Most experts were expecting a "baby boom" after all the pandemic lockdowns in the past year.   

While that seems to have happened, it isn't among human parental units.  

The Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) at Madden, northeast of Cochrane, says they're expecting a wildlife baby boom during the coming months with the institute predicting it will care for over 1,000 animals, most of them injured or orphaned wildlife babies.

Already this year, AIWC has witnessed a 21 per cent increase in the number of patients admitted to its facility compared to this time in 2020.

Unfortunately, animals that are injured or orphaned often are because of human activity such as vehicle collisions, window strikes, barbed wire, domestic cat and dog attacks and kidnapping, when a healthy baby animal is taken from the wild, often by well-meaning, would-be rescuers.

To be able to take care of the increasing number of animal babies, AIWC is holding it's 10th Annual Wildlife Baby Shower event, with the goal of raising funds to care for animals in need and increasing awareness about the natural behaviours of our wild neighbours.

The institute is asking the public to support their efforts by donating funds to help with the growing cost of caring for wildlife.  Their goal is to raise $20,000 by May 28.  With nearly three weeks to go, they've raised over $14,000. 

AIWC's fundraising website can be found HERE.  

Since 1993, AIWC has championed the cause of rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife and serves the needs of the diverse wildlife in southern Alberta.