Wildlife Group Saves Turtle Days After Losing Home to Fire

Days after wildfire destroyed their facility, a wildlife rescue team dropped everything to save a turtle with a fishhook stuck so deep it threatened her eye.

The Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in Summerland, British Columbia, got the call about a Western Painted Turtle on Friday. The large turtle had been caught with fishing gear embedded in her mouth, creating a serious injury that wouldn't wait.

"Animals don't wait until we are ready, they need help when they need help," the organization shared on social media. Despite having just evacuated all their animals and lost their building to the Bald Range Wildfire the week before, the team didn't hesitate.

Within hours, volunteers coordinated to transport the turtle to a local veterinary clinic. A veterinarian donated his time and the clinic offered their facility free of charge for the emergency procedure.

The fishhook broke during removal, complicating the surgery. But the team successfully extracted all the pieces and treated the turtle's swollen eye with pain medication and anti-inflammatories.

The patient woke up well from sedation and immediately started rehydrating herself. She's now recovering with proper care for her injuries.

The Ripple Effect

This rescue shows how commitment to a mission can survive even catastrophic loss. When the wildfire forced evacuation last week, the society transferred animals not ready for release to BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops, ensuring continuous care.

The organization's facility may be gone, but its network of supporters stepped up instantly. Local veterinarians, volunteers, and partner organizations created a makeshift system to continue rescuing injured wildlife without missing a beat.

The society has established a wildfire recovery fund to rebuild their permanent facility. Meanwhile, they're proving that helping animals in crisis doesn't require a building—it requires people who care enough to make it happen no matter what.

This turtle got a second chance because a team refused to let disaster stop them from their purpose. That's the kind of resilience that rebuilds not just facilities, but hope.