North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre We are a non-profit organization that cares for the well-being of Vancouver Island wildlife.
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🦃 RAPTOR DID YOU KNOW? — TURKEY VULTUREDid you know Turkey Vultures have one of the more unusual defence strategies in t...
08/30/2026

🦃 RAPTOR DID YOU KNOW? — TURKEY VULTURE

Did you know Turkey Vultures have one of the more unusual defence strategies in the bird world?

When threatened, they can vomit their last meal at a potential predator. 🤢 Not exactly glamorous, but when your diet consists mostly of carrion, it's a pretty effective way to convince something to leave you alone!

But Turkey Vultures are fascinating for another reason — they have an exceptional sense of smell, able to detect a few molecules of scent per trillion molecules of air, something relatively uncommon among birds. This helps them locate carrion hidden deep beneath the forest canopy.

And while their dining habits might make some people squeamish, vultures provide an incredibly important service. By cleaning up dead animals, they help recycle nutrients and keep our ecosystems healthier.

Not the most glamorous raptor on Vancouver Island perhaps… but definitely one of the most important! ❤️

This young Merlin arrived in July with a fractured tibiotarsus (leg). The injured leg was carefully splinted, and every ...
08/29/2026

This young Merlin arrived in July with a fractured tibiotarsus (leg).

The injured leg was carefully splinted, and every three days, the Merlin received physiotherapy to ensure the leg remained properly positioned and continued to heal well.

After completing its cage rest and allowing the bone time to strengthen following cast removal, this little one has now graduated to a larger outdoor enclosure! Here, it can build up its muscles, improve its flight, and practice the other important skills it will need to thrive in the wild.

We’re so happy with its progress and look forward to seeing this young Merlin take the next steps toward its return to the wild!

08/28/2026

🐻 Throughout wildfire and drought season you may see more wildlife entering more urban spaces to search for food and water sources, including our bear neighbours.

🐻 With bears also starting to bulk up for winter hibernation, it is more important than ever to make sure our communities are being bear smart and following bear aware best practices. This includes managing bear attractants around your property such as securing your garbage, recycling, and compost, cleaning BBQ grills, or picking ripe or fallen fruit daily.

🐻 Learn more about bears in B.C. and spread the word about how to deal with curious bears in your community with our bear-aware door hanger: https://spca.bc.ca/programs-services/wild-animal-programs/wildlife-coexistence/learn-about-bc-wildlife/bears/

Credit: Jack Siu

🧩 Puzzle Lovers, This One’s for You! 🧩Looking for the perfect activity for a cozy afternoon? We have a wonderful selecti...
08/28/2026

🧩 Puzzle Lovers, This One’s for You! 🧩

Looking for the perfect activity for a cozy afternoon? We have a wonderful selection of Cobble Hill Puzzles available in our Gift Shop!

With beautiful artwork, colourful designs and plenty of pieces to keep you busy, they’re perfect for rainy days, quiet evenings or your next family puzzle night. 💚

🎁 They also make a great gift for the puzzle lover in your life!

Stop by the Gift Shop during your next visit and find your favourite. And remember—every purchase helps support the wildlife in our care. 🦉🐻🦅

This Great Horned Owl arrived in June after being found severely emaciated. He was so weak that he was unable to maintai...
08/27/2026

This Great Horned Owl arrived in June after being found severely emaciated. He was so weak that he was unable to maintain his own body temperature and required supplemental heat in a controlled temperature environment.

Bloodwork showed that he would need plenty of supportive care to restore his hydration, red blood cell count, and total protein to healthy levels. A personalized feeding plan was created to slowly reintroduce food and allow his body to adjust without overwhelming his system.

With time, patience, and continued supportive care, this owl nearly doubled his weight from intake and reached a normal, healthy weight for an adult Great Horned Owl!

After a long rollercoaster of a rehabilitation journey, we are beyond thrilled to share that he has made a full recovery and was returned to the wild this week!

🏡🐦 A Little Home for Your Feathered Neighbours!Give your backyard birds a cozy place to call home with the Pinebush Home...
08/26/2026

🏡🐦 A Little Home for Your Feathered Neighbours!

Give your backyard birds a cozy place to call home with the Pinebush Home & Garden Multi-Face Nesting Box!

With its charming design and multiple decorative faces, this nesting box adds a touch of personality to your garden while celebrating the wonderful birds that share our outdoor spaces. 🌿🐦

Perfect for the backyard, garden, or as a thoughtful gift for the bird lover in your life!

🛍️ Stop by our Gift Shop and check them out during your next visit!

Every purchase helps support the wildlife in our care. 💚

🦉🌲 DID YOU KNOW?Despite its name, the Western Screech-Owl doesn’t really “screech”!Its most recognizable call is actuall...
08/25/2026

🦉🌲 DID YOU KNOW?

Despite its name, the Western Screech-Owl doesn’t really “screech”!

Its most recognizable call is actually a series of short, whistled notes that speed up toward the end — often compared to a bouncing ball. 🎶

These small owls can be found on Vancouver Island, where their mottled grey and brown feathers provide incredible camouflage against tree bark. You could walk right past one and never know it was there!

Western Screech-Owls are cavity nesters, relying on natural tree cavities or holes created by woodpeckers for places to nest and raise their young. 🌲

Small, secretive and wonderfully well camouflaged — they’re one of Vancouver Island’s fascinating nighttime neighbours. 💚

Have you ever heard or spotted a Western Screech-Owl? 🦉👇

🌲📚 HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT TREES ARE SAYING TO EACH OTHER?Step into the fascinating world of the forest with The Hid...
08/24/2026

🌲📚 HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT TREES ARE SAYING TO EACH OTHER?

Step into the fascinating world of the forest with The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben.

Discover how trees communicate, support one another, share resources and form surprisingly complex communities beneath the forest floor. It’s a wonderful read for nature lovers and anyone who has ever felt a little bit of magic while walking through the woods. 🌿

Pick up a copy on your next visit to our Gift Shop — and you may never look at a forest quite the same way again! 🌲💚

🦅 RAPTOR DID YOU KNOW? — BALD EAGLEDid you know a Bald Eagle can see several times farther than a human?Their extraordin...
08/23/2026

🦅 RAPTOR DID YOU KNOW? — BALD EAGLE

Did you know a Bald Eagle can see several times farther than a human?

Their extraordinary eyesight helps them spot potential prey from high above the ground or water. Their eyes also have adaptations that give them excellent detail and color vision — pretty handy when you're searching for your next meal from the sky!
Bald eagles have rough patches on the bottoms of their feet, an adaptation for grasping and holding fish, their primary food source.
They mate for life and often return to the same nest for years, adding to it over time until it can be up to 3 metres in diameter and 900 kgs in weight!

Here on Vancouver Island, we're incredibly fortunate to share our home with these magnificent raptors. So the next time you spot one perched high in a tree, remember — there's a pretty good chance it spotted you first! 👀🦅

🐻🌲 A Little Wilderness at Your Door!Welcome guests with a touch of the wild with our beautiful Forest Bear Doormat from ...
08/21/2026

🐻🌲 A Little Wilderness at Your Door!

Welcome guests with a touch of the wild with our beautiful Forest Bear Doormat from NACH!

Featuring a striking forest bear design with a silver and copper finish, this unique doormat brings rustic, nature-inspired charm to your doorstep.

Perfect for the cabin, cottage, or any home that could use a little more wilderness. 🌲🏡

Stop by our Gift Shop and take a look on your next visit!

Address

1240 Leffler Road
Parksville, BC
V0R1V0

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday 9am - 4:30pm
Sunday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12502488534

Website

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