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If you thought wildlife rehabilitation was all syringes and serious faces, Zoe Nakata is here to prove otherwise.
The Executive Director of Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre dropped by the Country 107 studio this morning, where she joined Carly Koop for a round of rapid-fire Q&A—and let’s just say, we covered everything from blanket snuggles to diva swans, with a healthy dose of owl obsession thrown in for good measure. The Centre is hosting a baby Shower on Saturday and questions asked were all about baby animals that visit the crew at Wildlife Haven.
“I’ve got a bunch of rapid-fire questions,” Koop warned her at the start. “They’re all about the rehab center—nothing too personal. We’ll save that for another time.”
“Sounds good,” she smiled, clearly game for the challenge.
Cutest baby animal ever?
“Baby otter,” Zoe answered without hesitation. Fair enough—who wouldn’t melt at the sight of a fuzzy, whiskered little water noodle?
Loudest patient in care?
“The eagle,” she replied, with a nod to the ear-splitting screeches that clearly make mornings lively at the center.
One word to describe baby season?
“Hectic,” she laughed, the kind of laugh that says, “you have no idea.”
When asked to name her favorite animal sound, Zoe didn’t hesitate: “Owl. Specifically, the Great Grey Owl.” Though she stopped short of hooting on live radio, she promised to practice for next time.
And speaking of owls… it became clear very quickly that Zoe might have a favourite.
Asked what animal she'd take home if she could (but absolutely wouldn’t), she answered: “Baby owl.” The fastest eater in the nursery right now? “Tiny great horned owl.” The cutest animal sound? “Chatter—like owls do.”
Noticing a theme here?
“I didn’t plan this,” she laughed, “but yeah, I like owls.” So much so that she’s slowly becoming what she jokingly called “an owl lady,” thanks to her kids’ gift-giving habits. Owl trinkets, owl bookends… the collection is growing.
But owls aren’t the only animals that stand out at Wildlife Haven.
The most diva-like creature she’s dealt with? “Swan,” she said with a raised eyebrow. “They’re particular. They need open space, the right amount of water, and don’t love enclosed areas. Definitely a bit high maintenance.”
We also learned that squirrels are both the worst bath-time companions and the best hide-and-seek champions at the center. Who knew?
One of the funniest (and coldest) rescue stories came courtesy of a Canada goose who had skipped migration and taken up residence behind a car wash in Winnipeg. “He couldn’t fly but he could run,” Zoe recalled, describing the -30°C February rescue mission that had staff and volunteers sprinting across a frozen field. “It was literally a wild goose chase,” she laughed. “No, really. Literally.”
Despite the chaos and the mess (she always keeps a rag or Kleenex in her pocket during baby season), Zoe’s love for the work and for every animal that comes through Wildlife Haven’s doors is obvious.
And while the owls might be stealing the spotlight today, Zoe made one thing clear before heading out: “I love all animals. It’s just… owls kind of win at the moment.”
We’ll let the baby raccoons and diva swans sort that out.