Manitoba's wildlife rehabilitation centre treated 30 per cent more animals in 2025

Wildlife Haven cared for 30 per cent more animals in 2025 than in 2024, admitting 2,551 animals and at times sheltering up to 300 simultaneously.

Manitoba's largest wildlife rehabilitation centre reported a notable rise in patients during 2025, according to staff. Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre said it cared for 30 per cent more animals than in 2024 and at times housed as many as 300 animals at once. Staff linked the increase to several factors, including displacement during the province's wildfire season and outbreaks of wildlife disease. The centre is located near Ile des Chênes, about 20 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, and operates year-round with a full-time veterinarian. Key details: - Wildlife Haven admitted 2,551 animals in 2025, a 30 per cent increase from the previous year, and sometimes had up to 300 animals in care at once. - Staff reported an unusually high number of young animals and many songbirds and some hawk species, which they suspect were displaced during the wildfire season. - The centre experienced higher patient numbers in a year with noted outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, West Nile virus and mange. - Animals arriving with confirmed avian influenza are euthanized to prevent risk to other patients, and the centre has been working with the provincial government on next steps for disease response. - Wildlife Haven is Manitoba's only wildlife veterinary hospital, has a full-time vet and accepts animals from across the province; notable 2025 patients included a snowy owl with a fractured wing and an orphaned lynx named Lumi that cannot be returned to the wild due to an eye injury. Summary: The increase in admissions reflects a mix of habitat displacement during wildfires, disease outbreaks and growing public awareness of the centre. Wildlife Haven is coordinating with provincial authorities on disease response and ongoing rehabilitation; longer-term trends are undetermined at this time.