Smithers, B.C. – Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter in Smithers could use your help feeding five orphaned baby moose.

Two of the moose calves were orphaned when their mother was struck and killed on Northwood Pulpmill Road last month (see previous story here). And since then they’ve received another one from Prince George (Ness Lake) and one more each from Fort St. James and Smithers.

Co-owner Angelika Langen says they don’t know why the others were alone but notes it’s put quite the strain on their supplies.

“Well, yeah. We didn’t expect that many and we run out of moose milk really fast and it’s not something you can easily get,” she says. “And it’s expensive, every bucket costs $360 and right now we’re going through a lot of milk each day.”

Langen says donations would be gratefully accepted and can be made via their website.

“Every dollar makes a difference. People hear $360 and think they don’t have that kind of money but if you have 10 people give $5 then it gets us a little closer to it.”

Thankfully, she says all five seem to be healthy.

“They have settled in and are doing really well. We have four girls and one boy and all of them have accepted the formula. We’re having a lot of fun with them.”

Langen says they’ll continue to care for them before releasing them back into the wild next spring.

In the meantime, Northern Lights is holding a naming contest for the baby moose on their Facebook page.