Animal Hospital: Rescuing Urban Wildlife

by Julia Coey

Overview

Our cities are already filled with a huge variety of wildlife. As urban areas expand, they impinge on the natural habitats of animals that would not otherwise find themselves in an urban setting, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as rare, threatened and even endangered wildlife.

Animal Hospital describes how injured and orphaned wild animals are rehabilitated and cared for after being rescued from perilous situations. It follows the activities of an urban animal rescue facility and the efforts of the trained professionals that rescue, treat, rehabilitate and release the animals.

Kids will learn about the amazing wild animals that they may encounter in their neighborhoods, even the most recognizable have fascinating traits. They will get tips on how to protect and support urban wildlife, and learn what to do if they encounter an animal that needs help.

There are exciting real-life stories about rescued animals with photographs that give readers an up-close look. While including animals in North America, Animal Hospital also describes international efforts that encourage conservation and awareness.

This is a valuable title in the classroom and an exciting and inspiring choice for any youngster.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781770857223
Publisher:	Firefly Books, Limited
Publication date:	09/02/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

A leader in the field of wildlife rehabilitation, Toronto Wildlife Centre is the only veterinary hospital and rehabilitation facility for sick, injured and orphaned wild animals in the Greater Toronto Area and one of the busiest in Canada. Julia Coey develops outreach materials for The Toronto Wildlife Centre.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Understanding Wildlife Rehabilitation

A Dangerous World
Changing the Odds
Education and Awareness
Myth-Busting
Is Wildlife Rehab Important?

Chapter 2: Rehabilitation in Action

A Call for Help
The Hotline at Work
Assessment and Admitting
Babies in Care
Helping Baby Birds

Chapter 3: Life in a Rehabilitation Center

Creativity Required
Enclosures
Diet
A Skunk Story
A Day in the Life of a Vet
Raptor Rescue

Chapter 4: To the Rescue!

Common Loon Rescue
An Oily Mess
Saving the Swans

Chapter 5: Release

Making a Difference

Getting Involved
Wildlife Rehabilitation around the World

Photo Credits
Resources
Index

Preface

Introduction

In 1992, wildlife biologist Nathalie Karvonen was working at a humane society in Toronto when she noticed a pressing need for wildlife rehabilitation services. Not only were there few options for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, there was a lack of information and support for the people who wanted to help. In response, she founded the non-profit organization Toronto Wildlife Centre in 1992 with a handful of dedicated volunteers. What started as a basic wildlife information hotline run from a single phone is now a full service wildlife hospital and rehabilitation center with a dedicated rescue team.

Today, Toronto Wildlife Centre's hotline is run by a team of staff and volunteers who handle tens of thousands of calls each year. Over 80,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals representing more than 270 different species have been helped -- approximately 5,000 animals a year. This is only the tip of the iceberg. All around the world, hundreds of thousands of wild animals are hurt by direct and indirect contact with humans. But wildlife rehabilitators are changing these odds.

This book tells the story of wildlife rehabilitation through the work of one of the busiest wildlife rehabilitation centers in Canada, and was made possible by Toronto Wildlife Centre's dedicated staff, volunteers and donors. Thank you for changing the world one animal at a time!

To learn more about the center and how you can help sick, injured and orphaned wild animals visit www.torontowildlifecentre. com.

Editorial Reviews

Based on work at the Toronto Wildlife Centre, this is the story of how wildlife that lives in urban areas can be injured, treated, rehabilitated, and, in some cases, released back to the wild. The book includes stories of actual animals and what happened to them, as well as step-by-step photos of some of the treatments. Readers learn how staff examine and treat both a skunk with seven dessert cups tightly lodged around its head and a red-tailed hawk with a shoulder fracture. They will be fascinated by the rescue of a common loon trapped in a small pond and how rescuers clean a mute swan family covered with oil. The text includes important information about how to prevent problems with wildlife, as well as what to do if you find an injured animal. Sidebars provide information about treacherous trash and killer cats. There's also a career profile about a day in the life of a wildlife veterinarian and tips on how readers can get involved with animals. The title is recommended as a way to increase general understanding of urban wildlife and help people of all ages modify their behaviours in ways that can prevent attracting and harming them. A table of contents, a resources list, and an index are included.

