WHAT
WE DO
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
AWI works under the globally recognized concept of One Health.
This is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. Starting from this concept, AWI focuses on displaced wildlife, which can be a key indicator of environmental stressors in our communities.
Wildlife care program
Wildlife care, also known as wildlife rehabilitation, is at the core of the work done by AWI with today’s society causing many struggles for wildlife populations.
Emergency response
Wildlife emergencies can vary greatly, from rescuing an individual endangered species to protecting entire populations in major environmental disasters.
Educational outreach
AWI’s wildlife programs and facilities allow us to reach far into the community with an extensive suite of educational outreach services.
Wildlife care
Today’s society causes many struggles for wildlife populations.
As diverse and seemingly abundant as our numerous wildlife species may appear, they constantly conflict with human activities.
Toxicity, human infringement on natural habitat, diseases, and indifference are the battles wildlife species face daily.
At AWI, we use wildlife care, also known as wildlife rehabilitation, to help determine the overall health of populations. This means providing the necessary care for each patient to enable a safe, healthy return to the wild.
AWI relies on a network of professional and volunteer support to care for the many animals in desperate need of help.
Veterinarians, vet techs, wildlife biologists, pathologists, AWI-trained 1st responders, and interested volunteers lend a helping hand.
Wildlife patients who are admitted can suffer from injuries caused by:
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impact from collision (building, vehicle, powerlines)
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domestic animal attacks (cats, dogs)
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entrapment (fishing line, snares/traps, fences)
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gunshots, pellet guns
AWI will also admit animals that are ill from a variety of sources:
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complications from parasitic loads such as sarcoptic mange
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complications from being oiled
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lead poisoning and other environmental toxins
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distemper and other parvoviruses
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avian diseases (, avian pox, aspergillosis, trichomoniasis)
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During the busy spring and summer seasons, orphaned wild animals are found because:
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mothers are killed on the roadways
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mothers are trapped and removed, leaving young ones behind
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domestic animals nesting areas
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habitat is destroyed, tumbling nests to the ground
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general public unknowingly removes a healthy baby from its environment
Wildlife emergency response service
When you need us, we need to be ready.
Wildlife emergencies can range from the minute to the enormous. Responses may be as immediate as rescuing a single individual of an endangered species or as extensive as protecting and monitoring entire populations caught up in a major environmental disaster.
Effective response to wildlife emergencies requires coordination and commitment from diverse and sometimes divergent stakeholders.
Right now, AWI is the only organization in Atlantic Canada that can address all the standard emergency response issues, from:
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pre-planning
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education
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mitigation
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industry training
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wildlife recovery
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wildlife rehabilitation
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event data collection
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regulatory reporting
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With industry, government, and community support, AWI is implementing a fully functional Wildlife Emergency Response Service. This service will ensure that Atlantic Canadians, industry, and regulators have the skills, resources, standards, and strategies to deal with wildlife crisis scenarios.
If you represent a company or industry that needs assistance with your business activities, please get in touch with AWI at (506) 364-1902 and speak to our Program Director to see how best AWI can meet your needs.
Educational outreach
AWI has developed an extensive suite of educational outreach services.
These programs range from public presentations to pre- and post-secondary school visitations and specialized training services for wildlife response professionals.
AWI has also offered on-site workshops, camps, and professional skill development opportunities, striving to reach target audiences that benefit from its involvement.
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School visits
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On-site presentations
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Curriculum-based programs
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Community group presentations
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Youth nature-based camps
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Workshops
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Student hands-on training