MARS Needs $70,000 In Immediate Funding

Apr 5, 2017

The new MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre taking shape north of Courtenay on Vancouver Island is well underway, but still needs vital funding. MARS caregivers will begin treating injured, ill and orphaned wildlife in the new wildlife hospital beginning in May, but there is...

Eagle, Swan, Hawk, Uncertain Days Ahead

Apr 5, 2017

A typical day at the MARS Wildlife hospital contains the poignant reminder that it does not always end well for our patients. Many arrive dead on arrival, others die in transit to and from the facility. Sadness and tears associated with poor outcomes are as common as...

How Much Does It Cost To Help MARS Wildlife

Apr 5, 2017

Operating the MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre is not easy or cheap. A Barn owl will eat as many as eight mice/day, an $8 food bill. A Tundra swan is tube fed a mixture of salad greens, cream corn and sweet potatoes as often as 10 times a day, a $50 bill. The Bald eagle’s...

Ethan Regan (2013)

Aug 27, 2013

While working at Mountainaire Avian Rescue, I gained a large amount of knowledge in regards to small-scale wildlife rehabilitation. This new knowledge ranges greatly from basic skills to more medically based abilities that I will be able to use later in my future...

Julianne Hausknecht (2013)

Aug 27, 2013

Interning at Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society as an animal care intern was an amazing experience that I will never forget. Before working at MARS I was always a little nervous around large and wild animals and haven’t had the chance to work with them in a hands-on...

Nests in Nasty Places

May 8, 2013

Spring is here and the birds are now thinking about setting up housekeeping for another season. Unfortunately, many of these birds choose eaves troughs, soffits, or almost any convenient hole or hiding place to build their nests. Often these nests aren’t in a good...

Jordan McArthur (2012)

Apr 8, 2013

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into my new adventure at Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society as an intern for eight weeks. I wanted to learn as much as possible about avian ecology, biology and the correct procedures on handling, managing and overall care for...

Mairin (2011)

Apr 8, 2013

At once terrifying, empowering, overwhelming, and encouraging, my internship at Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society was one that I will not soon forget. I applied because I was seeking firsthand experience to help me in my pursuit of a Biology degree; I left with more...

Holly (2011)

Apr 8, 2013

When being accepted as an intern at MARS I have never been more excited. I applied here to gain hands on experience with birds and mammals after a long five years of book work at post secondary. I had no idea what to expect, but coming from northern Ontario, a...

Samantha (2010)

Apr 8, 2013

My time at Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society was a life changing experience. As a lifelong resident of rural western Washington, I have always loved the environment in which we live. However, before coming to MARS I did not appreciate the wide array of birds of this...

Lisa (2010)

Apr 8, 2013

Spending 6 weeks living at the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society was certainly a drastic change from my life in downtown Vancouver. Despite many challenges, it was an incredible experience, one which I will never forget. The people, animals, and location combined made...

Mallory (2009)

Apr 8, 2013

To quote Maj Birch, I will remember all aspects of my 8 week internship with Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society “fawn-dly.” For approximately 6 weeks of my time at MARS we had five hungry fawns to feed beginning with 5 times a day, which was then cut down...