In addition to our rehabilitation work, we also provide long-term care to a variety of North American mammals that cannot be returned to the wild. For these animals, we focus on providing facilities that meet their specific biological and behavioural needs.

Most rehabilitation centres do not have facilities to provide lifetime sanctuary care to a variety of different species, in a natural setting. Most of the animals in permanent residence are here as a result of human interference. Some were kept as illegal pets. Others are here because they were injured or orphaned at a young age, and became too habituated to humans to be released.

Still others have medical needs that would make it impossible for them to survive in the wild. Our permanent residents are maintained in enclosures and habitat that keep them safe and are according to their specific needs. We hope they are happy here, too!

We have started this page to remember the animals who have crossed our paths and touched our lives. If you would like to donate in memory of one of these amazing animals, please click here.

Lucky left us in June 2013. She was was found as a very young orphan when her mother had not returned for her. A couple took Lucky in and raised her. Neighbors would come to help feed little baby Lucky and her love of people grew and grew. For a wild white-tailed deer that is not a good thing. Lucky had the run of the house and yard but even as other deer visited she was not accepted and Lucky would always return home.

One tragic day, Lucky was hit by a car. A local vet set the leg but the couple caring for Lucky had increasing concerns about her long-term well-being. Keeping Lucky was illegal and the needs of a growing deer are difficult to manage. Lucky came to Aspen Valley and many of our orphaned fawns were introduced to Lucky, and she taught them what to and not to graze on, when to be alert and how fun it is to be a deer.

Lucky was 8 years old when she died, and in the last 6 months of her life she began to look frail, typical of an elderly deer, but remained frisky and engaged in her environment.