What do you do when you find a vulture in your garage? Good Samaritans Laura and Mark spent their Christmas season faced with just such a question. Then? Well, wait until you see what happens next…

Donate a vehicle for your cause

If you are poised to donate a vehicle, you already know that it is a personal, intentional, and generous process. There is a story behind every car! What’s yours? Here’s more from Laura and Mark:

Visiting vulture

“We were outside shoveling the drive way on December 18 when we saw a big bird soaring aloft. We thought, That is very odd; it must be a turkey vulture but it is long overdue heading south for the winter. Off it headed west on the breeze and we thought that was the end of that — except it wasn’t! Preparing to head out grocery shopping we noticed the vulture had flown into the open garage door without leaving a track in the snow! He nestled in our garage. When approached he made a hissing noise by expending air quickly out his nostrils, and he liked to stomp his feet one foot at a time to show who was boss.

Who do you call when a vulture moves in?

My husband Mark called the SPCA who recommended he call a couple of animal rescue services, including Shades of Hope in Ontario. It turns out this bird was reported in numerous garages around the area some weeks ago. The story goes it may have been sick and was too weak to fly at a young age so someone started sheltering and feeding it. Eventually, we suspect that person either attempted to capture the bird for transport to a sanctuary and it got free, or simply let it go into the winter air, based on information that it would be okay to do so.

Now it was socialized to some extent and, even though it could soar with the best of them, its family had long since left for South America, and he had no choice but to do the only thing he knew: go from garage to garage looking for food and shelter, where he was shooed away. No doubt he was cold and desperate. It was so sad!

Shades of Hope to the rescue

The staff at Shades of Hope animal sanctuary said my husband should find a big bin and try to capture the vulture by approaching it with a large sheet and casting the sheet about the vulture. The vulture and sheet could then be placed in the bin. He tried that to no avail. “Vic” (as we named him) flew up onto the rails for the garage door where no one could reach him.

We put cat food out as a lure as per the advice of a man my husband contacted at another sanctuary. The idea was to lure the vulture back to ground level and try again with the sheet. Vic flew down for the cat food but since capturing Vic in this manner seemed very unlikely, my husband called animal control to see if they had further opinions on what to do. We were advised by animal control to keep Vic until the next day until advised on what to do by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Ministry of Natural Resources weighs in

The next day the person from the Ministry of Natural Resources called and said that vultures are a protected species. They are no longer endangered (their population once suffered terribly due to the use of DDT). There were no particular regulations around what to do with Vic. The options we had were to shoo the bird once more into the winter air, or to bring him to Shades of Hope Animal Sanctuary.

The choice was clear: there is no way we were going to shoo Vic into the winter again. Vultures are not adapted to survive in winter weather. They would suffer frost bite to their unfeathered head and feet, and have no way to detect food under deep snow with their fine sense of smell and telescopic vision. Shooing Vic out again was ensuring his certain death. The mission became to take Vic to the Shades of Hope in Pefferlaw.

Winning Vic over

We cared for Vic by giving him shelter, lots of space, water and food. Vultures have a voracious appetite! He would quickly gobble up ½ pound portions of raw beef burger or steak. Contrary to popular belief, vultures prefer fresh meat, not decaying meat from old carcasses. We are sure, given a few days more, that Vic would have eaten out of our hands. He would approach ever closer when we brought him food, and fussed less and less. There was never a plan to hand feed him or to socialize him even more, and we never did. This bird had to get his strength back, return to the skies to meet up with his friends, and raise a family of his own.

Vulture transport: more challenging than you’d think!

The challenge was how to get Vic into a container for transport to Shades of Hope. We were quickly successful in luring Vic into a large dog crate using a trail of steak. He stayed there comfortably for the night, with a space heater in the area to keep him warm.

The next morning we got permission to leave work to transport Vic to the Shades of Hope. Unfortunately there was a problem: the cage would not fit into the back of our Toyota Matrix! Mark frantically called everyone he knew who may have a van or other suitable vehicle for the warm transport of Vic in the cage, and that included car rental agencies. The search was unsuccessful!

