A WILD LIVE WELL-LIVED

Audrey Tourney has died.

I was saddened to read yesterday that Audrey Tourney died at 89. She was the founder of the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary located in St Rosseau in the middle of Ontario about 300 miles north of New York. She was the angel behind many orphan beaver releases not to mention bears and foxes and others. When she started her work she was told that rehabbed beaver could never be released into the wild because they had missed out on too much learning. They needed to go to a zoo. But Audrey didn’t much believe that.

And now no one does. Because of her work and what she taught us.

The wildlife and rehab and beaver world found a huge gift in Audrey and the world is a better place because she breathed in it. This Canadian short is a profound look at the work she did and how many lives – both human and wild – she changed forever.

I know yesterday was “Giving tuesday” and the soft hearted wallets are considerably lightened already but if you have anything left you should make a donation in her name to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. They do remarkable work, and their hearts must be heavier this season.