Sweet man builds wildlife sanctuary in tribute to his late wife

• A man built a wetland for his late wife. 
• It was the couple’s dream to have a private place in the woods where they can live with all the animals.
• Sadly, the woman died before the wetland was built. 

In memory of his late wife, a man in Nova Scotia transformed his property into a wetland populated with wild creatures.

In the early 2000s, Robert Perkins started building the wildlife sanctuary on his property. But he doesn’t claim full credit for everything. When the beavers learned about it, they began to help as well.

“Between the beavers and I, we built it,” he told CBC.

About eight ponds are connected in his “oasis in the middle of an urban jungle.” Herons, snapping turtles, otters, and a variety of other water-loving species call it home.

Perkins’ oasis was a dream he had with his late wife, who died in 2006. The couple met when Perkins was 16 and shared a passion for animals and the great outdoors.

“She looked at me and said, ‘A little place in the woods, some place private, some place where no one will bother us … a place we can live with all the animals’,” he recounted.

Perkins started to work on realizing their dream. He acquired the site, cut down some trees, and dug deep ponds that he filled with water using an excavator.

“Being an avid fisherman — I’ve fished brooks with beavers and stuff in it — I said, I’m going to build it and everybody said you can’t do that. What do you mean I can’t do that? I can do anything I want,” he said.

He now hopes that his project will become a place for Nova Scotians to learn about the significance of wetlands.

Perkins’ wife never saw the lovely sanctuary he made for her, but he claims he doesn’t have to wonder what she would think of it as he feels her presence every day. 

“Is it painful? Sometimes,” said Perkins. “But I couldn’t walk away from her … If I’m here, she’s here.”

Source: Sunny Skyz