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Our Mission

We help wildlife get back home to the wild.

Many wildlife adapt to living in our urban Ottawa environments, but they face many challenges. Mothers are accidentally killed by cars or illegally trapped and relocated, leaving behind orphaned babies. If they lose their mother while they are young and vulnerable, these babies have no hope except for the care we provide.

Porcupine in the grass
IMG 8615 scaled

Get Involved

We would not be able to help so many wildlife without the help of our dedicated team of staff, interns and volunteers. There are many ways to get involved and help wildlife. We have opportunities for summer student employment, full-time internships, Volunteers and co-op and field placements.

Come join our dynamic and diverse team of people from the community with a passion for wildlife and the environment.

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

1 day 13 hours ago

Ryker came as a cub with his four other siblings near the beginning of the season last year as orphans. They were released mid September.

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary updated their cover photo.

1 day 13 hours ago

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

3 days 20 hours ago

Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day! Yesterday we celebrated our first release of the new year, a red squirrel who came in at the beginning of January.

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

1 week 1 day ago

Meet Sydney, a honey-brown eastern gray squirrel found in a Walmart parking lot in late August. She was released in early October. In Ontario, eastern

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

1 week 3 days ago

A throwback to September when Bella the boy raccoon explored the forest for the first time during a release. The home range for an adult

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

1 week 5 days ago

RVWS is now hiring for 2025 summer positions! Detailed job descriptions and application instructions on www.rideauwildlife.org/jobs. It's first come, first served so apply early.

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

2 weeks 18 hours ago

Meet our first patient of the new year, a Big Brown Bat. Eins was found outside in the cold on someone's porch and brought to

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

3 weeks 15 hours ago

RVWS family, you really came through, thank you! With your support and generosity, we met and exceeded our goal, raising over $104,000 to help injured

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

3 weeks 3 days ago

Happy New Year!