Rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife on the Upper Sunshine Coast

The Powell River Orphaned Wildlife Society (PROWLS) is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization that works to locally rehabilitate and release hundreds of injured wild animals each year.

Most of our in-house patients are birds, but we are able to assist all species in distress.

24/7 Emergency Phone Line

If you have found an injured or orphaned wild animal, please call us immediately.

(604) 483-9787

For details on what you can do next, please read through our emergency info page.

We provide hands-on experience and ecological expertise to our remote communities

PROWLS is excited to offer professional medical care and rehabilitation to our patients, aiming to return them to their habitats where they can continue to contribute to our coastal biodiversity.

We are a member of the Wildlife Rehabilitators’ Network of BC, and we partner with MARS in Courtney, OWL in Delta, Critter Care in Langley, and Wild ARC in Victoria to ensure our patients are professionally transferred to the facility in the province best equipped for their care when needed.

We serve the boat-access only communities of the Upper Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, including Powell River, the quathet Regional District, the Lower Sunshine Coast and all nearby islands.

The traditional lands of the Tla’amin Nation

PROWLS is located in the sacred and traditional territory of the Tla’amin Nation, whose people have used and occupied this land since time immemorial.

Join us on Facebook

For a regular dose of spectacular Powell River wildlife, join our Facebook group, which is over 1200+ followers strong!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive our quarterly newsletter and infrequent updates about PROWLS events and educational opportunities.

Support our work

In 2020, PROWLS worked to rehabilitate over 460 patients! We hope you’ll help support our work today.

What’s new at PROWLS?

PROWLS Job Opportunity: Animal Health Care Worker
Spring sprung: PROWLS picks up 4 birds before noon!
Prognosis good for little brown bat
Pine siskins escape hawk and take a break at PROWLS
Red-tailed hawk three times lucky?
PROWLS treats several house finches for pink eye
Striking change in plumage of overwintering evening grosbeak
Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds
Fawn Season: Our partners at MARS Wildlife Rescue need your support!
Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!
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PROWLS Job Opportunity: Animal Health Care Worker
Spring sprung: PROWLS picks up 4 birds before noon!
Prognosis good for little brown bat
Pine siskins escape hawk and take a break at PROWLS
Red-tailed hawk three times lucky?
PROWLS treats several house finches for pink eye
Striking change in plumage of overwintering evening grosbeak
Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds
Fawn Season: Our partners at MARS Wildlife Rescue need your support!
Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!
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Meet our patients – your wild neighbours!

At PROWLS, we treated 478 injured wild animals last year alone! In addition to meeting whatever diverse medical needs our patients face, each species we house requires its own special habitat and diet during recovery. Learn about the scientific expertise and skill that goes into providing this critical local service.

Get a bird’s eye view of our space

We are excited to give you a glimpse of our tiny workspace! Take a peek at where we prepare diets, the different enclosures and habitats we have for our patients, and get an idea of the real life challenges we face as we grow and need more elbow room to operate.

Please note our facility is (by law) not open for public access or tours, as many of our patients are very stressed and weak.

If you have the time, we have the to-do!

At PROWLS, there are volunteering opportunities for everyone! Our volunteers help with every facet of rehabilitation, from rescues to releases, flight cage construction to bird ambulance, and maintenance to foraging.

We value all skill sets and experiences, and our volunteer opportunities are varied and flexible to whatever works best with your schedule. Animal care, fundraising, maintenance, foraging, organizing, community outreach, website and social media updates — there are so many ways we invite you to contribute your time while learning all about wildlife conservation in the Powell River region.

Building connections and fostering learning in our community

PROWLS aims to share our intimate knowledge of local wildlife with you. From close-up photography to the heart-warming and heart-breaking stories of our patients, we hope you enjoy learning from our local wildlife as much as we do! We offer handy wildlife tips and educational content for the whole family, to inspire everyone to discover more about our amazing local wild animals, and how we can help prevent them from coming to harm.

When not busy tending to the animals, you can find PROWLS doing outreach at local events and building our community connections.

Wildlife Tips

PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone

Only rarely do fawns need human help. The mothers have to forage for food and can be gone for up to six hours. During this time the fawn, waiting quietly, may need to get up and stretch but will soon settle down again. Fawns have no scent and do not attract predators. If truly concerned,… Read More »PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone

Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!

Most of our hummingbirds are already back, and some are nesting! These birds are a spring and summer favourite, hovering around us and buzzing in and out of salmonberry and thimbleberry patches. Did you know that honey in hummingbird feeders causes a fungal infection that causes death? Also, the red mixture that many stores carry… Read More »Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!

