About Hope for Wildlife

Wildlife rescue and education centre in Seaforth, NS. Since 1997, rehabilitated over 100,000 injured and orphaned wild animals.

Features & Highlights

🎯 Wildlife rehabilitation and education centre with 40+ resident animals
🎯 Free admission education centre with interactive displays
🎯 Outdoor Wildlife Gardens Trail and Observation Tower
🎯 Guided veterinary hospital tours (Saturdays only)
🎯 Café Catio and gift shop on site

Detailed Information

Tucked away along the Eastern Shore in the quiet community of Seaforth, Hope for Wildlife is one of Nova Scotia's most extraordinary and heartwarming attractions. Since 1997, this charitable wildlife rehabilitation and education centre has rescued, rehabilitated, and released over 100,000 injured and orphaned wild animals representing more than 300 species — from tiny songbirds and orphaned fawns to great horned owls and even the occasional seal pup. What began as a small home-based rescue has grown into a sprawling facility featuring an education centre, outdoor wildlife gardens, a veterinary hospital, an observation tower, and a café catio — all open to the public with free admission. Hope for Wildlife has also gained international recognition through its television series on Animal Planet, bringing the stories of Nova Scotia's wildlife rehabilitation efforts to audiences around the world.

Practical Information

Address & Location
5909 Highway 207, Seaforth, Nova Scotia B0J 1N0

Hope for Wildlife is located on the Eastern Shore, approximately a 30-minute drive from downtown Halifax via Highway 207. The drive follows the scenic Marine Drive route through small coastal communities along the Marine Drive. The centre is well signposted from the highway.

Hours of Operation (2026 Schedule)
Admission is free. No pre-booking is required.

| Period | Days | Hours | Activities |
|--------|------|-------|------------|
| Year-round | Saturdays | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Education Centre, Guided Outdoor Tours, Veterinary Hospital Tours |
| May 6 – September 5 | Wednesday to Saturday | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Education Centre; Self-guided tours (Wed-Fri); Guided tours & Vet Hospital tours (Sat) |
| September 6 – December 18 | Wednesdays & Saturdays | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Self-guided tours (Wed); Guided tours & Vet Hospital tours (Sat) |

Note: The centre is closed the week of August 24th for their annual Open House event. The centre is closed from mid-December through April, reopening in May.

Admission
Free — Donations are gratefully accepted and directly support the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife. The centre operates entirely on donations, grants, and fundraising.

What to See and Do

  • Education Centre — Interactive displays featuring over 40 resident animals, including foxes, owls, raccoons, snakes, tortoises, and domestic animals. Learn each animal's unique story and the centre's rehabilitation work.
  • Wildlife Gardens Trail — A self-guided outdoor walk through naturalized habitats where resident animals live in spacious pens. Highlights include the observation tower with panoramic Eastern Shore views.
  • Veterinary Hospital Tours (Saturdays only) — A behind-the-scenes look at the working veterinary hospital where injured wildlife receives medical treatment. See the treatment rooms, ICU, and recovery areas.
  • Café Catio — Enjoy coffee, sandwiches, snacks, or ice cream while visiting Jessie the bobcat in her specially designed catio.
  • Gift Shop — Wildlife-themed souvenirs, books, and apparel. All proceeds support the centre's mission.
  • Picnic Gardens — Relax and enjoy the peaceful rural setting with picnic tables and green space.

Getting There
The centre is located on Highway 207 in Seaforth. A car is the most practical way to visit. For those without personal transportation, Driver Dave's (driverdaves.com) is a recommended local service.

Accessibility
The Education Centre and main grounds are wheelchair accessible. The observation tower and some outdoor trail sections may have limited accessibility. Contact the centre in advance for specific accessibility needs.

Support the Mission
Visitors can support Hope for Wildlife through monetary donations (online, by phone, mail, or e-transfer), monthly giving, animal species sponsorship, used vehicle donations, Amazon Wishlist purchases, or supply drop-offs. Every contribution directly supports the rehabilitation of Nova Scotia's injured and orphaned wildlife.

Hope for Wildlife is worth building into any Eastern Shore drive. The Education Centre's resident animals each have a rescue story attached, the Saturday veterinary hospital tours go behind the scenes of real rehabilitation work, and the gardens trail is a pleasant walk with views from the observation tower. Admission is free, and donations go directly to the animals.