Combined efforts save northern Ont. wolf hit by a car

Residents in Hagar and an animal rescue group in northern Ontario sprang into action last week when a man struck a wolf while driving on Highway 17.

On Jan. 24 around 8 p.m., Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre in Greater Sudbury got a call to help rescue an animal. The organization had to act fast -- and get some help -- if the injured animal was going to survive.

Gloria Morissette of the Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre said a man phoned to say he had struck a wolf while driving on Highway 17 in Hagar.

“They really went to the nth degree to find someone to help,” Morissette said.

“They called all over the place trying to find out because these guys did not want to dispatch this animal … It turns out it’s a male, but (look) how beautiful he is.”

Ontario Provincial Police and the driver were able to help officials with Turtle Pond locate the injured wolf and safely get him out of the -30 degree weather.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do it, just the two of us,” Morissette said.

“It was really nice that the constables were able to stay … You know, it all just worked out. It was great. They were really, really nice individuals to deal with and they were genuinely concerned about the animal’s welfare.”

Once the crew captured the wolf, they sent him to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary for a veterinarian assessment and X-ray, where it was determined that the wolf’s back legs were broken.

“The vet from the National Wildlife Centre where we sent him in for the surgery, actually found that there was some infection in one of the broken legs,” said Kledsai Naksomboon from Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

“So his prognosis is still guarded, but if he recovers, he is going to be released probably in spring, summer or fall. Depends on how long he takes on a rehab program.”

“Dr. Sherry Cox really needs the nod as well,” Morissette said.

“She’s part of the National Wildlife Centre and she’s the one that ... really helps all the animals.”

Naksomboon said that the injured wolf’s treatment was completely paid for by donations from the community.

The driver of the vehicle is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and asked to name the wolf Vimy in memory of the military police working dog who passed away in 2021.

“Donations do go a long way because Vimy is one of the stories that we’re sharing,” Naksomboon said.

“But there are so many wild animals that come in injured and orphaned, to cover all these costs of rehab, which is not cheap at all. We need everybody’s help to keep us going.”