As one of two facilities to take in fawns on Vancouver Island and the only one north of Nanaimo, Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society is aiming to create a fawn complex dedicated to rehabbing black-tailed deer.
Their goal is to raise $20,000 in a relatively short period of time, explained Kiersten Shyian, assistant manager of wildlife rehabilitation for MARS, as fawning season typically begins in May.
“We have so many (fawns) in our intake and we don’t have proper pens for an ICU … we want something to block out the sounds and have a visual divider from people and the fawns.”
Last year, MARS received fawn from Port Hardy to the Gulf Island. The project will allow the organizations to continue to accept and provide care for fawn while ensuring their safety from disease transfer, predation and habituation.
“Last year we ended up (taking care of) 40 fawns … people often think we only take care of birds, but outside of cougars and bears, we take in any animal that is native to the Island,” said Shyian.
The plan for the pen is for it to be built by MARS volunteers. Currently, the organization has raised $7,851 toward the project as of Feb. 25.
To donate to the project, visit marswildliferescue.com, click on ‘donate’ and select the ‘fawn complex’ from the drop-down menu. Donations can also be done over the phone (778-428-1990) or by mail to MARS Wildlife Rescue, PO Box 415, Merville, B.C. V0R 2M0.
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