When an inexperienced person attempts to handle wild animals, bites and scratches are common, and many species of wildlife can carry disease and parasites that are harmful to humans. Also, every year many well-intentioned people needlessly remove young wildlife from a healthy, natural life in the wild. People who see young wildlife alone often think these animals are sick, injured or orphaned but that is usually not the case.

Orphaned Wildlife

It is common for young wildlife to be left alone for period of time, especially during the day. For example, female deer spend much of the day away from their fawns in the weeks following the birth. By staying away, they minimize the chance of predators finding the fawn by following the female deer’s scent trail. If a human approaches a fawn, they will leave a scent trail putting the fawn at risk.

Young squirrels often fall from their nests even before their eyes open. Usually the adult squirrel waits to retrieve the young and return it to the nest when it is safe to do so.

Also, young birds learning to fly and forage for food often fall to the ground. The adults may wait for the fledgling to return to the nest, or they may feed it while it is still on the ground. It is safe for a person to return a young bird to its nest if it is uninjured. Most birds have a poor sense of smell, so the adult will not reject the young if you touch it.

The best approach is always to a leave a young animal alone unless you are sure it has been abandoned.

• Check the animal periodically for 24 to 48 hours to see if it is still there, but keep your distance to make sure you are not scaring off the parent.
• Keep the area quiet and free of cats and dogs. The adult will not return if it is noisy or if predators or people are nearby.

• Observe the animal to see if it is well nourished and active. The animal probably is not an orphan if it is healthy and well fed.

If you find an orphaned animal, contact your local Ministry of Natural Resources office for advice. Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, a person cannot keep wildlife without approval. There are exceptions for up to 24 hours to transport sick or injured wildlife to a custodian or to transport a nuisance animal for release. Otherwise, it is an offence to keep a wild animal. It could endanger you and your family by exposing you to diseases such as rabies.

If you must handle wildlife, always wear appropriate protective equipment to avoid injuries and the potential transfer of diseases.

Sick or Diseased Wildlife

If you come across sick or diseased wildlife and you suspect there is a public health risk, such as rabies or West Nile Virus, contact your regional or local health unit immediately. Symptoms of illness in animals can include tremors, aggressive behaviour, partial paralysis, convulsions, and loss of fear of humans.

If there is an immediate public safety issue with a wild animal, contact your local police department.

Injured Wildlife

If you find an injured wild animal, contact your local Ministry of Natural Resources office for details about authorized custodians in your area. Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, the only people who may care for sick, injured or young game, or specially protected wildlife, are veterinarians for medical care, or authorized wildlife custodians for rehabilitation.

Nuisance Wildlife

Landowners are responsible for managing unwanted wildlife on their properties, including any costs. The preferred option is always to address the reason wildlife is attracted to your property instead of relocating or humanely killing the animal. New animals will continue to arrive if there is shelter, food, or some other feature attracting them.

The Ministry of Natural Resources can help landowners by:

• assessing options for deterring nuisance behaviour, and
• providing information on animal control services.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act allows property owners the option of capturing, harassing or humanely killing nuisance wildlife where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the wildlife is damaging, or about to damage, property. This option to capture, harass or kill nuisance wildlife does not include deer, moose, caribou or elk.

Property owners can remove the unwanted wildlife themselves or use the services of a wildlife control agent. Under the Act, wildlife captured in defence of property must be released within 24 hours within one kilometre of the original capture site. This relocation provision is essential for preventing the spread of diseases such as rabies. It also ensures you are treating the animal in a humane manner by releasing it within its natural home range. If you release it beyond its home range, the animal will have to fight for territory and resources.