On the night of October 1, 2010, a small, emaciated bear cub arrived at Critter Care Wildlife Society from North Vancouver. He weighed in at just 20lbs, but despite his small size this little bear had a big personality. He was given the name Atayokan, which is Cree for Spirited, and he has thrived since his arrival. But Atayokan's story begins long before he arrived at Critter Care, and may have never been told if it weren't for the many caring people who played a role in saving him.

Hoover is the perfect example of what can happen when man interferes with nature.  Like all bobcats, Hoover was born to be wild.  She was born to run, to learn to hunt for her own food, to grow and mate with her own kind and, in time to have young of her own.

We don’t know how or why she came to be captured but we do know that some well-meaning person decided she was too cute and cuddly and would make a nice pet.  For the first very impressionable few weeks of her life, she was treated as a domestic cat, given the wrong food and allowed to sleep with her new owner.  After a month or so, her ‘owner’ discovered that it is illegal in BC to keep a wild animal in captivity and that her new kitten was not doing so well!  Hoover needed help and she needed it fast.

NEEDLESSLY ORPHANED!! – WHY?

On July 18th 2 orphaned twin black bear cubs where finally caught and brought to Critter Care after spending close to three weeks on their own trying to survive, but without much success, after the tragic shooting of their mother. Here is their story as told by the property owner who had found the mother and had watched her and her cubs frolic and forage for food on his property for months prior to this senseless slaughter.

ONE LIFE

The trouble with Charlie was he just didn’t know.

With his sharp features, short stubby legs and a mouth containing far too many teeth, he didn’t know he looked rather like an ugly, overgrown rodent. He didn’t know he wasn’t the most beautiful of God’s creatures. Unlike the proverbial duckling, Charlie was never going to become the beautiful swan. Charlie’s idea of heaven was to snuffle among the undergrowth, feel the warm sun on his fur and the spring breeze in the grass. He didn’t know that getting near dogs could get an opossum into an awful lot of trouble.

RIFFRAFF

Almost every family has one.  Usually a single, over-the-hill male, his once slim body is showing the kind of wear brought on by age and good living.  What extra weight he carries sits now around his belly and hips, giving his walk a definite roll.  His shaggy coat is rumpled and stained with the remnants of several meals.  His teeth hurt, he’s a bit short-sighted and his hearing is not what it once was.  But, somehow, despite all this, he has infinite appeal.  Just by looking at him, you know here is someone with experience, character and great charm.  Young ones gravitate towards him and the females of the species vie with each other to mother him and bring him the tastiest tidbits.