A myotis bat in the care of Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society pictured after rehydrating itself, with water droplets still on its face.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society

Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society is bracing itself for more patients and early babies this winter.

Interior Wildlife, the Okanagan’s first multi-species wildlife rehabilitation centre, has already experienced an early start for wildlife intake this year due to unseasonably warm temperatures.

“This means hibernating wildlife wakes up earlier, confused by the non-availability of plants and insects to feed on this early. Some came into care already,” executive director Eva Hartmann said in a press release.

READ MORE: Threatened baby gopher snake saved from Okanagan cold

The most recent patient, a tiny bat, is just one of the multiple wild animals who have woken up earlier than they should have this winter.

The myotis bat in the organization’s care, weighing just five grams, was found grounded on a patio by a West Kelowna resident.

"The Okanagan has more species of bats living here than anywhere else in Canada. Many of our local bats are at risk due to loss of habitat and lack of suitable spots for winter hibernation,” Hartmann told iNFOnews.ca.

Usually, bat species in the Thompson-Okanagan region hibernate throughout the winter, but not this little guy. The bat is being kept in a temperature and humidity controlled space and will be released when outside temperatures are warm and stable enough.

A western grebe was also brought into Interior Wildlife's care after it crash landed during a cold snap.

Last year, Interior Wildlife admitted 93 patients, including displaced bats, injured beavers, porcupines and aquatic birds that had crash-landed in frozen parking lots as they were unable to take-off from land.

A western grebe was brought into Interior Wildlife's care after it crash landed during a cold snap.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society

This year's tumultuous and unpredictable winter does not bode well for the coming seasons either.

The region could be facing more frequent floods, landslides and wildfires this summer, which Interior Wildlife is preparing for.

Already, the organization has been receiving more patients than usual, with wild animals being impacted by both human activity and the climate.

READ MORE: Warm winter wakes bears from hibernation early in Kamloops, Okanagan

“On top of that more housing developments for humans means less space for wildlife. More often than not this comes with an unwillingness by some locals to share our neighbourhoods with wild animals,” Hartmann said. “Predators are villainized and rodents are labelled as unwanted pests.”

Overall, the organization’s patient intake has increased by a third with close to 1,000 public inquiries about wildlife at risk in 2023 alone.

It will be holding an annual fundraiser Wild About Spring on May 17. This year, the money raised will go towards purchasing a portable X-ray machine.

More information about Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society can be found here.

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