Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

10/01/2026

09/26/2026

Let’s Help Keep Our Eastern Cotton Tails Safe This World Rabbit Day!

We get dozens of requests each year for help with Eastern Cottontail Rabbits. They are incredibly sensitive creatures who generally do not to well in a rehab environment. Because of that, we have foster volunteers who care for them outside of our sanctuary. To help keep baby and adult cottontails safe in the first place, here are some things we can all do to be Wildlife Wise and make a huge and immediate impact:
Eastern Cottontails can have up to five litters per year, from early spring to late fall. Moms often make tiny nests on lawns which can be very hard to see. Homeowners are encouraged to walk their lawn looking for rabbit nests before each mow. If you do find a nest on your lawn, mark it off with stakes to avoid mowing in that area. If pets are present in the lawn, place a laundry basket or recycling bin over the nest while pets are using the yard; remove when pets are inside. Please never move the nest.

Many of the requests for help we receive are the result of dog or cat attacks. The babies rarely survive. Please be diligent and proactive if you can. Do the speed limit in the mornings when rabbits are very active to avoid hitting them with your vehicle.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbits are fully independent at 3 or 4 weeks old, round and fluffy, with open eyes and ears fully erect. At 3 – 4 weeks, they are about four inches long or about the size of an apple.

Mom rabbit leaves her babies alone most of the time to avoid attracting predators to the nest. She comes in the evening / night to feed, and then leaves again. If you find babies all alone, chances are they are not abandoned. If you want to be sure, place some tiny / light branches over the nest in an X pattern. Check in the morning to see if the X pattern was disturbed or not. If after 48 hours without the X pattern changing, please email [email protected] with a photo of the nest, your phone number, your address and an explanation of the situation.

09/17/2026

Happy National Fox Day!

We have cared for many red foxes over the years and we are honoured to celebrate National Fox Day with you today!

Ontario has two species of fox. The Red Fox is the most common and widespread in the province. Known for their beautiful white-tipped tails, they are found in both rural and urban areas. They eat mostly rodents, rabbits, insects, eggs, fruit and birds. Red foxes mate in winter, both parents help raise their young and they have one litter a year.

The Grey Fox is much less common and is listed as threatened in Ontario. They are about the size of a small dog, have black-tipped tails and grey fur with cinnamon colouring throughout. They tend to live in deciduous forests, near marshes and close to a water source. They have shorter legs than Red Foxes and can have longer bushier tails.

09/16/2026

How many questions did you get right? 🧠 If you scored 3/3, you’re ready for our fundraising trivia night!

Join us for Quizzical Critters, hosted by ! Every ticket purchase directly supports the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in providing care for injured and orphaned mammals and reptiles. 🦝✨

🗓️ Date: Saturday, October 3rd | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Ben Franklin Place (101 Centrepointe Dr, Nepean)
🏆 Includes: Trivia • Prizes • Silent Auction • Bar • Snacks
🎟️ Tickets: Grab your team’s tickets at Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/Quizzical-Critters

09/05/2026

Put your wildlife and pop-culture knowledge to the test for a great cause! 🦝🍂

Join us for Quizzical Critters, a fundraising trivia night hosted by Floydeeeee in support of Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Gather your team for an evening of friendly competition, great prizes, snacks, drinks, and a silent auction packed with fantastic items—with all proceeds directly funding the care and rehabilitation of local wildlife in need.

Date: Saturday, October 3rd
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Ben Franklin Place (101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa)
Ticket Price: $45 each
What to Expect: Trivia • Fabulous Prizes • Silent Auction • Bar • Snacks • Tons of fun!
This is a 19+ event. Valid photo I.D. may be requested on entry.
🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/Quizzical-Critters

Spots are limited, so rally your trivia crew and grab your tickets early!

09/04/2026

Founded by Colleen Paige (one of America’s leading pet and family lifestyle experts), today is a day to promote endangered species and wildlife conservation.

Unique in that it’s celebrated twice a year (today and February 22 in honour of Steve Irwin’s birthday), National Wildlife Day is a day where we can all make a difference. Whether we take a few minutes to educate ourselves, donate, volunteer or avoid wildlife attractions that do not contribute to conservation, we can all do something.

Ontario currently has 18 mammals and 22 reptiles listed as at risk. This includes all eight of our turtle species.

Here is a short list of easy ways to make a difference right now:

Watch a video on how to help a snapping turtle cross the road https://www.rideauwildlife.org/turtles/

Order a turtle rescue kit for your car by emailing [email protected]

Make a donation to support our important work https://www.rideauwildlife.org/donate/

Plant a native wildflower such common milkweed or a coneflower

Be a good steward. Private land owners have a very important role to play in
species recovery and may be eligible for stewardship programs that support
the protection and recovery of species at risk and their habitats.

08/30/2026

RVWS wishes you a happy International Bat Night. Bats are celebrated through the last full weekend of August each year. The purpose of this celebration is to encourage more learning about this nocturnal creature.

Did you know? According to Parks Canada, bats’ “worldwide value” as natural pest control for both agriculture and forestry is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. All of Canada’s native bats are insect-eaters and will usually eat half their weight in insects during a single night of hunting - all for free!

08/27/2026

Meet Sunshine and Delilah. These two were transferred to our sanctuary from the Ottawa Humane Society separately. Although they arrived alone, they were joined together and have been doing great! In fact, they were recently moved outside and have since been released. Thanks to the support of our donors and staff, they will get to enjoy the rest of the summer outdoors, soaking up the sun.

08/26/2026

During late summer, you may start seeing young animals out and about on their own. This does not always mean they are orphaned or in need of help. Take precautions and observe from a distance if you are unsure. If you think you have found an orphaned mammal, visit www.rideauwildlife.org/baby-mammals.

If you still need help, email [email protected] with your phone number, a photo of the animal, a description of how you found it and the address of where it was found.

08/25/2026

We are always grateful for the keen eyes and quick action of the people who rescue animals. In Simone’s case, she was found after a woman noticed that her dog had started playing with something odd in the backyard. Upon closer look, it was a chipmunk. Thankfully, the dog didn’t harm the chipmunk. Under our care, Simone has grown and is close to release age. Simone has revealed her mischievous personality since we first met her. Even in her cage, she may be hard to spot as she is forever on the move.