ROOKIE QB CATO IN COMMAND AGAINST STAMPS
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Stratford The little city that theatre built
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Red Deer Advocate WEEKEND EDITION SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2015
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ANIMAL WELFARE
Zero hour THE MEDICINE RIVER WILDLIFE CENTRE IS COUNTING ON CENTRAL ALBERTANS TO HELP IT REPLACE THE DILAPIDATED STRUCTURE HOUSING ITS WILDLIFE HOSPITAL BEFORE WINTER SETS IN
Story by LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF Photos by JEFF STOKOE ADVOCATE STAFF WEATHER Sun and cloud. High 24. Low 10.
FORECAST ON A2
INDEX Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . B6,B7 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . D5-D8 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C7 Entertainment . . . . . . . . C4-C6 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4-B6
TOP: A three-week-old deer stands in its enclosure as it recovers from what is believed to be an injury caused by barbed wire or machinery of some kind. The fawn was brought into the centre with severe cuts on its abdomen and side. ABOVE: Medicine River Wildlife Centre executive director Carol Kelly in the decommissioned hospital at the centre. The building is being dismantled and sold in preparation for the new building being erected. When you’re a naked baby squirrel, just an inchand-a-half long, your survival chances are dicey. The pink-skinned infant gives life his best shot, lapping up a nutritious, energy-boosting formula from the end of a paintbrush at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre. Hospital co-ordinator Alana Pay had tried feeding the baby squirrel from the smallest syringe, but his miniscule mouth was still having trouble negotiating the end. Executive director Carol Kelly suggested dipping a paintbrush in the special formula, then holding the saturated bristles up to the squirrel’s lips. It worked like a charm. “It’s used to feeding that way from its mother,” said Kelly. The suckling red squirrel gets a lot of attention from centre staff, despite a busy schedule of caring for about 200 injured or abandoned animals, includ-
ing deer, porcupine, weasels, skunks, ducks, owls, eagles and other raptors. If the teensy critter survives hourly feedings and waterings, he will beat long odds — three of his squirrel siblings, which were also brought to the centre cold and dehydrated, have already died — leaving the lone survivor. Medicine River staff were told the squirrels’ home had been built precariously above the door of a cabin west of Rocky Mountain House. When the cabin was opened for the season, the nest dropped to the ground, and the rattled mother squirrel ran off, leaving four infants behind. Well-meaning humans tried their best to keep the young ones alive, but probably waited too long before calling for expert advice, said Kelly.
Please see CENTRE on Page A2
Blood drive held in honour of twins A Red Deer family hopes a birthday celebration this week for two-year-old twins also encourages people to donate blood. Story on PAGE A4
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