Sudbury wildlife refuge seeing influx in cases

Sudbury’s wildlife animal hospital has seen a dramatic increase in cases so far this year.

The Wild at Heart Wildlife Refuge Centre has seen about 600 cases this year, which is about 100 more animals so far this year compared to last.

The centre’s staff is finding the cases a bit surprising as there has been an unusual number of injured song birds dropped off.

"Some head trauma, some hit windows or similar kinds of injury and they injure their pelvis or their back and some are broken wings," said Kayla Guse, long-time worker at the wildlife refuge.

Last month 50 crows and ravens were also brought in with broken backs.

"A lot of them are found on the side of the road and we think are getting hit by cars," said Kayla Sebalj, employee at the Wild at Heart Wildlife Refuge Centre.

Guse says this is the greatest number of birds she's seen brought in during her five years of working at Wild at Heart and thinks the increase is because more people are aware of their refuge centre and the services they provide.

The centre is not-for-profit and staff say the cost to care for all the animals is also at an all-time high.