North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre
North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre
North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre is located in a park-like setting with a peaceful rustic atmosphere. When visiting the centre you will be able to view eagles, several species of owls, falcons, hawks, ravens, and black bears. Rehabilitating eagles can be viewed through one way glass in the largest flight enclosure of its kind in Canada. The Centre's mandate is the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned native wildlife, with a focus on raptors and black bears. GUIDED TOURS: are available for groups of 15 or more. HOURS OF OPERATION: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 7 days a week. ENTRANCE FEES: $15.00.00 adults, $6.00 children aged 3-12, plus applicable taxes.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
297 reviews
Excellent
217
Very good
63
Average
11
Poor
3
Terrible
3
LRossmann
Campbell River, Canada
Jun 2022
We went on a beautiful sunny day and had a wonderful time. There were 2 of us that had difficulties getting around and there was no problem using a walker and/or finding benches to sit on for a rest.
There were lots of rehabbed birds that had their own spaces that were big and set up perfectly for them. There is lots of greenery everywhere and used in a great way. If you wanted sun you can find sun and if you are looking for shade then you can find that too.
There are lots of different pathways to take and check out all the different animals and birds on display.
We did manage to see the' 1' bear that they had on display but he wasn't into hanging around for pictures. But still nice to see.
There was a gentleman with an owl on his arm that was walking around and talking about them with lots of information.
When we first walked in we were stunned by the display of all the stuffed animals on display and how they were displayed. Great to see.
There is also a gift shop with lots of goodies to check out.
There were lots of rehabbed birds that had their own spaces that were big and set up perfectly for them. There is lots of greenery everywhere and used in a great way. If you wanted sun you can find sun and if you are looking for shade then you can find that too.
There are lots of different pathways to take and check out all the different animals and birds on display.
We did manage to see the' 1' bear that they had on display but he wasn't into hanging around for pictures. But still nice to see.
There was a gentleman with an owl on his arm that was walking around and talking about them with lots of information.
When we first walked in we were stunned by the display of all the stuffed animals on display and how they were displayed. Great to see.
There is also a gift shop with lots of goodies to check out.
Written 18 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, LRossman for your five star review! The volunteers and staff at NIWRA work continually to ensure the buildings, washrooms, pathways, exhibits and gardens are accessible to all . We are so glad you had a chance to see our resident black bear, Rae. And, yes, she does she wants! Please come again soon. Cheers, Patt
Written 13 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Norman A
Ucluelet, Canada
Jun 2021
Driving along highway 4A, I had seen the sign so I turned off to investigate. I have watched programs on T.V. On other wildlife rescue centres. I was curious. The centre is divided into sections. Some are accessible and others not so much. It is nicely groomed into a park. When I was there, they had several owls. A few eagles and ravens. The raven was being very vocal. They have many birds. Birds I would like to see in the wild, but don’t get a chance. It is a place of education. There is a large pond that has many turtles and fish. These are peaceful areas. You can imagine how busy they must be taking care of all these animals. Many of the birds came running to see you, possibly looking for food. It was a warmer day that I visited, so many of the birds were trying to stay cool. The building you enter has a display of stuffed local animals. They have a couple of areas were they must give education talks. But non were talking place on the day I visited. Give your self time to explore. I was there for two hours, I could have spent more time.
Written 6 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, NormanA105 for your positive review. Our resident birds are always excited to welcome visitors! We hope you can visit again - and perhaps on a day when a bird or bear talk is scheduled.
Warmest regards,
Patt
Written 16 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cymry
Montreal
Sept 2023 • Friends
This place was a hidden gem! We stumbled across it and decided to visit on a whim, and it ended up being one of the best places we saw. The rescue is doing some great work and highlighting the animals, explaining why certain ones are off-limits and why others are there (unable to be released). The animals were easy to see and clearly well cared for, and the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend!
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the incredible review! We are so happy that you found us. We hope you can come again soon! Cheers, Eden
Written 8 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mar 2022 • Friends
Even if you’re not a wildlife enthusiast, the clever configurations of enclosures, landscaping and fairy nooks, all adorned with whimsy and creativity, are simply astounding. These folks do incredible rehab work topped with edutainment galore. Absolutely the best-kept secret on the whole island. Visit, enjoy and donate please!
