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Eagles, Bald Eagle, Bird Watching
Whales, Whale Watching, Marine Life
Bears, Bear Watching, Bear Viewing
Eagle Watching, Eagles, Bird Watching
Whales, Whale Watching, Marine Life

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre Wildlife Watching

Although no one wants to see animals behind jars, North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRC) provides an opportunity for covered wildlife viewing. This preservation and educational foundation started its operation as a wildlife rescue center on Vancouver Island in 1985, intending to find, shelter, and heal sick, injured, and orphaned animals and then reintroduce them to the wild after they're back on their feet. NIWRC is a non-profit organization that aims for two main objectives: first, to preserve wildlife on Vancouver Island and, in the meantime, to provide an opportunity for wildlife viewing. Second, educate people about wildlife on Vancouver Island and how this organization operates to take care of them. Team members in NIWRC try to rescue animals such as birds with broken wings, electrocuted eagles, and bears who recently lost their parents and take them under custody to get back to normal. The good news is that you may take part in this charity. You may ask to make cash and non-cash donation to provide welfare for all the animals. Furthermore, you may adopt one of the animals, preferably non-releasable ones. However, it doesn't mean that you can take the animal home; it means that you pay for its expense, and the experts there in NIWRC will take good care of it.
The variety of animals there is as much as you know about species living on Vancouver Island. Black bears, cougars, wolves, and many kinds of birds are this world-class rehabilitation center's residents. The rule is that once animals are recovered from their pains, they will be released into the wild. Nonetheless, some of them have been through lots of pain and are counted as non-releasable species, such as some orphaned black bear cubs. They will remain at the Centre for public education and wildlife viewing tours.
Why do we call it one of the hidden gems on Vancouver Island? Well, NIWRC is one of the places on the Island which visiting it is available for every age; it is even free for children below three. It is open throughout the year, and its operation isn't based on the change of season. And more importantly, while you enjoy watching different kinds of animals, you will be educated too.
For further information regarding your adventure in NIWRC, stay with us!



North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre Wildlife Species

As one of the wildlife rehabilitation centers on Vancouver Island, it is home to many different wildlife species. It is based on your luck what kind of animal is being cared for when you visit the center. However, some of the residents there are permanent, and they’re never returned into the wild. In the following, we will discuss all the species you may gaze upon in further detail.

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre Bear Watching

Black bears, especially black bear cubs, are one of the dominant wildlife that will inhabit NIWRC temporarily or permanently. There are even some of the cubs who are born in the center. You may ask why an animal should be kept there for eternity while the main objective is to claim otherwise? Well, based on the discretion of some experts there in the center, due to the high casualty of what had happened to a specific animal, for example, black bears, they would better spend the rest of their life back there in NIWRC. It happens a lot to black bears since they are one the popular species on Vancouver Island annually, attracting many hunters here, it happens a lot that parent bears are hunted, and their immature cubs will be brought to the center to be taken care of. So based on this, black bears are one of the guaranteed species you may gaze upon while visiting North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre Bird Watching

Wildlife there at NIWRC are kept in separate enclosures. The most amazing thing about them is that merely every of them, or at least the older ones have names. There you will visit raptor cage in which you will see the longest eagle flight cage in Canada. You’ll see different types of bird such as eagles, owls, falcons, and many others which are whether injured or left sick in the wilderness.
Amongst all the bird subspecies living there in NIWRC, some of them are inhabiting there permanently such as owls, falcons, vultures, doves, eagles, ducks, hawks, and ravens. Besides these bird residents, there are turtles and black bears who inhabit the center for eternity.
According to a group visiting the center from Vancouver Island University  “A variety of birds were present such as Sandor (bald eagle), Trickster (raven), King Alfred (golden eagle), Igor (turkey vulture) and Elsa (snowy owl). The atmosphere was exciting (and noisy!) as the raptors flew around their enclosures. Trickster, the raven, keenly looked at us with a mischievous grin while Emily, the Saker falcon, happily played with a stick.”

