Alberta wildlife boasts of having preserved the Pronghorn Antelope, Burrowing Owl and Short-horned Lizard found in prairie. Such forest species as the Black Bear, Woodland caribou and Great Grey Owl enrich Alberta wildlife. And such animals as Bighorn Sheep, Cougar and Clark's Nutcracker are found in mountain landscape. Alberta wildlife supplements annually by many hundreds of species of perching birds and waterfowl, migrating to Alberta every year to raise their young or pass through to breeding areas in the Arctic.

Several other bird species, such as the Black-capped Chickadee and the Blue Jay, stay in Alberta all year round. And that is only minor part of the unique and rich Alberta wildlife, which acutely needs care and preservation.  

In a world where thousands of species fall extinct every year, there's an urgent need for us to understand that all living things are connected - that none of the five million species on Earth, including us, can survive without each other or without healthy ecosystems. That is why in 1998 there was organized the Alberta Wildlife Rehabilitators' Association,  promoting  and monitoring wildlife  function in the Province of Alberta through education and enforcement of unified standards.

The Alberta Wildlife association defines its objectives as creating standardized regulations for the practice of wildlife rehabilitation in the region and working in consent with government agencies. That helps the Alberta Wildlife Association to assist and monitor the operation of shelters dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured, ill or orphaned wildlife.

 It also works in the closest cooperation with Canadian wildlife federation, which is of great importance to both.  Since 1962, Canadian Wildlife Federation has advocated the protection of Canada's wild species and spaces. Representing over 300,000 members and supporters, the federation is one of Canada's largest non-profit, non-governmental conservation organizations.

 First, this cooperation provides help; promote appreciation of Alberta wildlife through the dissemination of knowledge and information about them.  The Alberta wildlife Association assists in the development, review and revision of a standardized internship program for prospective rehabilitators, maintains up-to-date Minimum Standards in accordance with the principles recognized in the international wildlife rehabilitation community. The Alberta Wildlife rehabilitators` association also pays a great deal of attention to such important items as education.

Realizing that there cannot be any good present and future without understanding of the crisis situation, the Alberta wildlife Association provides educational programs on wildlife rehabilitation. They are tailored for provincial and municipal governments, veterinarians, animal services, humane societies, and the general public through in-service seminars, presentations, and literature.

Only by working hand in hand can we save and preserve our planet!