THE SANDY PINES WILDLIFE CENTRE IN NAPANEE IS HOME TO MANY WILD ANIMALS ON THE MEND ...

INCLUDING A GREAT HORNED OWL WITH A 4 FOOT WING SPAN ... TO THE SMALLER CREATURES ... LIKE THESE BABY RACCOONS WHO WERE ABANDONED BY THEIR MOTHER.

LEAH:

"WE TAKE IN CALLS AND INJURED AND ORPHANED WILDLIFE FROM ALL OVER EASTERN ONTARIO. THOSE WHO NEED CARE THAT WE CAN'T PROVIDE WE TRANSFER TO WILDLIFE CENTRES THAT CAN PROVIDE."

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO AROUND HERE.

ESTABLISHED 15 YEARS AGO, THE CENTRE CARES FOR 12-HUNDRED ANIMALS A YEAR, AND RELEASES THEM BACK INTO THE WILDS.

LEAH:

"WE REHYDRATE THEM, FEED THEM, GET THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET, FOR BABIES THEY ARE ON A PRETTY TIGHT FEEDING SCHEDULE."

THE CENTRE RECENTLY RECEIVED A SPECIAL GUEST ...

LAURA:

"WE HAD A CALL FROM A FAMILY WHO HAD FOUND A DEAD DEER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE THIS LITTLE ONES MOTHER."

THE FAMILY FOUND THIS FAWN CRYING OUT FROM A DITCH IN PETERBOROUGH ... THE TINY CREATURE JUST DAYS OLD -- WAS BROUGHT HERE, WHERE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, STAFF WILL NURSE THE ANIMAL.

LAURA:

"WE NEED TO KEEP HER WARM, KEEP FEEDING HER AND HOPE SHE GETS HER STRENGTH UP."

THE FAWN WEIGHS NO MORE THAN 5 POUNDS, AND STILL WOBBLY ON ITS LEGS.

LAURA:

"SHE IS VERY LITTLE, THE SMALLEST FAWN I HAVE EVER SEEN ANYWAY."

STAFF SAY THE FAWN IS QUITE ACTIVE AND RESPONDING TO FEEDINGS, GIVING HER A GOOD CHANCE OF SURVIVAL ...

ALTHOUGH THE FAWN ... LIKE THESE BABY SQUIRRELS IN THE CAGE NEXT TO HER ...

WILL BE AT THE CENTRE FOR SOME BEFORE GETTING THE STRENGTH TO SURVIVE ON HER OWN.

LAURA:

"FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, SHE HAS TO GET PASS THIS CRITICAL STAGE, THEN WE WILL RELEASE HER INTO A GROUP HER AGE, WHERE SHE WILL LEARN TO BE A DEER."

ALTHOUGH, FOR NOW ... THE ONLY FOCUS IS GETTING THIS BAMBI STEADY ON HER FEET.

LIZ COOK, CKWS NEWSWATCH, NAPANEE.