|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wildlife
Rehab Crisis |
 |
|
|
!
MNR regulations force closure of Wildlife Centre
|
 |
On
Dec. 31, 2002 the Ottawa Carleton Wildlife Centre closed following a
four-month battle with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Half way through the wildlife season the MNR imposed a 1 km release
restriction for all wildlife in Ontario and disallowed rehabilitation of
rabies vector species (raccoons, skunks, foxes) in a large part of
eastern Ontario, including Ottawa. These restrictions made it impossible
to offer a humane and responsible wildlife rehabilitation service and
have resulted in the loss of a valuable world-class community service.
More on the closing of the OCWC.
Click for an outline of the issues.
|
|
Take action: The
public is outraged over MNR regulations that require orphaned
and injured wild animals to be killed in Ontario. Take action
to reinstate a progressive wildlife rehabilitation service in Ontario.
Click for details. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
News
Click here
for all news items related to the wildlife rehab issue
Letters
Click here for published letters |
|
Summary of events
- The MNR introduced new release restrictions in the summer of
2002 that makes it impossible to offer responsible wildlife
rehabilitation in this province.
- The MNR misinformed the public that raccoon rabies was moving
closer to Ottawa as a justification for expanding the high risk
rabies zone here last July, when according to its own data, the
disease was actually moving further south and southwest.
More on raccoon rabies
in Ontario.
- The MNR seized healthy vaccinated animals from the
Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre in September 2002.
Information on 40 seized animals
- The MNR took these animals to the Codrington research facility
near Peterborough and kept them in cages and in conditions that
violated international standards for humane wildlife
rehabilitation.
View Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation document
236K PDF.
- The MNR refused requests to have independent sources examine
the condition of these animals.
- Former Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre staff petitioned an
Ontario court in April 2003 to have these animals returned for a
brief period of rehabilitation.
- The judge in that case, while having to turn down this
application on a legal technicality, said that he still believed
it would be in the best interest of these animals to be returned
to the wildlife centre for rehabilitation.
- In early May, 2003 the MNR released these animals into an area
where rabies is prevalent, and where it is trapping and killing
raccoons, skunks and foxes.
More on OMNR's raccoon
rabies 'depopulation' program.
- In September, 2003, Ontario Liberal party calls for an inquiry
into government's closure of Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre.
Details.
- May, 2004: For the second year Ottawa Humane
Society must kill sick, orphaned wild animals brought in.
Full story
- Dec. 15, 2004: Ontario government is proposing changes that will virtually
eliminate wildlife rehabilitation in Ontario. Full
story.
- October 19, 2005: McGuinty government approves
regressive regulations. Ontario's orphaned and injured
wildlife denied humane care
by David Ramsay, Minister of Natural
Resources.
Full
story
»
Click for complete news
coverage of the wildlife rehab crisis issue
|
|
|
|
What can I do?
Take action!
Ontario's wildlife need your help! Keep this issue alive
and take action to stop the indiscriminate killing of orphaned and
injured wildlife that would otherwise be treated, rehabilitated,
raised and released to enjoy a full normal life.
Send a strong message to your
provincial MPPs (include the opposition critics for MNR) and
municipal councillors that the MNR restrictions and resulting
closure of the Ottawa Carleton Wildlife Centre is unacceptable!
Click here
for address lists of newspapers / politicians and things you
can do to help!
. |
|
Credit: John Kenney, Canwest
|
|
|
|
