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GIVE WILDLIFE A SECOND CHANCE
Red-tailed Chipmunk: Patient Number 1204 of 2024​
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In July, a tiny red-tailed chipmunk arrived at our doors—patient 1204 of the year. This patient was a rarity for us, as there’s only a small population of red-tailed chipmunks found in the province. It had been discovered on a beach, struggling to move, weak and exposed to the elements.
This tiny chipmunk was admitted during the heat wave in July and once in care, our team determined it was a young infant, likely dehydrated from sun exposure, and was thin, weighing only 16 grams. Despite its small size, we knew this little life mattered. At Calgary Wildlife, we treat every patient with the same level of care, no matter how big or small. This chipmunk was one of the tiniest creatures we’ve cared for this year, but it deserved every chance to survive.
Over the course of a month, the chipmunk slowly gained strength. With supportive care, proper hydration, and a species specific diet, it reached a healthy weight and was ready to return to the wild. True to our commitment, we released it back to the area where it was originally found—ensuring it could resume its place in the ecosystem it was born into.
Red-tailed chipmunks are agile, fast creatures, known for their bright tails and distinctive stripes that run from their heads to their backs. Unlike other chipmunk species, they are excellent climbers and spend much of their time in trees, feeding on seeds, berries, and insects. Though small, they play an important role in spreading seeds and maintaining the natural balance in their habitats.
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Merlin: Patient Number 1415 of 2024​
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In mid-July, we welcomed our twelfth merlin of the year into care—an injured little falcon with a fighting spirit. When this patient arrived, it was clear the bird had been through a lot. Its left leg was swollen, and a fractured wing left it grounded and vulnerable. We immediately provided medication to ease its pain, wrapped the damaged wing, and hoped time and care would bring healing.
The days that followed were challenging. Every week, our veterinary team carefully monitored the merlin’s condition, but despite our best efforts, there was little progress. Three weeks in, the prognosis was grim. The swelling lingered, and the wing remained fragile. But something inside this bird refused to give up—it wasn't ready to let go of the skies.
Slowly, signs of improvement began to appear. The swelling eased, and the merlin gained enough strength to move into a larger flight pen. Here, she practiced the skills every raptor needs—testing her wings, mastering short jumps, and honing the art of the hunt. Day by day, she grew stronger, and by September, the moment we’d all hoped for had finally arrived, release day, back to the wild where she belongs!
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Little Brown Bat: Patient Number 1811 of 2024​
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In the far southwest corner of Calgary, a little brown bat was found lying on the floor of a store—an unusual and concerning sight. Bats found in such vulnerable positions are often in trouble, and this one was no exception. It became the sixth little brown bat we admitted into care in 2024, and our team quickly secured it, bringing it to our specialized bat hospital for assessment.
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Upon arrival, we found the bat was dehydrated but showed no signs of injury. Once settled into a terrarium with fresh water and a handful of mealworms, the bat began to improve within a few days. Little brown bats, like many other bat species in Alberta, are now listed as endangered, which makes every individual case important. These bats play a critical role in the ecosystem by consuming insects that would otherwise disrupt natural balances or damage crops.
After 18 days in our care, the bat was ready to return to the wild. Its recovery is a reminder of the importance of our bat hospital and the role we play in protecting these often-overlooked animals. Thanks to a bit of care and time, this small but vital predator now has another chance to thrive in the night skies, contributing to the health of the environment in ways only bats can.
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Red-Tailed Hawk: Patient Number 610 of 2024​
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While attending the Mayor's Expo at City Hall this summer, Calgary Wildlife responded to an unexpected emergency. Security alerted us to a hawk sitting on the sidewalk after flying into a window. Stunned and stressed by gathering onlookers, the bird needed help immediately.
Our team quickly secured it and transported it to our facility.
At the site, we identified it as a Red-tailed Hawk. Emaciated, dehydrated, and showing neurological signs from the collision, the bird was too weak to resist handling. While the exact cause remains unknown, we believe a combination of malnourishment and the window strike led to its condition. During the first week in our care, we weren’t sure what the hawk’s prognosis would be, but after a week we started to see signs of improvement and amazingly after 35 days in care was ready to be released back to the wild.
