 GMT

This tiny marsupial has joined our wild family and will be travelling with our live animal outreach team as well as participating in our "Meet the Creature" sessions at the centre.

To learn more about the Virginia opossum go here: http://www.muskokawildlifecentre.com/mwc/critter/?animalid=71

Ocean Commotion - short video for kids starring centre director Jody Gienow

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:03:43 GMT

This great little video has just been released on the internet, and will also make its way into the hands of school teachers across Canada, thanks to the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Environment Canada. It was written by and stars our very own centre director playing...herself. Please share it with the young people in your life. It teaches about the importance of keeping water ecosytems clean and healthy for the creatures that live there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLQnOomp8Rs&feature=player_embedded

Check out some photos of Jody's adventure in B.C. last year while shooting it too.

Kestrel Delivery Service

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:49:28 GMT

A Wing and A Prayer bird rehabilitation centre had three very young kestrels brought to them after the barn they were living in collapsed in the big storm last week. They are so young that they could very easily imprint on humans if we feed them while they can see us or hear us. If they imprint on humans, they will never survive when released back into the wild. Luckily there is a facility in southwestern Ontario that has adult kestrels sitting on eggs of their own right now. If the orphans can be inserted into the nest of those adoptive parents they will grow up knowing what they are and will be able to return to the wild. The little guys needed a lift south and we happened to be going in that direction for Luna the owl's film shoot, so we will be driving them down south tomorrow morning. Thank goodness there are facilities in our province that work so hard together to give helpless little ones like these guys a second chance. When they are full grown they will be released back in Muskoka.

(P.S. This photo was taken very carefully, to ensure they didn't see us.)

Introducing "Cinder" the grey fox kit

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:20:05 GMT

After much debate between MWC staff, we have decided on the name "Cinder" for our new little canine friend. The definition is below. It suits perfectly what this little girl will look like when she is an adult. She will be predominantly the colour of ashes, with a hint of orangey-brown. Awesome suggestion Ann Broughton! Please contact us with your mailing address so we can send you a free day pass and your phone number so we can let you know when Cinder is old enough to be visited at our centre.

cin·der/ˈsindər/

Noun: A small piece of partly burned coal or wood that has stopped giving off flames

Petunia Update

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:25:40 GMT

Our brave little skunk made it through a gruelling surgery today that lasted several hours and involved two surgeons with different expertise. She is conscious now, but still in the beginning phase of recovery. I just spent some time with her (for my own comfort, she is not alert enough to even know I was there) and she looks exhausted but comfy in her recovery chamber. Hopefully she is strong enough to make the trip back to Muskoka tomorrow, where we will continue to care for her until she recovers enough for her last procedure in a few weeks.

Petunia the skunk is getting ready for surgery tomorrow.

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:09:15 GMT

Little Petunia must undergo 3 separate procedures in an attempt to fix her herniated colon and save her life, at a cost of roughly $4000.00. The first of two separate surgery days is tomorrow in Guelph and the Ontario Veterinary College. She will be under for 3 hours and will have 2 of the 3 procedures done during that time. Centre director Jody Gienow will accompany her and stay by her side until she is released from hospital Thursday night. It will be pretty intense and Petunia will require lots of critical care for the days following her return to the centre. If all goes well, her second surgery day will be in a few weeks. We will let you know how it goes in the next couple days.

Luna is the next face of Telus!!!

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:50:53 GMT

She got the part! We will be in studio shooting the still photography and television ads next week for 3 days. Luna will have a supporting cast of many other owls but we have been told she is the star because that is what Canadians want.

Telus Contest for Next Animal in Ads Won by Saw-whet Owl

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:57:46 GMT

Apparently Canadians give a hoot about what animals are featured in the famous Telus ads on television. Telus ran a contest through facebook to pick the next animal. 460,000 people voted and the Saw-whet Owl won by a landslide!

And that's not all... Luna, our resident saw-whet owl, was invited to try out to be the star of the commercials today in Toronto. We are waiting on the edge of our perches to hear how it went. Cross your feathers... oops, I mean fingers.

Today we received a very generous donation of berries, and this made Kootenay a very happy bear.(Click to see more pics)

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:15:15 GMT

Help us name our brand new grey fox kit!

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:54:55 GMT

Grey fox are a threatened species in Ontario and while they used to be quite widespread in the province, there are very few left today. They are very different in behaviour from the more commonly seen red fox and can even climb trees! We are so very excited to have this little cutie join our family. We believe she is the only captive grey fox that the public will be able to see in the entire province. She will be raised by our staff and will join our live-animal outreach team, in an effort to spread the word about her very rare kind.

We want you to help us find a name for her. Leave a comment with your idea for a name, and "like" the names you have seen so far. If we pick your name you will win a free pass to the centre and will be given the chance to meet her up close when you visit!

We'll pick a name in the next few days and introduce her formally.

Spotted Turtle Spotted!!!

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:38:39 GMT

Critically Endangered species of turtle found at the Muskoka Wildlife Centre! This little spotted turtle was nearly run over in our parking lot. Luckily one of our sharp-eyed staff was driving the car and noticed him just in time. He was returned to his body of water unharmed. You are lucky to ever see one of these in your entire lifetime. It's great to know we have spotted turtle habitat right here at the centre! For more info about spotted turtles check this out: http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?doc_type=fact&id=96

Introducing the newest member of our Wild Family...

