White-Tailed Prairie Hare Initiative (Hare Nanny Program)

White-Tailed Prairie Hare Initiative

Every spring, WILDNorth receives orphaned white-tailed prairie hares, one of the most challenging species to rehabilitate. Unlike rabbits, young hares are born fully furred and rely on remaining hidden and undisturbed to survive. When brought into care, they are highly susceptible to stress, dehydration, digestive complications, and nutritional imbalances. Even minor disruptions can jeopardize their health, making specialized care critical to their survival.

The White-Tailed Prairie Hare Initiative will provide the resources needed to improve rehabilitation outcomes and give these vulnerable animals the best possible chance of returning to the wild.

A key component of this program is the expansion of our innovative Hare Nanny Program. Through this volunteer foster network, young hares are cared for in quiet, low-stress environments that better mimic their natural upbringing than a busy wildlife hospital. Under the guidance of WILDNorth's rehabilitation team, Hare Nannies provide the specialized daily care these animals need during their most vulnerable weeks of life.

Funding will also support the hiring of a seasonal Hare Program Supervisor from April through October, when hare admissions are at their peak. This dedicated position will recruit and support Hare Nannies, oversee animal care protocols, monitor the health and development of hares in foster care, coordinate veterinary support, and ensure the program operates effectively during the busiest months of the year.

In addition, funding will provide specialized housing, species-specific nutrition, veterinary care, volunteer training, transportation support, and ongoing research to further improve survival and release rates.

By supporting the White-Tailed Prairie Hare Initiative, you are helping create a sustainable, community-driven program that combines expert wildlife care with dedicated volunteers to give orphaned hares a second chance. Together, we can ensure more of these remarkable animals survive, thrive, and return to their natural habitat within the city.

Vote for the White-Tailed Prairie Hare Initiative and help give orphaned hares the specialized care they need to survive and return to the wild.

The White-Tailed Prairie Hare Initiative will benefitbaby white-tailed prairie hares, one of the most challenging wildlife species to rehabilitate. Each year, WILDNorth receives young hares that have been orphaned, injured, or displaced. Many arrive dehydrated, malnourished, or in critical condition and require intensive, species-specific care to survive. This initiative will provide the specialized resources, housing, nutrition, veterinary oversight, and foster care network needed to improve rehabilitation outcomes for these vulnerable animals.

The program will also benefit the public through education and outreach. WILDNorth receives hundreds of calls each year from concerned residents who find young hares alone and believe they have been abandoned. In many cases, the hare is healthy and its mother is nearby, returning only briefly to nurse. By increasing public awareness about normal hare behaviour, the program will help prevent healthy leverets from being unintentionally removed from the wild and reduce unnecessary admissions to rehabilitation.

The initiative will further benefit wildlife conservation through a research partnership with King's University. Together, WILDNorth and King's University are working to advance knowledge of white-tailed prairie hare rehabilitation, husbandry, and survival. The information gathered will help improve care protocols and contribute valuable research that can benefit wildlife rehabilitators and conservation organizations beyond Alberta.

The community will also benefit through the Hare Nanny Program, which provides meaningful volunteer opportunities for people interested in wildlife conservation. Trained volunteers will play a direct role in caring forbaby hares in low-stress foster environments while receiving ongoing support from WILDNorth.

By supporting at risk baby hares, educating the public, engaging volunteers, and advancing scientific research, this initiative creates lasting benefits for wildlife, communities, and conservation efforts across Northern Alberta.