The operators of a Summerland wildlife rehabilitation centre destroyed by the Bald Range wildfire said the animals in their care are doing well after the evacuation and they hope to rebuild by next spring.
“Our property is gone, but our mission remains,” Eva Hartmann, founder and executive director of the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, said in an email.
Hartmann also lost her home in the wildfire, which prompted evacuation orders in the Summerland area on Aug. 7.
Ryan Cope, a volunteer with the organization, said she was driving back from Vancouver when she saw a large plume of smoke over the Summerland area and learned of the evacuation order.
“We were watching from a distance and there was nothing I could do because I wasn’t there,” said Cope.
“From what Eva has shared with me, it was chaotic,” she said. “The fire was coming. They could see it, they could feel it was getting too hot.”
Cope said the facility was at full capacity when the wildfire approached, and Hartmann and her partner only had about an hour to evacuate the 15 small mammals, 14 water birds and three turtles in care at the time, as well as their own horse and two dogs.
Cope said all the animals were either released, if they were ready, or taken in by the B.C. Wildlife Park in Kamloops.
B.C. Wildlife Park said in a social media post on Aug. 11 that two otters, one porcupine, and three ducks from Interior Wildlife all arrived in good condition. It said the otters would remain in rehabilitation until they mature in 2027, while the remaining animals are expected to be released this fall.
“What was really incredible about that is that it speaks to the power of these networks that the other wildlife rehabilitation centres in the province sort of sprung into action to help,” said Cope.
She said Interior Wildlife usually cares for about 150 animals each year. They are now fundraising in the hopes of being able to reopen by next spring, when they see the highest number of baby animals needing care.
“That would be the ideal scenario, but I think it’s a bit of a guessing game at this point,” said Cope.
She said all the patients appeared to be settling into their new temporary home well, including the pair of otters.
“They were splashing around in their pool the other day and so it’s been really lovely to see the animals — they’ve gone through this chaos and they’re recovering,” said Cope.