Resource Links - Helen Mason

Striking an excellent balance between visual appeal and content, this book provides foundational do's and don'ts of animal rescue. Using the Toronto Wildlife Center as her point of reference, Coey introduces readers to the concept of animal rehabilitation and offers examples of it at work, highlighting call centers and the process by which sick, injured, or orphaned animals are admitted into rehab centers. Next, readers learn the importance of individualized care, which is shown through customized enclosures and feeding methods. Also stressed is limiting human contact when helping patients return to the wild. The final two chapters look at dangerous scenarios that require trained wildlife rescuers—often due to human-made disasters, such as oil spills. While cute pictures prevail, there are also photos of urban animals injured by garbage... Appropriate cautions are issued about interacting with wildlife, as are tips for getting involved... Well-rounded and informative.

Booklist - Julia Smith

(starred review) Highlighting the work of the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC), this book describes how wild animals are rehabilitated after being rescued from perilous situations. True stories demonstrate the efforts of the trained professionals who rescue, treat, rehabilitate and release orphaned, sick or injured animals. Readers learn about the wild animals that they may encounter and get tips on how to protect and support urban wildlife.

The Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens 2016

Gorgeous color photographs and interesting information make this small book seem much larger.

Crow River Media - Jan Pease

(starred review) Highlighting the work of the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC), this book describes how wild animals are rehabilitated after being rescued from perilous situations. True stories demonstrate the efforts of the trained professionals who rescue, treat, rehabilitate and release orphaned, sick or injured animals. Readers learn about the wild animals that they may encounter and get tips on how to protect and support urban wildlife.

The Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books f

12/01/2015
Gr 4–6—This informative book examines the work of the Toronto Wildlife Center and offers suggestions about saving urban wildlife. Using examples of cases handled by the Center, Coey efficiently details how animals are rescued, describes the rehabilitation operations, and stresses the importance of releasing animals back into their natural environments. Throughout, she emphasizes ways humans should and should not interact with urban wildlife. The writing style is direct and accessible. Sidebars add extra detail. Attractive photographs vary in size from a bit larger than a postage stamp to full pages and depict animals such as squirrels, opossum, raccoons, skunks, assorted birds, rabbits, and mink. The book lacks a glossary, and readers may be confused by terms such as bandicoots and quendas. Susan E. Goodman's Animal Rescue: The Best Job There Is (S. & S., 2000) follows the work of one wildlife rescuer participating in wildlife rescues in different regions of the world. Sally Morgan's Animal Rescue (Cherrytree, 2010) covers animal rescue in areas such as the rainforest and ocean. Coey's treatment is limited to wildlife in urban settings but has more depth. VERDICT A fascinating and enlightening look at the topic.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

School Library Journal

2015-09-16
Sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife who share our city lives are rescued and rehabilitated in specialized treatment centers. Squirrels and foxes, raptors and loons, goslings and skunks, rabbits and raccoons—all kinds of animals survive and even thrive along with humans (and their machines and pets) in a busy urban area. But sometimes these wild creatures need some human assistance. Opening with a clear explanation of urban animal needs and why a rehab center is important, the author, communications coordinator at the Toronto Wildlife Centre, goes on to give specific examples of animal rescue, care, and release done by staff and volunteers there. Plentiful, well-chosen photographs add to the appeal. Chapter titles are set on spreads with striking images: an opossum among flowers, a trapped swan being rescued from the ice. A panel shows happy survivors trotting off after recovery and release. Throughout, pulled-out paragraphs and substantial text boxes add interesting facts, offer further examples, and contradict some popular assumptions. Why humans should help wild animals is given as much attention as how. The author's suggestions for readers' involvement include reminders about appropriate trash disposal as well as names of organizations, and a concluding chapter describes three similar rehab centers around the world. A straightforward introduction to an appealing topic for upper-elementary and middle school readers. (photo credits, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews