A hospital northwest of Airdrie that treats huge, hairy beasts and small feathered ones has seen a large uptick in the number of patients they've treated during 2020.

The Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) located near Madden cared for a record 2,040 animals, an increase of over 30 percent from the 2019 numbers.  The patients included bear cubs, moose calves, deer fawns, owls, songbirds, and plenty of other Alberta wildlife representatives. 

Two of those patients are fondly referred to as “the twins”. Too young to survive on their own, these moose twins were brought to AIWC in May 2020 after their mother was hit and killed by a car. In the spring of 2021, when the calves are old enough to fend for themselves, the centre will release them back to the wild.

AIWC Executive Director Holly Lillie knew the demand for their services was increasing each year, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, had no idea what it would mean for Alberta’s wildlife.   She wondered if people would be at home more, meaning less wildlife would be injured by vehicle collisions and other means, or if more wildlife would get the help they needed because people were at home more and were finding wildlife that otherwise not have been found or helped.  Regardless of the circumstances, AIWC's services were needed more than ever.  

The centre cared for over 600 more animals in 2020 which has put a strain on their resources.  Now AIWC is asking Albertans to consider them in their Christmas giving to help ensure that injured and orphaned wildlife have a place to go when they're in need today, or in the future.  

Click HERE  to get involved in their fundraising campaign.  Their goal is to raise $60,000 and they've achieved just over half.    

Along with helping more than 2,000 animals this year, the centre also logged 6,362 calls to their hotline and volunteers committed more than 6,000 volunteer hours to helping animals.  

AIWC has been operating since 1993 and is accredited through the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.

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