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre Other Wildlife Watching Opportunities

Whoever wants to pay a visit to NIWRC sure will check out what kind of animals they are going to see during their tour. As mentioned before, NIWRC is a rehabilitation Centre in which ill, injured, or orphaned animals will be brought to be taken care of and reintroduced into the wild. So, accordingly, it isn’t something stable to say which animals are there to visit. However, there are chances to rescue black bears, cougars, wolves, deer, and different kinds of birds. So, fortunately, or unfortunately, there will be wolves, cougars, and bears.

The Best Wildlife Watching Tour Guide on Vancouver Island

Although North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre can be a self-guided adventure, tours may be more affordable, and they can be operated privately or with more attendees. Vanisle Wildlife is proud to operate tours indoors and has the experience to hold them in the best way possible. So if you are looking for a wildlife blast in a semi-zoo area, feel free to book a tour and join our team for a new indoor adventure. Not to mention that besides the fun you'll experience there in NIWRC, there will be educations regarding the wildlife brought there and the process they undertake to recover and get back to the wild. Seize the opportunity, prepare your child's career, and head to Parksville for indoor wilderness fun. And don't worry, Vanisle Wildlife is all the way beside you to make your experience the best.

Other Wildlife Watching Species

Sea Lion Watching on Vancouver Island

Sea Lion Watching on Vancouver Island

Sea lions gather in sizable colonies on the islands' rocky and sandy coasts. Stay with us to learn more about these species on Vancouver Island.

Seal Watching on Vancouver Island

Seal Watching on Vancouver Island

It shouldn't take long to locate the harbour seal, Canada's Pacific coast's most common marine animal. Stay with us to gain more insight.

Greater White-fronted Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

Greater White-fronted Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

The Greater White-fronted Geese is a stocky brown goose found across the Northern Hemisphere, including Vancouver Island.

Canada Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

Canada Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

Canadian Geese abound on Vancouver Island throughout the winter months. When migratory birds return north in the spring, this rises. Their unique coloration makes them easy to spot.

Brant Watching on Vancouver Island

Brant Watching on Vancouver Island

Brant is a type of migratory game bird on Vancouver Island. These waterfowls can be categorized as geese which come to the Island every spring.

Porpoise Watching on Vancouver Island

Porpoise Watching on Vancouver Island

Many people think that porpoises are a type of dolphin. It's wrong. They are a completely different family of cetaceans inhabiting the waters of Vancouver Island. Also, they aren't "baby orcas". Stay with us to tell you more.

Eagle Watching on Vancouver Island

Eagle Watching on Vancouver Island

Come to Vancouver Island to see how the apex feathered predator come down from the sky for a grab. Let Vanisle Wildlife be your company!

Humpback Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Humpback Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Remember the nostalgic Hunchback of Notre Dame? Well, the waters of Vancouver Island is not deprived of such creature. Humpback whales are another migratory marine species that count Vancouver Island shore as one of their favorites.

Gray Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Gray Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Looking for an opportunity for spotting the longest-route migrating mammals on earth? Vancouver Island is the land in which this opportunity grows on the tree. Stay with us to tell you more about this wonderful journey.

Orca Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Orca Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Whale watching on Vancouver island is full of wonders to explore! Come here to be a witness to the breaching of the most giant dolphin, Orca, in the world. They are the assassins of the marine mammals; even whales themselves.

Grizzly Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

Grizzly Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

If, in any case, you have grizzly bear watching on your Canada bucket list, put it in your bags and bring it to Vancouver Island. Let's get to the lost paradises of grizzly bear where they live in abundance. Stay with us!

Black Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

Black Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

Have you ever watch black bears play hid and seek? Vancouver Island black bear watching tours are what you're looking for. In order to know where is best to go black bear watching on Vancouver Island and where is the best place to go, stay with us!

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre Wildlife Watching FAQs

There are no age limits for attendees in wildlife watching tours in NIWRC. People with all ages and skills can be a part of these fun and educational tours.
It is open throughout the year from 9:30 in the morning and it will close at 4:30 in the afternoon.
Adult $15+tax/ Children 4–16 $6+tax/ Children 3 & under FREE/ Veterans and Military FREE
From Parksville, via Alberni Hwy/BC-4A W and Ruffels Rd. Head south on Alberni Hwy/BC-4A W toward Jensen Ave W. Turn left onto Bellevue Rd. Ruffels Rd turns left and becomes Leffler Rd. Turn left onto Matterson Rd and there you at the gate of NIWRC.
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