About Us | Turtle Pond Wildlife

Rehabilitating wildlife in North-eastern Ontario

Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre is a small wildlife rehabilitation centre located in Val Caron, Ontario, (Greater Sudbury, Canada). It was founded in 2017 by Gloria Morissette, and is a registered charity. All species of wildlife are accommodated whenever possible, and transport is arranged to other wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Ontario if it is in the best interest of the patient.

In 2020, our centre unexpectedly became the sole authorized wildlife rehabilitation centre serving roughly 130,000 square kilometres of Northeastern Ontario. We have cared for animals from as far away as Kenora, Timmins, Manitoulin Island, Killarney and North Bay.

Our intake of wildlife quadrupled in 2020 and continues to rise. In 2021 we admitted 800 animals. Since each animal has its own special needs for diet, housing, and treatment, the costs add up. In 2021, expenses reached in excess of $45,000 even with volunteers providing all the labour. We receive no government funding.

In recent years, Canada's wildlife has seen so many challenges - from climate change, habitat loss, and pollution - that wildlife rehabilitation grows increasingly important. Those who come across orphaned, injured, or ill wild animals find it to be an immense relief to bring animals to us, knowing that we will do all that we can to help them recover and live their wild lives again. Together, we can give our wildlife a second chance at a wild life.

Centres like Turtle Pond also benefit humans by:

Helping to protect biodiversity (ie. all species of turtle are at-risk in Ontario).
Acting as an educational resource for people who come into contact or conflict with wildlife.
Providing a place for people to bring orphaned, injured, or ill wild animals where they’ll receive the best possible care and a chance to return to the wild.
Being there to care for wild animals that people aren’t allowed to keep without a licence - wildlife is everyone's responsibility.
Protecting public health by being alert to the possibility of zoonoses (diseases that can transfer from animals to humans).