Wildlife rescue staff, volunteers back at work in Burnaby after 'thigh-high' floodwater prompts evacuation
Staff and volunteers at the Wildlife Rescue Association in Burnaby, B.C., found themselves forging through floodwater on the way to work on Monday.
The site is located near Burnaby Lake, in a regional park, and wildlife hospital manager Janelle Stephenson said while there has been water on the road before, this was “very exceptional."
“We’ve never had it where boots won’t suffice, you need hip waders,” she said Wednesday. “The access road to Wildlife Rescue was completely flooded…it was about thigh-high water.”
Stephenson said even the paths and trails leading to the Rescue were under water by Monday.
“The volunteers and staff, they hiked on site,” she said. “We made it through, and then once we got the animals basic needs met on that day, we did leave the site right away, because the rain kept on flooding and the water kept on rising, and so we didn’t know if it would be safe to leave later that day. So we had to evacuate.”
Luckily, Stephenson said water never entered the facility itself.
“We did take some precautions on the lower enclosures to make sure the animals were evacuated from there just in case the water did rise more,” she said. “So our patients were safe.”
She said they contacted the City of Burnaby and Metro Vancouver Parks, and they were able to come and help remove the water.
“They definitely did some work to help pump it out,” she said. “We are so thankful.”
Stephenson said the Rescue is hoping to work with the city and the region to improve access to the site “so we won’t be below water if this does happen…or at least (have) trail access, some way to get there in case of emergencies”.
She expressed gratitude for the volunteers who braved the flood to come and help the 56 animals and birds in care, during what’s already been a very busy year.
“Even though we’re entering our slowest season for the year, we still have animals coming through the door,” she said. “We’re already at 5,600 animals coming through the door this year alone, busiest year ever. We’re up 34 per cent from last year, which is significant.”
Stephenson said while extreme weather events from this year, such as the heat wave, did account for increases in the number of patients, it still doesn’t explain the high total overall.
“Even without those events, those animal emergency events, we’re still up significantly,” she said. “I’m not sure what’s happening, but definitely the animals are need of more help this year, no matter what.”
She said they would welcome any donations, which can be made online, and people can also visit the website if they are interested in becoming a volunteer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.