Written 14 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your five star review and a terrific new word ~ "edutainment"! We're glad you enjoyed your visit.
Warmest regards,
Patt
Written 16 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
OntarioTravellers2
Sarnia, Canada
Apr 2023 • Couples
This is a must see if you are in the area but you need at least 2 hours to enjoy it all ! There is something for everyone here from birds to bears to beautiful decor! A great deal of imagination was used to create this memorable attraction. The displays are well maintained with lots of useful information. The animals are well cared for and are in very large containment areas. There were a lot of driftwood creations, walking paths, picnic areas and peaceful spots to enjoy.
Written 21 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We appreciate it! Our small staff and incredible , hardworking volunteers dedicate their time to make this happen. We hope you can come again soon!
Cheers, Eden
Written 23 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
FluffyFlamingo
Germany
Aug 2024 • Couples
This place is absolutely amazing. We had heard about the sanctuary and spontaneously decided to visit when on Vancouver Island - and I'm glad we did, it was such an informative and touching experience. It's admirable what staff at the sanctuary are doing in order to help injured birds and other animals - so inspiring! And at the same time visitors can learn about these animals and their behaviour and their needs.
We visited in the morning and it was rather quiet, around noon more visitors arrived.
Definitely worth a visit!
We visited in the morning and it was rather quiet, around noon more visitors arrived.
Definitely worth a visit!
Written 2 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for such an amazing review! We are so happy that you enjoyed your visit here at NIWRA and hope to welcome you again in the future. Cheers, Eden
Written 8 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jul 2020
North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre is a must visit place for people of all ages. The centre is well laid out easy for most people to get around in inside & out. Birds, bears, guinea pigs turtles, its all there! North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre aids wildlife in need with the main goal of returning the animals back to their natural habitat & when that is not possible the animals are kept & well taken care of. Every animal has a story that is told on the signs in front of their now homes, as well as information about the animal, such as sizes, habitats & why the animals are there.. There are live educational demonstrations, full of information & of course the beautiful animals themselves. The bear cubs that have been orphaned or injured have as little human contact as possible & there is live stream video where you can watch the cubs ongoing shenanigans! Eagles that are releasable can be seen through one way glass as they begin the healing journey of flight before their return to the wild. I highly reccommend North island Wildlife Recovery Centre on your trip today!
Written 30 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for this beautiful review!
We truly appreciate this!
Warmest regards,
Joyce
Written 18 December 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Terry J
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Jun 2023 • Friends
A great way to spend the afternoon! This sanctuary is not only functioning as a recovery place for animals, it is also beautiful. Signage tells the story of the animal, what they are, and how they came to be in care. We appreciated one of the animal handlers taking time to talk to us about his work, the animals, and what they are doing at the Centre.
Written 11 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your incredible review. We appreciate it very much and are so happy that you enjoyed your visit. We hope to welcome you again! Cheers, Eden
Written 18 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TJSRegina
Regina, Canada
Feb 2020 • Couples
My wife, adult children and I visited the North Island Recovery Centre in later February. We were impressed with goals the centre is trying to achieve. We saw many animals - some abandoned because of loss of the mother, some with irreparable injuries that cannot be released back into the wild, others being rehabilitated for eventual release back into the wild. There are knowledgeable interpreters on hand to explain and answer questions. We were thoroughly impressed with the gentleman handling Dougal the blind Raven. He answered all our questions and was impressed with the questions we asked. We spent about an hour and a half at the centre and found it to be a pleasurable and relaxing way to pass the afternoon.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a great review! Dougal says Come Back Again!
Written 11 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
HKing2013
Victoria, Canada
Mar 2021
Lovely family day out, amazing birdlife - the owls are beautiful. The bears were hibernating, trust it would make it an even greater visit. Great to know ticket sales support the wildlife.
Written 15 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, HKing, for your five star review. Sorry about those sleepy bears.... we trust you'll be able to make it back when they're more active!
Warmest regards,
Patt
Written 16 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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