That left only one option open: Mark had to go into the cage to capture Vic, and place him in the large plastic bin as per the original plan. Mark was much more worried about the stress to Vic incurred by capturing him than anything else, but there was no choice.  At least the cage would prevent Vic from flying upward into the rafters of the garage.

Vulture wrangling

My husband climbed into the dog crate and managed to capture Vic in a blanket and nestle him comfortably in the container for transport. Vic flapped a bit during the capture, but it was not difficult. He was quiet once in the darkness of the plastic crate. A rope was placed over the edge of the crate to make sure air would get inside.

Mark delivered Vic to the delighted staff at Shades of Hope. They had never sheltered a turkey vulture before! Mark cracked the lid of the bin open slightly once inside the shelter and Vic peered out. He’d long escaped the blanket. He had not fussed at all during the journey. The bin was placed on the floor of Vic’s new home, a luxurious stall equipped with branches to perch on. The lid of the bin was opened and with a couple of flaps Vic was on the perch. He relaxed quickly and began to preen his feathers.

What came next (Don’t worry…we’re getting to the “Donate a Vehicle” part of the story!)

Mark took a photo as Vic gazed back. It was almost as though he knew he would be cared for and all would be okay. Mark thought, this bird is definitely a little socialized. It saved him from psychological and physical damage during shelter and transport. Mark left a donation to help with Vic’s upkeep. Following up on Vic a few days later at Shades of Hope, we were surprised and delighted to receive the following message:

Your turkey vulture is in fine form!  We gave him a checkup and he is very young as suspected, but his body condition is good.  His tail feathers are in rough shape but that can be fixed with time and space.  Your Vic was packed up and driven all the way out to Napanee last night.  He is now with Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre where he will spend the winter in a large protected outdoor raptor aviary.  He has a heat lamp and room to stretch his wings.  Thank you for bringing him in.  He would not have survived the winter on his own out there.

Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre steps up, too

We also followed up with Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre on January 5th and we received the following message:

He is doing well has his own room with heating and lamps eating up a storm. He will have to stay inside until the worst of winter is over. They usually migrate once the frost starts in Ontario. Thanks for helping him.

Vic inspires rescuers to donate a vehicle

It happened that Mark’s Honda Civic had reached the end of its road at this time. There was no option but to scrap it, but he knew there was a way that the proceeds from the scrap yard could be sent to charity. An on-line search quickly turned up Donate A Car Canada.  Looking at the long list of charities at Donate a Car Canada one jumped off the screen: Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre! This is perfect, he thought!

Who knew it would be so simple to donate a vehicle?

After a few calls and e-mails the arrangements to have the proceeds from the Honda Civic sent to Sandy Pines Wildlife Center were set in place. The funds will help the center in their wonderful cause of wildlife rehabilitation, and that included Vic. Many thanks to Donate A Car Canada for helping make this happen.

Wrapping up part one of Vic’s story

Christmas will always be a time when we remember Vic the Turkey Vulture and how he chose us to rescue him from the cold winter. Given the uniqueness of this experience and the time of year that it happened it is hard not to look for deeper meaning. What came to mind is a list of virtues that came into play and how great it was to exercise them: compassion for another soul; caring; kindness; charity; humility for another creature; kindness; determination to see the best result for Vic; gratitude to all who helped and finally thankfulness for the whole experience.”

Delightful story and photos contributed by donors, Laura Mattice and Mark Newton

Interested in learning what happened to Vic? Check out Part Two of the story!

Ready to donate a vehicle of your own?

To donate a vehicle is quick, simple, and free! Your gift can go to any charity in Canada. Critters like Vic, community causes, kids, and quirky concerns — your car can help!

Every car, SUV, truck, motorcycle, and van has value. Yours will be either re-sold, or recycled. When you donate a vehicle you can trust that we will assign it to the right process. Like you, we want your vehicle to bring the highest donation possible for your charity of choice.

Ready to go? Click the red “Donate my car now” button below. The donation form you find there will take you just a few minutes to fill out. Once we have that we will assign your vehicle to an agent near you and you’re on your way to your free tow!

