SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre looking for fish donations..

TheRock

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http://www.timescolonist.com/news/yum-chum-if-you-give-the-birds-will-eat-1.575289

If you’re sick of salmon, fed up of halibut and don’t know what to do with smelts, the B.C. SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre wants to hear from you.

The centre is dealing with 31 baby gulls, a kingfisher, a young bald eagle, a nursery full of baby raccoons and two orphaned otters, all of which are consuming fish, said Wild ARC manager Kari Marks.

“Wild ARC requires an astounding amount of fish to satisfy the needs of recovering patients,” she said.

The juvenile bald eagle — recovering after being hit by three cars near the Helmcken Road overpass, where it was probably hunting rabbits on the median — is expected to be released later this year.

Meanwhile, he is making the most of the free meals.

“He was pretty skinny when he came in,” Marks said. “Now he gladly makes a meal of a whole salmon.”

The baby gulls, which are often brought in after ill-fated first flights from high buildings in downtown Victoria stay for several weeks developing their flight abilities, learning skills they need to survive in the wild — and devouring bite-sized chunks of salmon.

The belted kingfisher, recovering from a wing and shoulder injury, prefers at least one dozen smelt a day. The two orphaned river otters eat three large salmon or one large trout a day, while the raccoon babies are willing to eat just about anything.

“Providing access to fish and other seafood gives them the nutrition needed to develop, while helping them to identify their natural food sources,” Marks said.

Wild ARC receives regular donations from the Bluewater Bait Company, but, because of high demand, is also asking for donations from the public, Marks said.

For more information, call Wild ARC at 250-478-9453.

jlavoie@timescolonist.com
 
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