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Vancouver Island wildlife rescue centre in need of donations

Nonprofit MARS asking for more gloves to care for influx of baby animals
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A thirsty baby racoon drinks from a baby at the MARS Wildlife Hospital in Merville, B.C. on June 7, 2020. The young animal is being cared for by the nonprofit. Photo by Marissa Tiel – Campbell River Mirror

The Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) Wildlife Rescue Centre is in the middle of its busy baby season.

The non-profit wildlife aid centre located between Courtenay and Campbell River currently has a large population of baby animals it is caring for, all with unique needs.

What remains constant is the need for proper personal protective equipment for caregivers, including gloves, which MARS is running short on.

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Among its current residents are a gaze of baby raccoons, a fawn, songbirds and various species of owls. The animals are transported to MARS when they are found sick or injured.

Some require more care than others, but a few of the birds require feeding frequently.

To keep the animals and humans safe from whatever they may be carrying, caregivers will change their gloves every time they go to feed someone new.

The non-profit put a call out on its social media on June 6 for donations of nitrile disposable gloves. But it is also in need of financial donations.

With the visitors’ centre currently shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MARS isn’t receiving the revenue it would normally receive, nor are as many community fundraising events taking place.

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MARS is asking anyone who can help to leave physical donations outside the wildlife hospital, which is located at 1331 Williams Beach Road or to donate online: marswildliferescue.com/ways-to-give/

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Caregivers tend to a pair of baby raccoons at the MARS Wildlife Hospital in Merville, B.C. on June 7, 2020. Photo by Marissa Tiel – Campbell River Mirror