Créer un environnement de soutien et un soutien de l'environnement
Services de réadaptation de la faune, d'éducation et de gestion

Maritime Atlantic Wildlife (MAW) est une organisation qui fournit des services de réadaptation, d'éducation et de gestion au Nouveau-Brunswick.
Elle opère à Cookville (près de Sackville) N.-B. surtout grâce à l'aide de bénévoles; MAW est la seule installation du genre dans la province.

Elle fournit des soins à la faune indigène qui est orpheline, malade ou blessée dans le but de retourner des animaux sains et sauvages dans leurs habitats naturels. Ces animaux doivent faire face à la toxicité, à la destruction de leur habitat, aux collisions (par exemple avec des lignes à haute tension, avec des véhicules et des édifices), aux attaques par les animaux domestiques et finalement à l'indifférence humaine. 

Les buts de MAW sont de mieux comprendre les raisons des déplacements des animaux et relier tout cela à la perspective d'ensemble de la santé de l'environnement. Son programme de réadaptation de la faune est un outil pour fins de recherche et d'éducation.

MAW espère rendre les communautés sensibles aux problèmes qui affectent la faune sur une base quotidienne, à l'importance de comprendre et de respecter la faune et la diversité des habitats nécessaires pour sa survie, et sans oublier les interconnexions de tous les phénomènes que nous partageons.

Creating a Caring Environment Providing Wildlife Rehabilitation, Education & Management Services

Pam Novak
Maritime Atlantic Wildlife
April 2001

aritime Atlantic Wildlife (MAW) is a registered charity, created in 1995. As an organisation we provide wildlife rehabilitation, education and management services to the region. Located on 120 acres of diverse land in Cookville, a rural community 20 kms outside of Sackville, NB, MAW is the only facility of its kind in New Brunswick.

(photo by David Christie)

MAW provides care for indigenous wildlife that has been orphaned, ill or injured with the intent of returning healthy, wild animals to their natural habitats. These animals are victims of such things as toxicity, habitat destruction, collisions (ie. powerlines, vehicles, buildings), attacks by domestic animals, and human indifference. Wildlife that is received at our facility is provided with proper medical care, husbandry and pre-release conditioning to help its chances for a successful release. Animals that do not survive are either sent for necropsy to help determine the cause of death, or sent to local universities and the NB Museum for educational purposes. MAW handles most native wildlife, including songbirds, waterfowl, birds of prey, small and large mammals such as squirrels, raccoons, deer, moose, bear, bobcat and seals. This includes endangered species, as MAW has been able to release birds such as the piping plover, peregrine falcon and bald eagle.

Our goals are to better understand the reasons of displacement, and equate it to the larger picture of environmental health. As well, just as important is to use our wildlife rehabilitation program as a tool for educational and research purposes. We hope to educate our community on the problems wildlife face on a daily basis, the importance of understanding and respecting wildlife and the diversity of habitats necessary for their survival, and the inter-connection we all share.

(photo: MAW Logo)

To date, we have: 
held classes on basic skills for wildlife rehabilitation, reaching over 120 participants; 
provided employment for the past two summers for college and university students;
employed area youth-at-risk through HRDC youth employment initiatives, providing job skills, life skill sessions, and field trips to prepare them for re-entry into a school or workplace environment;
assisted in the joint Maritime provinces monitoring of the West Nile Virus;
identified illnesses in native species such as distemper in mink, sarcoptic mange in black bear, pansteatis in Great Blue Heron, and a mystery aliment affecting Northern Gannets;
provided educational presentations to school aged children and community groups;
identified the need for creating regional resources for the coordination of wildlife recovery in emergency situations such as oil spills.

Students from area colleges and universities have received hands-on training through school sponsored internships, and when funding is available MAW hires summer students and young adults so they can gain valuable training and education on wildlife rehabilitation and related environmental issues. In return, MAW gains the necessary workforce to help during the busy summer months of daily feedings, raising the orphans, and construction of necessary animal care buildings. To date, area youth have been involved in the construction of our almost completed rehabilitation building for housing our wildlife patients, pre-release conditioning units and diving tanks for seals and seabirds, a 102' flight aviary for birds of prey, a bio-inventory of our land, and an educational walking trail through the property for wildlife and habitat identification. As we grow, we are looking to incorporate sustainable building techniques in the construction of our facilities as an additional learning aid in helping community residents understand the importance of promoting a healthy environment.

MAW is currently working on additional construction and renovation projects, creating an area network of concerned individuals to help with wildlife in distress, and developing partnerships with government, businesses and other environmental groups to address such issues as wildlife rehabilitation standards and planning for wildlife recovery in emergency situations.

(photo: MAW)

Currently, MAW operates with an all volunteer staff, in addition to the summer youth employment program. Between 200-300 animals per year are handled and thousands of phone calls and e-mails from residents are received each year on wildlife concerns or questions. MAW relies on private and government grants, fundraising activities and the generosity of individuals and businesses in the never-ending struggle to survive. The hope is to establish a full time paid staff so MAW will be able to develop on-site educational programs for the public and outreach programs and continuing rehabilitation services to our region.

For more information or how you can help, we can be reached at: Maritime Atlantic Wildlife 220 Cookville Road, Cookville, NB E4L 1Z8 Tel:  (506) 364-1902  maw@mon.auracom.com MAW is currently working on updating our website, and hope to have it back on line soon! Site Visitations by appointment. Contacts: Barry Rothfuss, Director of Operations Pam Novak, Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation