Joined by her new family, two-week-old Bella sees Thomas Royce coming in his gum boots, baby bottles in hand. Royce steps inside the enclosure that mimics a forest with its small evergreens, tall grass and bushes.

The fawns, ranging in age from two-weeks-old Bella to three months, come running towards him, Bella first in line. They suck from the bottles’ nipples, a replacement for their mother’s milk.

Each of the five fawns came to Critter Care Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre orphaned, their mothers either killed or missing. One of the fawns was kept as a pet for a short time before the people realized they shouldn’t keep it.

The white-tailed deer have beds of hay inside a shed, for privacy and shelter. In a few months they will lose their spots.

Once old enough to start foraging on their own, they can be ready for re-release back into the wild. First they will go to a huge enclosure on top of a mountain near Mission where they will have no human contact but will be protected from predators. Then they will be released to survive on their own in carefully selected remote areas. It’s a successful program that Critter Care has been running for several years.

The public can view these Bambi-like fawns and dozens of other wild baby mammals at Critter Care’s two-day open house this Saturday and Sunday (July 11-12) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It’s the only time in the year Critter Care allows the public to view the wildlife.

Tours go all day, giving visitors exclusive access to see the fawns and babies of all kinds including raccoons, skunks, chipmunks, river otters, opossums and more. The bear cubs are the only animals that can’t be viewed. For bears to be released succesfully, they have to have very little contact with humans.

Royce, who is from England, is one of the fawns’ caretakers joined by Kandi Doi from Japan. Royce read about Critter Care online while doing volunteer work in Grenada.

“I saw it as a fantastic opportunity to learn about wild animals. It’s been an amazing experience,” he said.

He lives on site at the Campbell Valley Park facility and his day usually starts at 6:30 a.m. and ends around 8 p.m. It’s hard work and the accommodations aren’t luxurious but functional.

“For me, it’s purely about having a fulfilling experience. And it has been.”

He’s been at Critter Care for a few months and has to keep reminding himself that eventually the fawns he raises will need less and less human contact for when they are to be released.

Volunteer interns is how so many of B.C.’s orphaned and injured wildlife are cared for and rehabilitated at Critter Care, said Gail Martin, founder of the rehab centre. More than a decade ago, Martin began her life as animal whisperer by saving a few orphaned baby raccoons and rearing them in her basement. Now she and numerous volunteers save more than 1,200 of B.C.’s orphaned animals per year.

Interns come from around the world to have the hands-on experience.

Right now only two bear cubs remain at Critter Care — twins Zoe and Hunter.

They came to Critter Care weighing only a few pounds each and still needing to be bottle fed throughout the day and night. Martin bottle fed them herself.

Now the siblings are in a huge enclosure, playing on swing tires and baby pools, eating happily and gaining weight at a fast rate.They already weigh 35 pounds.

Martin predicts Hunter could grow to 230 pounds when he is released with Zoe next spring.

Critter Care successfully released 14 bear cubs back to the wild in May, the largest being Milo who was 245 pounds when he was freed back to the wild said Martin.

“He was a big bear. He came here in September 2008, weighing 62 pounds.”

In order to keep all of these babies alive, it means round-the-clock feedings.

“We spend around $20,000 on milk per year,” she said.

With the economy still hurting, charities like Critter Care are feeling it, she said.

“We do what we can, but we’d love more financial help,” she said. The province does not fund Critter Care. The non-profit society relies on donations from people and small municipal grants to sustain them.

That’s why it’s important to have the annual open house to remind the public what they do and hope people donate what they can.

For the lucky few that come in the morning for a tour of the facility, they can catch a glimpse at Hoover, the resident bobcat who is the ambassador of Critter Care after becoming too tame to be released back to the wild.

Along with delicious Freybe’s lunch offered, there is the children’s corner, crafters and Township firefighters and their fire truck, along with a host of entertainment. If you love dogs, come out at see Paws to Dance both Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m., or be impressed by the Langley Riders at 3 p.m both days.

On Sunday visit with Alpacas from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Tours to see the babies go all day.

Admission is $2 and children under 12 get in free.

Critter Care is always looking for paper products, baby rattles, children’s toys and canned goods for the interns. Anyone is welcome to bring any of these items to the open house. Critter Care is located at 481-216 Street near Campbell Valley Park.

Adorable video online at

www.langleytimes.com.