Wildlife
I found an orphaned, sick or injured animal, what do I do?
Many people see a baby animal(s) left alone and will think it's orphaned yet quite often that is not actually the case. Many species leave their babies alone for long periods of time and they are not actually in need of rescuing. For example, rabbits only visit the nest around dusk and dawn, deer leave their fawns sometimes all day. Leave the animal(s) alone and monitor from a substantial distance (binoculars, closer than that could keep mom away). If the mother does not return by the next day, then it may be orphaned.
Birds that fly into windows are often just stunned and, if left alone, will recover. The recovery period can be a few minutes to a few hours. So again, monitor from a distance for a while before assuming they need human intervention. Ensure the family cat is kept indoors.
If a baby bird falls out of the nest, simply return it to the nest - its a myth that birds will smell your touch and reject the baby. If you can't find the nest, its okay to put the baby into another nest of the same species if the young are not much different in age - most adult birds will "adopt". If a nest has fallen off a tree in a storm, secure it back in the tree as close as possible to its original location. If the nest was destroyed, a substitute can be made using a berry basket (anything water can drain out of) lined with the same kind of materials as in the original nest (ie twigs, grasses), securing it in the tree out of direct sunlight.
Young altricial species (songbirds, raptors etc) may leave the nest ("fledge") a week or more before they can fly. These fledglings hide under shrubbery or perch on low tree limbs and the adult birds will periodically fly over and feed them. It is usually these young birds (robins, blue jays etc.) that people find and "rescue" in the spring. These birds were actually exactly where they were supposed to be and behaving normally and, if left alone, the parent birds will return to feed the young within a half hour or so. Again, keep your cat temporarily indoors.
Taking the above into consideration, if the animal(s) is actually orphaned, sick or injured, then a wildlife rehab centre can help. Since every species has different needs and rehab challenges, rehabilitators usually choose one to several specific species to caregive. You will need to find a rehaber who handles that particular species. Keep in mind that many rehabilitators are doing so from their own property.
Most rehabers do not have volunteer transporters, so be prepared to bring the animal to them. In addition, the majority of rehabers do not capture wildlife. Do not put your safety at risk, wild animals can be dangerous, especially if they are injured or cornered. If you are able to capture the animal, put it in a cardboard box with fleece or layers of papertowel on the bottom (towels can damage toes but could be used under papertowels). Do not give the animal anything to eat or drink, keep it in a warm, quiet, dark place and contact a wildlife rehabilitator centre immmediately. If the baby is a gaping bird and you cannot transport it immediately, then you can feed it pieces of kitten or cat chow soaked in water until soft - baby birds should never be fed hamburger, bread or milk.
Wild animals stress VERY easily which can often be fatal (especially rabbits and birds) so it's essential you keep the animal warm and in a quiet dark place away from pets and chlidren. When transporting, do not talk or play the radio.
If you cannot capture the animal safely yourself, contact the Toronto Wildlife Centre at 416-631-0662 to discuss the situation. They do have a capture team they might be able to deploy or they can at least provide alternative contacts/info.
I have unwanted wildlife on my property, whom do I call?
Not all pest control companies are humane towards the animals they impact. We've heard horror stories of some who have actually walled up babies, telling the client not to worry, they will die and not be a problem, or have used other inhumane methods to kill them. Also, the MNR has strict rules about relocating wildlife - depending on the species and age, they can only be relocated a short distance from the location they were taken from if they use live traps (1km max. for RVS (rabbies vector species i.e. raccoons, skunks, foxes) mammals and 15 kms for non-RVS mammals).
A humane pest control company will have a number of methods that will resolve your pest problem without killing the animals. For example, one-way doors which allow the mother to retrieve her babies yet not regain access herself (babies come to her through the one-way door when she calls them to her, after she finds a suitable new location and returns for her babies one by one. Sometimes, unfortunately, she will not retrieve all the babies, so a humane pest control company will monitor and, if any are left behind, will bring them to a wildlife rehab as orphans.
There are a number of humane pest control companies in the GTA that have large territories they cover. The following are links to a few that we have actually dealt with, and that wildlife rehabs have also dealt with because they are humane (some of them have even brought babies to rehab when the mother didn't come back to relocate them), in alphabetical order:
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Gates' Wildlife Control (formerly AAA Wildlife Wildlife Control)
I think there are coyotes in my neighbourhood, what should I do?
Coyotes have adjusted well to living in close proximity to humans. They are shy and prefer to avoid confrontations. In fact, although they range during the daytime or at night, they usually prefer to come out at night in order to avoid humans. Make sure you teach your children about animal safety and what to do if they should encounter various types of wildlife.
