The Wild Ontario story began at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College in the early 1980s. A group of staff and volunteers formed the OVC Wild Bird Clinic, offering treatment for sick and injured wild birds. It also provided a valuable learning experience for veterinary students.
In 1987 a Turkey Vulture was admitted to the clinic with a broken wing. He had been hit by a car while eating carrion by the roadside. The veterinarians at the clinic performed a pioneering surgery to save the wing, but it was ultimately unsuccessful and amputation was the only option.
With only one wing, the vulture – now named Socrates – had few options. He could not survive in the wild, and there were no spaces available in nearby zoos. Seeing a unique opportunity, Dr. Bruce Hunter and several passionate volunteers formed the Wild Bird Clinic Education Program in 1990, with Socrates at its heart.
The Wild Bird Clinic Education Program used Socrates and his special story to teach the public about the impact humans have on wildlife. Close up encounters with Socrates helped foster connections to the natural world, and get people excited about taking positive action.
Over the ensuing 15 years the program gained more birds and volunteers, and visited countless people to share its important message and a love for wildlife.
Sadly, in 2006, the Wild Bird Clinic was forced to close its doors due to funding constraints. With no clinic to support it, the education program was also at risk.
A small team of dedicated volunteers stepped in to salvage the education program, and began the process of building it into a program that could stand on its own. In 2010 it was officially relaunched as Wild Ontario.
In 2020, Wild Ontario found a new administrative home and incredible support in the University of Guelph’s Department of Integrative Biology. With a shared focus on teaching biology, ecology, and conservation, Wild Ontario and IB are a perfect match!
Today Wild Ontario continues to grow, improve, and find new ways to teach about science and engage people with nature!