Ministry threatens public for not having raccoon rescue center
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNRF) has threatened an Ajax resident because she could not find a Wildlife Rescue that takes raccoons. A women in Ajax found 4 baby raccoons and for a week had called and emailed all know Wildlife Rescue Centers that take in orphaned raccoons. All said they were full and could not take any more, some said they might have some space in several weeks but were not sure, suddenly the MNRF turned up at her door demanding the raccoons. If she did not turn them over the MNRF was going to get a warrant, have her charged with obstructing a peace officer and having a wild animal illegally. When she told them she had been trying to find a Wildlife Rescue Center (Wildlife Rehabber) but no Raccoon Center had any space. They would not answer her about the shortage of space and told her they would take them to a MNRF private wildlife rehab center. She did not believe them (the MNRF has testing or experimenting centers but no rehab). The MNRF has been aware that all the Wildlife Rehabbers that take in raccoons have been full for at least a month. The Act states that if the public finds an injured or orphaned wild animal, they have less than 24 hours to get it to a Wildlife Rehabber. It does not say what the public does when there are no Wildlife rehabbers that can take animals. The regulation was in-acted when there were over 200 wildlife rehabbers in Ontario there are now only 46. The MNRF forceable closing of the largest raccoon rescue center has put an overwhelming strain on the remaining centers. Ontario Wildlife Rescue has been telling the Ministry for years “there are more injured and orphaned wild animals looked after by the public than by Wildlife Rehabbers. When the public can not get help they will attempt to look after the animal themselves. Based on the wording of the act the Ministry is responsible for providing enough Wildlife Rehabbers so the public can take injured and orphaned wildlife to Centers with in 24 hours. To threaten to penalize the public because there is nowhere to take wildlife is not reasonable or fair.
For more back ground information including the contact information of the person who was threaten by the MNRF contact Sandy Donald at 416 436-9892.
Media Contact
Sandy Donald
416-436-9892
sandy@ontariowildliferescue.ca
