(Photo credit: Ottawa Bylaw Services)
Spring is upon us and the City’s By-law services is preparing for an increase in calls regarding injured and orphaned animals.
The City would like to remind residents that not all small wild animals found alone without an adult are orphans.
It is very common for mothers to leave their babies in the nest or den while they forage for food. In the majority of cases, these mothers will return to their young. If you find a baby wild animal on its own (skunk, raccoon, rabbit, squirrel, etc.), please contact the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary first before calling 3-1-1.
You should call 3-1-1 if the baby wild animal is orphaned or injured. How do you know if a baby wild animal is orphaned as opposed to waiting for its mother to return? The baby wild animal may be orphaned if:
- it is sitting or lying near dead adults or siblings
- you have not seen an adult in over 24 hours
- it appears friendly, is vocalizing, and/or following people or pets
- it is by itself, has little or no fur, its eyes are closed, and/or it is cold
Please do not attempt to move the animal from its den/nest or to feed it. If someone has already touched the animal, please return it to where it was found. It is a myth that the mother will reject her babies if they have been touched.
Do not call 3-1-1 if you encounter:
- a sick or injured bird
- a large animal (moose, deer, bear)
- nuisance wildlife on your property such as squirrels in the eavestrough or attic, or raccoons in trash cans. Nuisance wildlife issues are the responsibility of the property owner to address.
Please contact the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre at 613-828-2849 or visit their website if you have wild bird issues such as:
- a sick or injured bird
- birds in your soffit
- birds in your vents
- birds in your chimney
- birds on your balcony
Wild turkeys are generally not aggressive, but residents are reminded that all wild animals are unpredictable by nature.
If a large animal such as a bear, moose, deer or coyote poses an immediate threat to public safety, please contact the Ottawa Police Services at 613-236-1222.
Avec l’arrivée du printemps, les Services des règlements municipaux (SRM) se préparent à recevoir un nombre accru d’appels concernant des animaux sauvages blessés ou orphelins.
Les SRM aimeraient rappeler aux résidents que les petits animaux sauvages trouvés seuls sans un adulte ne sont pas tous des orphelins.
Il est très courant que les mères laissent leurs bébés dans le nid ou la tanière pour aller chercher de la nourriture. Dans la majorité des cas, ces mères retournent ensuite près de leurs petits.
Si vous trouvez un bébé mammifère sauvage (mouffette, raton laveur, écureuil, etc.) qui est seul, veuillez communiquer avec le Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary avant d’appeler le 3-1-1.
N’essayez pas de retirer l’animal de son nid ou de sa tanière ni de le nourrir. Si un résident a déjà touché l’animal, veuillez le remettre à l’endroit où il l’a trouvé. Il est faux de croire que la mère rejettera les bébés s’ils ont été touchés. C’est un mythe.
En outre, veuillez noter que les SRM répondent uniquement aux appels concernant les petits animaux sauvages blessés ou malades.