Birds and cat attacks

Did you know that cats carry bacteria in their mouths which is deadly to birds? Even the tiniest scratch can cause an infection that is fatal if not treated with antibiotics within 24 hours of the injury! Proper medication and a little R&R at PROWLS can ensure a bird that has escaped a cat attack… Read More »Birds and cat attacks

Birds and window strikes

Just like humans, it can take a day or two for a concussion to show up in a bird that hits your window. Leaving the bird to fly away can mean a painful and confusing death, while a couple of days R&R with PROWLS can guarantee a safe return to its habitat! If a bird… Read More »Birds and window strikes

Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders

Birds Canada has noted a major interruption in pine siskins across North America in this winter of 2020/2021. PROWLS has also seen an increase in the number of pine siskins we have treated this season. What’s going on with the pine siskins? From Birds Canada: “Bird experts believe that a shortage of conifer seeds in… Read More »Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders

Your Bird Feeders: How to Prevent Infection and Guarantee Return Visitors!

With the warm weather arriving, it’s time to keep your birds feeders clean! Feeders can spread many diseases that can be fatal to new arrivals at the feeder. Whether it is seeds or hummingbird syrup, pathogens grow, so empty the feeders and wash them regularly.

Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!

Often those who discover birds that are nestlings, injured or displaying unusual behaviour decide to wait and see how it goes before calling PROWLS. Sometimes they call the next morning, or even in a few days. This is never a good idea. They should call right away. If it is a case of a cat… Read More »Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!

Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds

Our winter birds, from Anna’s hummingbirds to ravens and raptors, are already nesting! Many birds love to nest in dense hedges, and their homes can be difficult to spot through the foliage they prefer. To avoid disturbing them, please prune your hedges by the first week in April or wait for August. The hummingbird nests… Read More »Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds

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Birds and window strikes

Just like humans, it can take a day or two for a concussion to show up in a bird that hits your window. Leaving the bird to fly away can mean a painful and confusing death, while a couple of days R&R with PROWLS can guarantee a safe return to its habitat! If a bird… Read More »Birds and window strikes

Birds and cat attacks

Did you know that cats carry bacteria in their mouths which is deadly to birds? Even the tiniest scratch can cause an infection that is fatal if not treated with antibiotics within 24 hours of the injury! Proper medication and a little R&R at PROWLS can ensure a bird that has escaped a cat attack… Read More »Birds and cat attacks

Your Bird Feeders: How to Prevent Infection and Guarantee Return Visitors!

With the warm weather arriving, it’s time to keep your birds feeders clean! Feeders can spread many diseases that can be fatal to new arrivals at the feeder. Whether it is seeds or hummingbird syrup, pathogens grow, so empty the feeders and wash them regularly.

Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds

Our winter birds, from Anna’s hummingbirds to ravens and raptors, are already nesting! Many birds love to nest in dense hedges, and their homes can be difficult to spot through the foliage they prefer. To avoid disturbing them, please prune your hedges by the first week in April or wait for August. The hummingbird nests… Read More »Pruning your hedges? Get it done by the first week of April to protect nesting birds

PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone

Only rarely do fawns need human help. The mothers have to forage for food and can be gone for up to six hours. During this time the fawn, waiting quietly, may need to get up and stretch but will soon settle down again. Fawns have no scent and do not attract predators. If truly concerned,… Read More »PROWLS reminds residents to leave fawns alone

Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!

Often those who discover birds that are nestlings, injured or displaying unusual behaviour decide to wait and see how it goes before calling PROWLS. Sometimes they call the next morning, or even in a few days. This is never a good idea. They should call right away. If it is a case of a cat… Read More »Timing affects results: Don’t wait to call us!

Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders

Birds Canada has noted a major interruption in pine siskins across North America in this winter of 2020/2021. PROWLS has also seen an increase in the number of pine siskins we have treated this season. What’s going on with the pine siskins? From Birds Canada: “Bird experts believe that a shortage of conifer seeds in… Read More »Outbreak of salmonella in pine siskin population related to feeders

Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!

Most of our hummingbirds are already back, and some are nesting! These birds are a spring and summer favourite, hovering around us and buzzing in and out of salmonberry and thimbleberry patches. Did you know that honey in hummingbird feeders causes a fungal infection that causes death? Also, the red mixture that many stores carry… Read More »Hummingbird Feeders: Don’t use honey!

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