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HISTORY OF NORTH ISLAND WILDLIFE RECOVERY ASSOCIATION
Many people ask how NIWRA began. In 1984, Robin Campbell,
NIWRA's founder, discovered a Great Horned Owl entangled in
a neighbor's fence, its wing mangled and in need of emergency
care. It was Christmas day and the Christmas dinner would
have to wait. Spirit, as the Owl was later named became our
first of many casualties at the Buckley Bay Wildlife Recovery
Centre (by the Denman Island Ferry).Later in 1986, the newly
formed association moved to an eight acre parcel of land in
Errington, BC, and changed its name to North Island Wildlife
Recovery Association, hoping to serve the north end of Vancouver
Island, B.C., not knowing at the time we would be receiving
animals from as far away as Saskatchewan.
 NIWRA
became internationally known when a local farmer unknowingly
left a euthanised cow in a field for the eagles to eat. The
cow had been euthanised with a barbiturate and should have
been buried. Neighbours of the farmer began calling NIWRA
when they discovered eagles lying lifeless on the ground.
Due to the tremendous community support and the media, NIWRA,
volunteers and veterinarians were able to save and release
25 of the 29 eagles that were found.
Over the years, NIWRA, has developed its expertise having
dealt with oil spills, wildlife rehabilitation, short term
rehabilitation of bear, wolf and cougar, and has developed
extensive educational programs for the public.
We are proud to have the largest eagle flight cage (measuring
140' x 30' x 20') of its kind in Canada, which has housed
hundreds of eagles being readied for release.
In 1995, the Arthur Knowles "Museum of Nature",
a mortise and tenon timber frame structure was built and in
2001 the May Neish "Wildlife Learning Centre" was
constructed, in keeping with NIWRA's mandate of education
for the public. NIWRA is instrumental in building and managing
the V.I. Black Bear Rehabilitation Program where bears are
successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
We hope you enjoy your visit, and will learn to love and
respect wildlife, as we have.
Robin and Sylvia Campbell
and NIWRA Board of Directors
 Open
to the Public
April 1st to October 31st
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
1240 LEFFLER ROAD
BOX 364, ERRINGTON,
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CANADA, VOR 1VO
tel 250.248.8534
fax 250.248.1274
Email niwra@nanaimo.ark.com
www.northislandwildliferecoverycenter.org
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