This is the busiest time of year for our hospital staff and volunteers, as baby birds and animals flock in.
What are the common reasons for mishaps at this time of year, you may ask?
The MARS hospital had 28 new admissions in less than a week, and these were nearly all human-related (and preventable) tragedies: fourteen due to cat attacks, eight vehicle strikes, four window strikes and two injuries for which the cause was undetermined.
We can do better! Especially during nesting season, when fledglings are so easily found by roaming pets, we can keep our cats and dogs under control, either indoors, on a leash for outdoor walks or in 鈥榗atio鈥� secure enclosures. If a cat does have contact with an animal of any kind, even if there are no noticeable injuries, the animal needs to come into MARS to receive antibiotics, as cat saliva is incredibly harmful and can kill if left untreated.
A gentle reminder: some of our downy baby birds leave the nest before they can fly. These 鈥榝ledglings鈥� can often be seen hopping around on the ground, looking very helpless (and they are very vulnerable to our pets during this time). But if you back away and watch awhile, you might see mum or dad coming around with a food delivery. They鈥檒l do this for a week or two until the young鈥檜n fledges, and if a well-meaning human 鈥渒ind-naps鈥� and removes it from the scene, the little bird will miss out on the all-important final parent-teenage advice. Please call MARS Hospital before rescuing any animal; they are always happy to offer advice: Call 250-337-2021
About those window strikes: Mars gift shop sells, at cost, bird-friendly window treatments for those that reflect trees and sky. And the shop is now available online!No matter what the gardening experts tell you, please don鈥檛 prune your trees and hedges now! Birds begin nest-building in January and the nesting season extends right through the summer. The best time for trimming your greenery is late fall and early winter: better for the trees and the birds! If you MUST prune or cut out a tree, please take the time to inspect it closely for nests beforehand. (Did you know that it鈥檚 actually illegal to disturb active bird nests? Oh, Canada, we care!)
Finally, some exciting news: MARS will be hosting "Plant Native, Grow Wild!" on Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.. Join us and our community partners to learn how to create a healthy habitat for bees, bugs, birds, and all beings in your own backyard. We鈥檒l have some beautiful native plants for sale along advice from a variety of knowledgeable sources.
