Irene and Clint Davy have looked after a lot of critters in their lifetime. For the last 30 years they have been operating the Gibsons Wildlife Rehab Centre where they have nursed back to health everything from baby herons to eagles, owls, songbirds, coyote pups, bobcats, mink, bear cubs, salamanders and beavers, to name a few.
Currently they are nursing three different species of owl, and invited the Coast Reporter to come and take photos of the great horned owl, barred owl and saw-whet owl.
The biggest of the three, the great horned owl, was found in Gibsons, tangled in the netting of a chicken coop, hanging by his wing. Irene said the great horned owl didn’t seriously injure himself when he attempted to get a quick meal from the chicken coop, but he needs to rest and stay still for a while and will be released in a few days.
The barred owl was brought in with a serious head injury three weeks ago and will stay for a few weeks more until his scalp heals. Eventually he will be released near Sargeant Bay where he was found.
The tiny saw-whet owl looks like a baby but he’s fully grown. He was brought to the rehabilitation centre after he flew into a window near Sechelt. Initially he couldn’t stand on his legs, and lay on his stomach for a few days. Clint examined the bird and discovered through a fecal exam that it had internal parasites as well. He will be staying for a while.
The pair is certified by the National Wildlife Research Council (NWRC) and has completed the NWRC advanced training. The federal and provincial governments, who each have jurisdiction over different animals, certify the centre itself and the local rehab centre owners have to report to both levels of government.
They do not receive government funding and rely solely on donations and fundraisers. They will be hosting an annual fundraiser silent auction at Sunnycrest Mall on Nov. 24 and 25.
Last year the centre fielded 3,627 calls about animals that needed help, an average of 10 calls per day for distressed wildlife. They also rely heavily on volunteers and are currently in need of more volunteers, who can work a four-hour shift, to help clean cages and feed animals. If you are interested in helping out, please call 604-886-4989.
