A wolf named Vimy, struck by a vehicle on Highway 17 near Hagar—about 50 kilometers east of Sudbury on January 24—underwent surgery for two fractured hind legs and now battles an infection in one limb while showing signs of recovery.

Rescue and Initial Treatment

The injured wolf crawled under an abandoned vehicle after the collision. The driver who hit him, along with two Ontario Provincial Police officers and staff from the Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre in Sudbury, collaborated to rescue the animal. Vimy received initial treatment for shock at Turtle Pond before transfer to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Centre for advanced care.

Current Condition and Ongoing Care

Mon Kledsai, assistant director of animal welfare at Aspen Valley Wildlife Centre, reports that Vimy eats well, remains alert, and attempts to stand. However, one leg shows signs of infection. Staff monitor him closely, administer antibiotics, and frequently change his bandages.

An external pin stabilizes the bone in one leg, with part protruding to require regular wound cleaning. “That’s why we need to keep cleaning the wound and making sure that it’s nice and clean,” Kledsai explained.

Recovery Outlook

Vimy stays in a confined space to aid healing. Once the bone mends, surgeons can remove the pin. “So far he is cooperating very well,” Kledsai noted. He occasionally tries to bite his bandage, prompting the use of a protective cone.

The recovery remains a long-term process, and experts hesitate to predict a release date back into the wild.

Namesake Inspiration

The driver involved in the rescue chose the name Vimy to honor a Canadian Forces military dog that died in 2021 and to commemorate the historic World War I battle in France where Canadian soldiers fell.