The intern summarizes their experience interning at the Toronto Wildlife Centre. Some key points: - The Centre is the largest wildlife veterinary hospital in Canada, treating over 270 species of injured wildlife while also educating the public. - It was founded 20 years ago in a garage but now occupies a 14,000 square foot space, and is working to build a new facility. - As a photography intern, they gained insight into the Centre's important work and took over 5,000 photos to help with fundraising. - The Centre relies on donations to continue its mission of coexistence between urban wildlife and humans in Toronto.

1. Toronto Wildlife Centre
My Internship
It’s been wild!
A cliché term I can’t help but
exclaim when I am asked to
describe my internship at
Toronto Wildlife Centre.
I have learned gulls are not ‘sea’
gulls (where is the sea in
Toronto?), there are brindle
squirrels and many water birds
cannot walk on land.
These little facts are seemingly
lost in the reality that there are
over 270 species of wildlife in
Toronto. Canids, raptors and
insectivores to mention a few, call
this urban centre their home.
Toronto Wildlife Centre is not
only the largest wildlife
veterinary hospital in
Canada with a goal of treating
the injured but also they serve to
educate.
Much wildlife in the city is
misunderstood. Their lifestyle,
habitat and breeding patterns
are largely unknown by the
common man.
Founder Nathalie Karvonen
started a mere 20 years ago from
her garage and the centre now
occupies a 14,000 ft. sq. space in
Downsview Park. Her latest and
she says perhaps last and biggest
endeavor is to build a new
facility.
Baby Racoons
Dr. Heather Reid
by Gail Paquette

2. This is mainly because their
lease is not being renewed
due to the park’s massive
renovation and rebranding
plan.
http://www.downsviewpark.
ca/content/about-downs-
view-park-0
It is inherently apparent that
this is a blessing in disguise.
Their need is great and so
should their facility be.
Not only is the medical staff devoted but also Nathalie has surrounded herself with a dedicated
and innovative fund raising team, loyal office administrators, knowledgeable hotline staff and a
fearless rescue team.
Operation to remove bullet
Robin to be released

3. Migratory birds are the most
common patients in
springtime, as are orphaned
babies.
The birds most frequently fly
into buildings that perhaps
didn’t exist on their flight
path last year (not surprising)
and babies are admitted most
often because something has
happened to the parents to
prevent them from caring for
them or they are injured.
The volunteer base at the centre is massive, the donor base notable, internship programs
impressive and facilities innovative.
Toronto Wildlife Centre serves to promote the co-existence of people and wildlife.
It is something I know too little about. I have that in common with many Torontonians.
Rescued baby squirrel
Release of the Common Flicker

4. I found myself being
amazingly educated on some
things perhaps I once took for
granted or frankly felt
stupid, that as a Canadian, I did
not know more about our com-
mon wildlife.
More importantly was my
realization that wildlife exists
and thrives in Toronto, thus
many urban centres in Canada.
That is why Toronto Wildlife
Centre exists, an amazing team
from whom we can learn
from; seek advice, help and
guidance.
As I write this, I think of the times I have come across injured animals, knowing not what to do
but let ‘nature take it’s course,’ when in fact, it was not nature but humans that unintentionally
caused the injury. I believe we all have.
Baby Snapping Turtle
Garter Snake

5. I have great respect for
Toronto Wildlife Centre as
they not only face the
ongoing patient admissions
but also continue their
fastidious endeavors of
creating a new home.
With my background in
photography and
photojournalism, my PR
internship was mainly taking
photographs!
Woooohoooo!
I was ecstatic.
This was certainly a way I
could help.
Let me just say, being a wild-
life photographer (inside a
controlled environment or
not) takes patience and
thousands of shots.
It means no flash, low lighting
and precise focus. A lot of
times things happen the
millisecond you are not ready.
My most fascinating shoot was an operation to remove a pellet
bullet from a red tailed hawk. As the team worked
intricately to remove the bullet, noting blood pressure and heart
rate, Dr. Heather Reid remarked to me, “It’s never as easy as
they make it out to be in CSI.”
The outcome was a success and I was there to feel the
importance.
Sometimes the centre cannot fix a poor injured animal but they can give support, guidance,
instruction and reassurance. The hotline staff says it is often the human that is in worse shape
then the wildlife, during the rescue call.
Operation Red-tailed Hawk

6. Some of the more than 5000 pics I took will be used in their efforts to raise the money to build
their new facility and I couldn’t be happier.
As a registered charity, supported primarily by donations, contributions can be made on many
levels.
Cages
Rescue equipment
Food

7. Their wish list is extensive.
http://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/wishlist
Ways to donate is all-inclusive.
http://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/donate-or-volunteer
Trimming a hawk’s beak
Rescued beaver
Tube feeding a swan
Donations of all kinds ensure they
continue to succeed in in their mission of,
“Building a healthy community for
people and wildlife.”
I know I sleep better at night knowing we
can exist together.