Record year for Yukon Wildlife Preserve

It's been a record year for the Yukon Wildlife Preserve with interest initswildlife rehabilitation work boosting the number of visitors.

"We are able to house bear cubs for a few weeks," saysJakePaleczny, director of programming and education. "We are able to give an animal like this red fox puppy a second chance and even though people can't necessarily come in there and see that work in progress on a regular basis, it's getting out there."

A record numbers of international visitors and Yukoners have visited the preserve.

"Things like the National Geographic show,Dr Oakley Yukon Vet, I think being a fairly substantial part of that show we're having people calling from us around the world who are saying 'Oh, I saw you on that show and we really wanted to come and visit,'"saysPaleczny.

Publicity around the mystery red fox pup, initially thought to be a puppy,and the care of the orphaned bear cubs also helped bring people out to the Wildlife Preserve this year, he says.

"The last year has been particularly strong, This December was our busiest December ever and so were the last seven out of 10 months."

Things aren't slowing down over the winter, either.The YukonWildlifePreserve is grooming its ski trailsand working to finish the new enclosure for the little red fox.