List of Ontario Wildlife Rehabilitators:
(Photo's added by Dog Speed)
Bat Check
Animals cared for: Bat
Phone: 613-387-2475
Address: RR#1
Seeley's Bay, ON K0H 2N0
(north of Kingston/Gananoque)
Contact: Matt Saunders
Bear Creek Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary
Animals cared for: Sanctuary for unwanted, abused and injured exotic and zoo animals; rare and endangered species; also involved in humane wildlife rescue and rehabilitation of animals involved in public concerns
Barrie, Ontario
Phone: 705-721-4730
Email: mary@bearcreeksanctuary.com
Bluewater Centre for Raptor Rehabilitation
Animals cared for:
Birds of Prey, Loons, Herons and some Waterfowl
Phone: home 519-845-1243
cell 519-466-2443
office 519-899-2433
Contact: Lynn Eves, Founder
Address: R.R.#2 Wyoming, ON N0N 1T0
(30 miles east of Sarnia)
Email: linnev@hotmail.com
Website: lambtoncounty.com/bcrr
BryDen's Den
Animals cared for:
Bird, Fox, Groundhog, Opossum, Rabbit, Raccoon, Skunk, Songbird, Squirrel
Phone: 519-429-3585
Address: RR#3
Simcoe, ON N3Y 4K2
(Lake Erie)
Contact: Denise Boniface
Hope Haven Wildlife Centre
Animals cared for:
Bat, Groundhog, Possum, Rabbit, Skunk, Squirrel, Waterbird
Due to limited staffing, unable to admit bird species except for orphaned ducklings, goslings & cygnets.
and only neonate to juvenile mammals (no adults)
Phone: 519-689-4931
Address: 6391 Middle Line Rd
Merlen, ON N0P 1W0
Contact: Suzann Ritchie
Email: suzann_ritchie@hotmail.com
Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
Animals cared for:
Mammals, Birds, some Reptles and Amphibians.
Also provide humane alternatives for wildlife/human conflicts
Phone: 613-354-0264
Address: 8749 County Road 2
Greater Napanee, ON K7R 3L1
(East of Bellville)
Email: info@sandypineswildlife.org
Website: sandypineswildlife.org
Shades of Hope
Animals cared for:
Bat, Beaver, Bird, Deer, Eagle, Falcon, Fox, Groundhog, Hawk, Osprey, Owl, Porcupine, Opossum, Rabbit, Skunk, Songbird, Squirrel, Turkey Vulture, Waterbird, Weasel
Phone: 705-437-4654
Address: PO Box 87
Pefferlaw, ON Ll0E 1N0
Contact: Gail Lenters
Email: gail@shadesofope.ca
Website: shadesofhope.ca
Shortcut to Serenity Wildlife Rescue
Animals cared for:
Racoon, Songbird
Phone: 705-741-5000
Address: Stayner, Ontario
Contact: Diane
Swift Care Ontario
Animals cared for:
Bat, Species at risk aerial insectivore songbird species only:
Barn and Bank Swallows, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Common Nighthawk, and Chimney Swift
- Refer to other rehabs for common songbird rehab
Phone: 519-434-0763
519-854-6282
Address: PO Box 2012,
Komoka, ON N0L 1R0
Contacts: Carolyn Denstedt
Deborah Lefebrea
Email: swiftcareontario@gmail.com
Toronto Wildlife Centre
Animals cared for:
Bat, Chipmnk, Coyote, Fox, Groundhog, Hawk, Owl, Opossum, Rabbit, Raccoon, Skunk, Songbird, Squirrel, Turtle, Waterbirds
Phone: 416-631-0662
Address: 60 Carl Hall Road, Unit 4
Toronto, ON M3K 2C1
Contact: Nathalie Karvonen
Email: admin@torontowildlifecentre.com
Website: torontowildlifecentre.com
Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre
Animals cared for:
Bat, Bird, Fox, Rabbit, Raccoon, Skunk, Songbird, Squirrel, Turtle, Waterbird, Weasel
NOTE: Specialize in turtles - can take other injured small mammals and birds. mangy foxes are welcome!
Phone: 705-691-0433
Address: 2882 Vern Drive
Caron, ON P3N 1R3
(N of Sudbury)
Contact: Gloria Morissette
Email: turtlepondwc@gmail.com
Windrush
Animals cared for:
Bat, Beaver, Bird, Coyote, Eagle, Falcon, Fox, Hawk, Owl, Possum, Rabbit, Reptile, Songbird, Squirrel, Waterbird, Weasel, Wolf
Note: Sick/injured only - cannot raise orphaned babies
Phone: 519-449-5080
Address: 26 Sixth Concession Rd. RR#4
Brantford, ON N3T 5L7
Contact: Dr. Crombie
Email: windrush26@gmail.com
Website: www.windrushvet.com
Wings Wildlife
Animals cared for:
Bat, Bird, Coyote, Deer, Eagle, Falcon, Fox, Groundhog, Hawk, Osprey, Owl, Possum, Rabbit, Raccoon, Skunk, Songbird, Squirrel, Turkey Vulture, Turtle, Waterbird, Weasel
Phone: 519-736-8172
Address: 5281 Middleside Rd
County Road 10
Amherstburg, ON N9V 2Y9
Contact: Nancy Phillips
Email: wingsrehab@xplornet.com
Website: www.wingsrehab.ca
