Lora Wylie is a certified appraiser, who runs her own business in the Toronto area but her passion lies with animals. As a life-long animal advocate, Lora’s involvement with marine wildlife began in 1989 when the Exxon Valdez oil spill devastated Alaska’s southern coast. For several months, Lora joined a dedicated team of volunteers rescuing and cleaning birds, sea otters and other animals affected by the disaster. During her time with OERS, Lora has participated in several deployments, the highlights of which include the annual manatee health assessment deployment in Crystal Springs, Florida, where OERS volunteers dedicated their time and knowledge to the hands-on assessment of manatees, within their natural habitat, to provide baseline information on their health, reproductive status, and nutritional condition. Lora is also an active volunteer with the American SPCA, among other animal welfare organizations. Closer to home, she spends her time and resources rehabilitating and relocating orphaned wildlife including skunks, raccoons, opossums and any other creature requiring a helping hand, in addition to fostering and re-homing the lost and abandoned domestic pets that find their way into her home and her heart.

As is often the case with giving back, Lora’s contribution to animal welfare has rewarded her tenfold with decades of memorable experiences, valuable skills, and relationships with those who share the common interest of helping vulnerable wildlife. OERS has been instrumental in furthering her practical education of emergency deployment operations. She looks forward to many years of continued efforts with OERS, providing a better environment for all living creatures.