Red-tailed Hawks play a crucial role in the ecosystem by controlling rodent populations. Unfortunately, window strikes are common but preventable with bird-safe tape, which reduces reflections that confuse birds. Thankfully, we were in the right place at the right time—without intervention, the hawk may not have survived.
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Click the image below to see release video
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North American Beaver: Patient Number 133 of 2024​
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In March 2024, a young beaver was admitted to Calgary Wildlife after being found wandering the river paths of Calgary’s East Village. She was quite underweight and likely displaced after separating from her family, facing the challenges that many young beavers encounter when venturing out on their own. Alone and far from her natural habitat, her journey could have ended there, but thanks to the dedicated care of Calgary Wildlife, she received a second chance. Over the course of her 133 days in our care, she put on weight and regained her strength, preparing her for the wild.
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Upon her release in Beaver Mines, she immediately embraced her natural instincts. During our last visit, she was quite literally busy as a beaver, building a dam in her new environment. Beavers are known as nature’s engineers, playing a vital role in creating wetlands that support countless species, purify water, and reduce erosion. With her return to nature, this little beaver can now continue the important work that beavers do—helping to shape and sustain the environment, just as she was meant to.
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👇 View her full release video 👇​​​
Snowy Owl: 5th release of 2024
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At the very end of 2023, a snowy owl was found caught in a barbed wire fence in rural Alberta, urgently needing assistance. A piece of wire was still lodged in his wing, but fortunately, he had no broken bones. Once on site, our team sprang into action, carefully extracting the wire, cleaning the wound, and administering pain relief and medication to prevent infection. We monitored him closely in quarantine for several days to ensure he was healing and regaining his strength. Sadly, collisions with wire fences and power lines are a frequent cause of death for snowy owls spending winter in Canada.
This majestic owl, our third release of 2024, was soon moved to an outdoor enclosure where he could strengthen his muscles and practice flying and hunting. Snowy owls are remarkable beings, gliding silently over open landscapes in search of prey. After 29 days in care and an impressive recovery, this owl was ready to be released back into the wild.
Here are some interesting facts: Snowy owls reside in northern Canada all year long. Some migrate further south during winter, returning to the Arctic for the breeding season, while others stay in the Arctic year-round. When a large number of snowy owls migrate, this phenomenon is known as an irruption.
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Great Horned Owl: Patient Number 1632 of 2024​
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In August, a Great Horned Owl was brought to us after the devastating hailstorm at the start of the month. The poor owl arrived with multiple injuries, including bruising in its mouth, a fractured upper beak, a broken toe, a damaged blood feather, and a blacked-out eye that led to complete vision loss. It was clear the owl had been through a lot, but we can never know for sure what happened to our patients before they reach us. Given the timing and the severity of the storm, it’s likely the hailstorm played a large role in this owl's suffering.
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Wildlife have nowhere to escape during extreme weather, and this owl was no exception. Despite its rough state, the owl showed incredible resilience. Over a few weeks in our care, it healed remarkably well. Before being released, we tested its hunting abilities, which it passed with flying colors as owls use their amazing sense of hearing to help them hunt. After 14 days, this strong and determined owl was returned to the wild, ready to thrive once again.
Bald Eagle: Patient Number 128 of 2024​
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In early March, Calgary Wildlife received a call about a bald eagle in distress near Okotoks. A farmer had spotted the bird down in the snow sadly frozen at the base of a tree. Once the eagle was at the Calgary Wildlife clinic, he was treated for shock and examined thoroughly by our team. Though his foot was swollen, and he had a small wing wound, there were no signs of fracture or lead poisoning and was otherwise in good health.
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After a quarantine period, the eagle was moved to our largest flight pen to begin conditioning his flight muscles for release. He was a bit weak the first day, but immediately stretched his wings and after a few jumps, flew up onto a perch. As a tribute to his species and their reputation as strong and stoic creatures, he quickly regained strength and beautiful flight. Although bald eagles are no longer considered at risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), they remain a protected species due to threats like habitat loss, pesticides, and rodenticides and are magnificent birds that play a vital role in our ecosystems. After 22 days in our care, this magnificent bird was released back to the wild.