If you prefer to talk to a real, live, caring person, give us a call! Reach us at 1-877-250-4904, Monday – Friday.

Not quite ready to donate a vehicle today?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! From there, you’ll be able to keep up to date on our program. You will also see posts that showcase our amazing donors and charities from every province across the country!

Are you a charity that would like to join up?

Visit our “Fundraising” page to get the details on how we will serve you and tend your donors!

The post Vic the Vulture & Why You Should Donate a Vehicle (Part One) appeared first on Donate A Car.

Do you remember Vic the Vulture? You may recall his story led to Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge joining Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre on our list of causes to choose from.

The good Samaritans that ensured Vic the Vulture would survive the winter have sent us a stirring update. Read on to learn where Vic is now.

We were delighted with Vic’s wildlife story in February! The vulture won our hearts thanks to Mark and Laura’s hearty efforts and beautiful story telling. Furthermore, he gave Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge the opportunity to get connected with our program. Happily, February’s adventures were not the end of the story!

Wildlife sanctuaries restore Vic’s health

Mark and Laura have stayed in touch with the wildlife refuges that originally responded to their requests for help. As you will learn, it takes a village of caring humans to help hurting critters, and Vic was no exception.

Mark and Laura write,

“I have an update on Vic the Vulture. He was rehabilitated over the winter at the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee, Ontario. This past weekend he was shipped back to Gail and friends at the Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge in Pefferlaw, Ontario. They asked if I would like to pick him up and release him in the area where he and his family were from.

I was only too happy to help out! For his release, I had a place near the King’s Wharf Theater in Penetang in mind. Vultures can be seen to soar along a ridge by the dozens there.

Vic the vulture is soaring

It was the perfect place and time for the release; the other vultures were soaring the ridge. We opened the box by the shore and he jumped out.

After a few moments he raised his wings and caught the stiff breeze blowing in from the bay and he was easily aloft.

Within moments he was way up high and circling about. 

Soon two other vultures came by to join him. It was very touching! Vic is soaring with his brothers and sisters!

The rest is up to him; I hope he can learn to forage for himself and that he finds lots of food to eat. Of course there is always Mark and Laura’s restaurant if he feels a hankering to visit.”

Mark and Laura’s wildlife adventure has been a joy for us to follow. Inspirational. Heartwarming. Hopeful. Furthermore, their exemplary care for the planet and one of its own is stirring indeed.

The work that Sandy Pines and Shades of Hope are doing is ongoing, too. If Vic’s story captured your attention, you might want to contribute to similar work. You can help. Visit the charity websites we have linked in this blog. See what these hard-working teams are doing for Canadian wildlife. Join in where you can. And, if you have a car you’d like to give to the cause…

Donate a vehicle on behalf of any Canadian charity!

Your car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle can help critters just like Vic. It can help humans, too! Moreover, tending the end-of-life process of a scrap car has broader ripple effects. Your donated car (running, or not), processed well, ends up serving other vehicle owners. When you donate, local businesses thrive. Giving in this way ensures that our earth is protected by good process in capable hands.

Of course, your car means cash for your charity, too. When you donate a vehicle it means hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars for the cause you love!

We will serve you with personal and exceptional donor support. Your tow will always be free. Not only that, you will receive a tax receipt from your charity of choice. And we do mean “choice” — ANY charity in Canada can receive your vehicle donation!

When you are ready, you can expect the donation form to take around 10 minutes to complete. We are an email away if you need extra support. Another option is to call in to 1-877-250-4904 during business hours, Monday – Friday. We are here to assist!

Mark Newton and Laura Mattice generously provided all photos and story.

The post Wildlife Update: Vic the Vulture (Part Two) appeared first on Donate A Car.

Charities keepin’ it wild in your in back yard

Did you know that you have local and regional charities whose heart work is to care for our wildlife? We’re talking rescue, research, and re-homing. If a wild Canada sounds like the stuff of freedom and planet health to you, you can get involved!

In a minute we’re going to give you a hearty list of just a few wildlife charities that you will want to visit. But for now, begin to imagine how you might want to help in your own unique way!

