Those who think they have found sick, injured or orphaned wildlife, should not remove it from its natural habitat.
The bird or animal may not need assistance and people could actually do more harm in their attempts to help. Where an animal is in need of help, it requires specialized care to recover and return to the wild.
People may not keep wildlife in captivity without approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources. In the southern Ontario region, however, a person may possess a wild animal for up to 24 hours to transport it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian.
Determining an orphan
Some species leave offspring alone temporarily, especially during the day. For example, deer and cottontail rabbits spend much of the day away from their well-camouflaged offspring to minimize the chance of predators finding them.
To determine if young wildlife is truly orphaned, check the animal periodically for 24 to 48 hours to see if it is still around. Keep a distance. Keep cats and dogs away from the area inhabited by the young animal; the adult may not return if it is noisy or if predators or people are close by.
What to do
Contact the local Ministry of Natural Resources office for help in assessing the situation and on what action to take. Visit ontario.ca/mnroffices to contact the local district office. Call 1-800-667-1940 Monday to Friday between 8:30am to 5pm.
View a list of wildlife rehabilitators who have agreed to have contact information on the ministry’s website.
If people must handle the animal, take care to minimize the risk. Wear protective clothing and equipment, such as leather gloves, to avoid bites or scratches; wash hands well after handling the animal.
Signs of injury or illness include:
– blood, wounds or swelling on the body;
– body covered in fleas;
– unusual or uneven loss of fur or feathers;
– difficult or raspy breathing or sneezing;
– a dangling leg or wing; and
– closed eyes or head tucked under wing.
To help the animal in the southern region only:
– contact a wildlife rehabilitator who can assess the situation and provide advice on what action to take;
– If specialized and immediate care is necessary to help the animal, take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or a veterinarian within 24 hours of capture; and
– If handling the animal, follow the instructions provided by the wildlife rehabilitator on how to minimize risk of injury to all concerned.
It is important to remember that many of the volunteer-operated organizations have limited capacity to accept animals, especially during the spring.
