© iStockphoto.com / Jeff Chevrier

It was 1:00 am, and we just turned a corner of a quiet Toronto street. Lost in conversation, we walked on, oblivious to our surroundings. Then, suddenly, the scene became clear: A squawking bird overhead, another barely limping toward the curb, and a sleek cat waiting in the wing. A car sped past, nearly hitting the injured the American Robin. Struck by our own ignorance, we wondered how to ethically respond: What should we do?

Nathalie Karvonen, Executive Director and co-founder of the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC), has spent over fifteen years helping wildlife in need. A truly inspirational registered charity, the TWC has provided medical care and rehabilitation services to tens of thousands of animals, while also educating the public about how to live more harmoniously with our wild neighbours. In this interview, we learn about the major dangers facing urban wildlife, how to help a sick or injured animal, why wildlife vets are a rare breed, and the TWC’s specialized programs, including the Wildlife Rescue and Oil Spill Response.

News links:

• Early fish had rudimentary fingers, scientists find
• Maple Leaf reopens plant at heart of listeria outbreak
• Eating greens ‘makes you greener’
• Officials investigating release of 6,000 mink from west Kaysville farm

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