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:12:30 GMT

Any guesses as to what this precious creature is ?

Petunia Update

Tue, 31 May 2011 16:46:10 GMT

Petunia had a rough day with lots of poking and prodding. Fortunately she was asleep through most of it. Some very knowledgeable and kind veterinarians checked her out through x-rays, ultrasound and a very thorough physical exam. She was sent home until a surgical plan could be made for her possible treatment. Initial thoughts from the surgeon were that she has a badly herniated colon that will require repairing as soon as possible. We will keep you posted.

Our old girl Clover underwent minor surgery today...

Fri, 27 May 2011 17:33:20 GMT

Clover has already surpassed the age expectancy of a groundhog but isn't ready to leave us any time soon. We discovered a strange growth protruding from her and were worried that this might be the beginning of the end for this amazing gal. After a trip to the vet to investigate and a minor surgery done by Dr. Mel, our Clover is recovering and is expected to keep on going for a while longer. What a relief, we are not ready to let her go yet, wouldn't be the same without her begging for rodent cookies from staff and biting us when we don't move fast enough.

Police Officer Serves and Protects Turtle

Tue, 17 May 2011 20:54:06 GMT

Local OPP officer Chris Marshall saved this painted turtle from a road after it had been run over by a car and severely injured today. He called our centre for advice on how to help it get medical attention for its badly broken shell. We told him about the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre, a rehabilitation centre in Peterborough dedicated solely to the care of wild turtles in need of help. We made the call for him to see what arrangements could be made to get the little turtle to Peterborough. A volunteer is able to drive to our centre in the morning to get the turtle and take him for treatment. In the meantime, Officer Marshall was able to meet one of our staff, Krystal, to hand over the patient for overnight care. The turtle has been taped together carefully for the night and put in a dark, quiet space to rest. We hope the little guy will make it through treatment and be able to return to Muskoka to live many more years in the wild. If he does, it will be thanks to the compassion and action of Officer Marshall.

If you come across an injured turtle please contact the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre through their website at http://www.kawarthaturtle.org/ or by phone at (705)741-5000.

We love our supporters and their generous donations!

Mon, 16 May 2011 17:01:09 GMT

Throughout the year we get a variety of donations from different individuals and businesses and we appreciate everything we get. Some donations can be very simple; fruits/vegetables, meat, tools, blankets, money, while others can be more complex; mulch, tree trimmings, appliances, professional services.

Today, Dan from "Dan the Woodman", dropped off a truck load of fresh cut maple branches. This is a great natural food source for our moose, beavers and porcupines and they definitely appreciate it.

Here are a few shots of our moose, Lucky and Chocolate, munching away on this recent donation.

If you have something you would like to donate, contact us at (705) 689-0222 or info@muskokawildlifecentre.com.

If you live in our neighbourhood and need trees removed from your property or junk hauled away, Dan's your guy, and he can be contacted at (705) 689-1806 or danthewoodman@bellnet.ca. We should all support businesses that are run by generous people like Dan.

First Turtle Rescue of the Year!

Thu, 05 May 2011 13:36:37 GMT

Our awesome staff members, Laura and Becki, just rescued this huge, beautiful and very rare Blanding's turtle off of the road. Now that the temperatures are getting higher, we will see more turtles (and snakes) on the roads, moving around to find mates or lay eggs. We definitely brake for reptiles and we hope you do too. If you do save a creature off of the road, we want to hear about it here on facebook so tell us your stories. In the meantime, learn about Blanding's turtles here http://www.muskokawildlifecentre.com/mwc/critter/?animalid=6 or better yet, come by the centre and ask our staff to show you how to safely move turtles off of the road, including even snapping turtles!

Our Wolverines Are Stars

Mon, 02 May 2011 17:11:53 GMT

Each year many of our wild residents travel the country to participate in filmwork. This filmwork can range from commercials, tv shows, feature films, or documentaries and is an important part of our centre's revenue.

At the end of last year our wolverines, Gulo and Hyde, were involved in the making of a Degree deodorant commercial. The wolverines enjoyed the change of scenery for the day and outings like these are an important form of enrichment for our animals.

The commercial aired earlier this week and if you haven't already seen it, here it is. So check out Gulo and Hyde's acting skills and just so you know... no actors were harmed in the making of this commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQZbxzEdQU8

Mysterious jelly-like substance...what is it?

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 17:32:12 GMT

We spotted these gooey blobs in our pond on the back trail today. Any guesses as to who put them there?

We just squeaked through again...

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:23:37 GMT

Well it looks as though we made it through another tough off-season. The centre brings in 90% of its admission income during the summer months (June, July, August) and those funds have to get us through the colder months (September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May). Our bills are bigger in the winter; heat, extra food to fatten up our friends, extra bedding and very significant amounts of snow removal. We lay off most of our staff in the fall, cut our spending to necessities only, close our eyes, hold our breath and hope we make it through to the spring.

We will be open this weekend from 12 noon to 5 pm and so far the weather is looking good. Please come take a walk around our trail, say hello to your favourite wild friends and help us get back in the black.