Wild Canada is all about hands-on caring

Wildlife care is all about you and I. If we each do our part to tend our little sphere of influence, we can make a big difference. Visit the charity you love online. Explore their Donate Now and Get Involved options. There is sure to be a wildlife supporting way that fits you perfectly!

Here at Donate a Car Canada we have one honed-to-near-perfection way: we turn your unused/unwanted vehicle into money in hand for the charity you love!

We do that in a couple of different ways. We re-sell donated vehicles via auction or other re-sale agents across Canada. These vehicles are sold as-is for the highest bid our agents can get! Donation outcomes can be thousands of dollars for your cause!

A car, truck, van, or SUV that is ready to come off the road is recycled.

Either way, the pick-up is free and the process is super easy!

Is there a wildlife charity near me?

Yes! You can choose ANY Canadian charity to receive your vehicle donation. Here are just a few to choose from:

I’m ready to hand my car over to the wild!

The post Wild Canada appeared first on Donate A Car.

World Wildlife Fund | A unique gift

J.L. came to us with a special concern. Preparing to make an out-of-country move, he knew he wanted to donate his Toyota Prius for the World Wildlife Fund. The car had high mileage, but was in running condition.

“The car runs fine but it’s an American car and therefor I cannot donate it to anything but recycling.”

Our donor was right: when donating a car in Canada, it must have been last registered in Canada. No Canadian registration? Recycle only. This didn’t pose a problem at all! The agents that serve charities through our program want to maximize every donation. The Alberta agent that managed J.L.’s gift worked hard to find the best way to get the highest return.

Rather than just paying out a scrap-rate for the Prius, our agent took time to piece it out. This isn’t always a viable option. Our agents process donated vehicles whatever means results in the largest dollar outcome for the charity while also covering their own costs. In this case, they took a hit to their own pocket so that the WWF could benefit with just a few dollars more!

Will my donated vehicle be parted-out?

We serve many wildlife-focused charities. In fact, if you have a Canadian wildlife charity that you care about, they probably have a vehicle donation program! We serve these organizations in several ways:

1. We recycle or re-sell donated vehicles. Visit our FAQ page for the nitty-gritty on how we determine what to do on a car-by-car basis. Your car, truck, SUV, van, or motorcycle is assessed on its own merits. We won’t overlook any detail! Some vehicles are scrapped; many are sold as-is to the highest bidder. This can result in a donation of thousands of dollars for the cause you love.
2. Our agents align with the mission of many of our environmental and conservation charities: removing unused/unwanted vehicles from the roads is good Earth Care practice.
3. We take care of every aspect of the donation process so that the charity doesn’t have to. These works are often operated by volunteers. Their volunteers are in it because they care for the planet and for critters. By taking care of the administrative bits and bobs, we free the charity up to do their heart work.

I want to give to a Canadian wildlife cause

There are so many ways to tend our earth and our wilds! Your regional charity will benefit from your time, your social media shares, and even from your gifts-in-kind. Visit your nearby charity’s web page and find their “Ways to Donate” information.

‘Ready to go big and donate your unused or unwanted vehicle? Here are some of the causes we currently work alongside:

Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area

Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

BC Parks Foundation

Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)

Critter Care Wildlife Society

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society

Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

Hope for Wildlife Society

Kawartha Wildlife Centre

Lake Winnipeg Foundation

Medicine River Wildlife Centre

Northern Lights Wildlife Society

Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society

Nova Scotia Nature Trust

Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)

Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre

Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge

The Land Between

TLC The Land Conservancy of British Columbia

Toronto Wildlife Centre

World Wildlife Fund Canada

Zoocheck

My charity isn’t on your list

If you don’t see the cause you wish to support on our list, no problem! We are at-the-ready to serve any Canadian charity. It’s possible that if you visit your charity they already have us linked somewhere on their website. If you can’t find the link, let us know…or reach out to your charity to let them know of your hope to donate your vehicle.

Once we’re connected with them we can get the work done to set them up with their own vehicle donation program. No cost to them. No cost to you. Big benefits to your, your charity, and our Canadian wildlife!

The post Cars for Canadian Wildlife appeared first on Donate A Car.