Atlantic Wildlife Institute takes in weasels, porcupine

Two weasels, a porcupine and a nest of Eastern bluebirds are among the animals finding temporary shelter this week at the Atlantic Wildlife Institute.

The animals were all found abandoned in the wild, and will be returned there when they are able to fend for themselves.

• 2 ducks have been surrogate parents to 30 orphans
• Second orphaned bear cub brought to Atlantic Wildlife Institute
• Juvenile hawk found covered in ice recovering well

A deceptive duo

The babyweasels definitely look cute. Don't get too close though, because they have a killer instinct.

"They are anything but fun," said Pam Novak of the institute.

"These are carnivores, predators by nature, and they have that type of behaviour."

The two weasels were taken to the institute after their mother was killed by a cat.

When they first arrived they had the appearance of worms, slender and hairless. Their looks have improved, along with their appetites. While they were first fed with formula, chicks and mice will soon be introduced into their diets.

A sharp personality

A baby porcupine was found in the woods without its mother, which is uncommon for an animal so young. When it was taken to the institute, Novak told the people who found the porcupine to check and make sure the mother wasn't around. A reunion wasn't possible though.

From afar, a porcupine may look a little rough around the edges, but Novak said that changes the closer you get.

"People just give porcupines such a bad rap, you know these big prickly kind of creatures just slothing along the roads out there. When you get up close to them you realize just what a beautiful animal they really are," said Novak.

Regardless of how cute they are, it's not advisable to get too close to a porcupine.

A chorus of cuteness

A nest of Eastern bluebirds were taken in by the institute after their parents didn't show up for a few days. The whereabouts of the parents are unknown, but the nestlings are in good hands.

That's not to say there haven't been difficulties. The nestlings can be a little fussy at mealtime.

"They're actually a little bit shy in terms of feeding . They're not like some of the other songbirds that you come over and you approach them and they just want to be fed and they don't care. These guys you really actually have to entice and to kind of coax into wanting to feed," said Novak.

Shift - NB9:01Weasels, a porcupine and a nest of bluebirds

Pam Novak at the Atlantic Wildlife Institute is busy raising a variety of orphaned animals!