Don't approach injured animals, MNR warns

Posted By CHELSEY ROMAIN THE DAILY PRESS
Posted 14 days ago


"It isn't uncommon to see wildlife while travelling the highways or hiking the nature trails or Northern Ontario.

But officials are warning those who come across injured, sick or orphaned wildlife to use caution.

In most cases, the Ministry of Natural Resources suggests leaving the animal be and contacting a wildlife custodian, who knows how to handle the situation.

"The best bet is to leave it where it is and let nature take its course," said MNR information officer Ben Legouffe. "Most of the time it's a young bird that's just learning how to fly -- it will either fly or it won't."

Signs that an animal may be injured, sick or orphaned include blood or wounds on the body, a body covered in fleas, unusual or uneven loss of fur or feathers, closed eyes, dangling limbs, and difficulty breathing.

It is suggested by the MNR to check in on an animal over a period of 48 hours to see if it is truly abandoned or simply without an adult for a period of time. If the adult senses predators or people nearby, it will stay away, so people are asked to keep their distance.

"If we do interfere, we have to be careful what we do," Legouffe said. "After the 48 hours, you might want to give us a call."

Legouffe said what the MNR will do with the animal varies on the animal species and what state it is in. In some cases, Legouffe said, it is best to have the animal euthanized. In the case of young, abandoned animals, MNR officers will transport it to a wildlife rehabilitation centre where it will be taken care of and released when ready.

"Sometimes the mother gets hit and killed, and we'll try to get the orphan to a rehabilitation centre," Legouffe said.

"We've done that with small bears, moose, loons and birds of prey."

Most of the time it's advised not to approach an animal, but in an emergency situation it is advised to seek advice from a wildlife custodian to minimize the risk of being bit or scratched..."

Reaed the rest of this story at The Timmins Daily Press